At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a multidisciplinary team delivering psychological interventions to young adults in custody.
- Company: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust provides diverse healthcare services across South England, focusing on mental health.
- Benefits: Enjoy professional development opportunities, supervision, and support for clinical training.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in prison mental health while gaining valuable experience in psychology.
- Qualifications: Recent psychology graduates with clinical experience; enthusiasm and teamwork skills are essential.
- Other info: Applicants must pass National Security Vetting and provide necessary documentation.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a graduate psychologist to join Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, providing a specialist psychological therapy service within prison mental health services. The Psychological Therapies Teams in prisons are integrated into the mental health team to support a complex prison population with diverse needs and risks.
The role suits those interested in clinical, forensic psychology, or psychological therapies, with relevant experience in clinical services expected. Forensic experience is not essential, but enthusiasm to learn and teamwork skills are important.
The post involves working within a multidisciplinary prison mental health team, including psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and nursing staff. Responsibilities include delivering psychological interventions to young adults in custody and collaborating with health and operational colleagues. Clinical duties include psychological assessments, psychoeducational workshops, and trauma-focused therapies, with supervision and opportunities for audit and service development.
The post-holder will join the wider Bracton forensic psychology department, known for training and supporting graduate psychologists towards doctoral training. Opportunities for clinical training and support are available.
Oxleas provides a wide range of NHS healthcare services in community and secure settings, including mental health care, community health, and support for various populations across multiple sites in the South of England, including London. The trust's purpose is to improve lives through high-quality care, guided by values of kindness, fairness, listening, and caring.
The role supports dissemination of psychological practices, including assessments, therapeutic interventions, and service audits, with regular supervision and professional development opportunities. Management responsibilities include contributing to service development projects and participating in planning meetings. Leadership involves training and supporting other staff in psychological care.
Clinical tasks include conducting protocol-based assessments, formulating care plans, supporting multidisciplinary discussions, developing psychological frameworks, and creating data visualizations. Research support involves assisting in audit and research projects, data analysis, and report writing. Communication involves liaising with team members and external agencies involved in client care.
Important Information: All applicants must be willing to undergo National Security Vetting for prison work. Proof of right to work, ID, address, and, if applicable, police or good conduct certificates are required. The application deadline is Friday 23 May 2025. Oxleas is a proud Disability Confident employer, committed to fair recruitment practices.
Assistant Psychologist Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust employer: Dellbrugge
Contact Detail:
Dellbrugge Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Psychologist Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced by the prison population. Understanding the unique mental health needs and risks of this demographic will help you demonstrate your enthusiasm and readiness to contribute effectively during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of forensic psychology. Attend relevant workshops or seminars, and connect with current employees at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust on platforms like LinkedIn to gain insights into their work culture and expectations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your teamwork skills and experiences in multidisciplinary settings. Highlight any previous roles where collaboration was key, as this is crucial for working within the diverse team at Oxleas.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest developments in psychological therapies and trauma-focused interventions. Being knowledgeable about current practices will not only boost your confidence but also show your commitment to professional growth in the field.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Psychologist Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and requirements of the Assistant Psychologist position. Highlight your relevant experiences in clinical services and any enthusiasm for forensic psychology.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect your skills and experiences that align with the role. Emphasise any relevant psychological interventions, assessments, or teamwork experiences you have had, particularly in mental health settings.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for psychology and your desire to work within a multidisciplinary team. Mention specific examples of your experience and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Prepare for Security Vetting: Since the role requires National Security Vetting, ensure you have all necessary documents ready, such as proof of right to work, ID, and any police or good conduct certificates. This will streamline your application process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Dellbrugge
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of an Assistant Psychologist within a prison setting. Familiarise yourself with the types of psychological interventions and assessments you'll be expected to conduct, as well as the multidisciplinary team you'll be working with.
✨Show Enthusiasm for Learning
Since forensic experience isn't essential, demonstrate your eagerness to learn and grow in this field. Be prepared to discuss how you plan to develop your skills and knowledge in clinical and forensic psychology during the interview.
✨Highlight Teamwork Skills
Collaboration is key in this role. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully worked as part of a team, especially in clinical settings. Emphasise your ability to communicate effectively with colleagues from various disciplines.
✨Prepare for Clinical Scenarios
Anticipate questions related to clinical scenarios you might encounter in a prison environment. Think about how you would approach psychological assessments or therapeutic interventions with young adults in custody, and be ready to discuss your thought process.