Psychologist (Clinical or Forensic)

Salary £60,000 per annum

Permanent, Full Time, 40 hours per week

Home Based but with regular travel to our offices across Wales

A key provider of criminal justice services operating in both the custodial and community sectors. We pride ourselves on the quality of our provision and we consistently seek to work alongside and in partnership with a range of other providers in the voluntary (third), public and private sectors.

We have developed services which are focused on identifying ways to maximise positive impact and make the most effective use of available resources by working with other agencies on common objectives. In this way we are increasingly able to meet wide ranging and complex needs in the most appropriate way.

We have a commitment to research, evaluation and review of evidence based initiatives. We value and, where possible, contribute to research into reducing re-offending and therefore we recognise the importance of understanding the wider environment in which individuals operate and this informs us about how best to engage, support and help people with change.

We seek to employ people with drive and energy and a real interest in innovation and teamwork working beyond traditional organisational boundaries. We now have an opportunity for a Psychologist to join the Community Contracts Team.

The successful candidate will support the Wales wide roll out of a new Mental Health Treatment Requirement service that helps people who have low level mental health difficulties that are linked with the commission of offences.

You will provide coaching, support and accountability to the work of our team of Assistant Psychologists (APs) through clinical supervision and guidance. Bringing expert oversight, advice and practice, assurance to assessments (CORE OM / clinical formulation), guidance and insight for support and intervention work. To take forward some therapeutic work with more complex cases.

You will assist us as we establish working relationships with health services across Wales as we establish a strong and innovative solution to a longstanding social need. You will also help gather, analyse and report on data for a range of audiences.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Lead Psychologist on the project to develop a complementary working relationship.
• Provide guidance to a team of Assistant Psychologists to deliver assessments and interventions for people given an MHTR.
• Deliver clinical assessment, formulation and intervention to the complex MHTR clients.
• Provide the team with support and leadership, to establish treatment approaches, to embed effective methods with sound theoretical basis.
• Leading on innovative practice around psychoeducation, managing the impact of past trauma and coping with low mood amid the difficulties and challenges of life.
• Willingness to explore a range of trauma informed treatment models including the Power, Threat, Meaning Framework (PTMF) as a treatment approach for our participant group and to draw in other models as appropriate.
• Help establish a programme of support and intervention work for use by our AP team.
• Represent our treatment approach with a range of external stakeholders, helping to establish working relationships with Court and Probation colleagues to support the effective treatment of individuals.
• Help set up new partnerships with local and regional health and support providers across Wales for follow on support.
• Help set up a strong working relationship with our management team establishing confidence in role boundaries.
• Develop a strong understanding of sentencing and support to respond to developments and trends, becoming an anticipatory service responsive to emerging needs.
• Ensure the service upholds best public protection practice in relation to risks of harm and offending and best safeguarding practice in relation to children and adults at risk.
• To work with the other MHTR Psychologists to create a strong presence for treatment expertise in the MHTR service and across all of the community Service suite.
• Work with all Community managers and practitioners to promote collaboration.
• To support our work to capture, process and present data accurately and interpret it with insight. Responding to data to improve service performance, to develop services identifying trends and meeting needs, and to demonstrate activity and impact for external audiences.
• Contribute to written reports for internal and external use.
• Contribute to the delivery of contractual requirements as agreed in the Contract.
• Develop opportunities for wider development for the contract.
• To undertake any other relevant duties as required.
• Assist in the promotion of creating a positive Health & Safety culture across the site leading by example, this includes reporting accidents and near misses in a timely manner & follow the applicable safe systems of work for the role.

The duties and responsibilities listed within this job description are not exhaustive and the job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary from time to time.

The Ideal Candidate:

About you To succeed in this role, you will need to be a dynamic and engaging individual, with significant experience of leading a multi-disciplinary team with a track record of delivering performance to the highest standard.

Essential Skills:

• Qualified clinical or forensic psychologist with at least four years post qualification experience.
• HCPC registration.
• Strong knowledge of psychological treatment and support theories, models, recovery approaches and interventions.
• Demonstrable experience of supporting people to change their behaviour using psychological techniques.
• Ability to gather, analyse, present and report on data for clinical and strategic purposes.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with staff, participants and others.
• Employ an empathetic and non-judgmental attitude towards service users.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries.
• A high level of adaptability and passion for delivering excellence.
• A working knowledge of performance management and meeting demanding targets.
• Good technical/IT ability.
• Understand and have a commitment to the principles of equality and diversity.
• Flexibility to work across Wales with an agreed Base, some travel and some remote work expected.
• Full, clean UK driving licence and access to a vehicle with business insurance.
• A positive attitude to behaviour change and a desire to help our communities to thrive.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of local services and geography across Wales.
• The ability to speak Welsh and work in the Welsh language would be an advantage.

Leading by example, we are looking for a highly motivated and determined psychologist, with the ability to be resilient, confident with a tenacious can-do attitude, have the ability to embrace complexity and be a part of a busy and fast paced team.

Please note that applicants must complete a 500 - 700 word statement outlining their suitability for the role and clearly outlining how your skills, experience and knowledge would apply to this post.

We encourage applications from Welsh speaking candidates.

Equality and Diversity is an important part of Care and Rehabilitation Services. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are a fully inclusive employer who aims to support all employees to be their true selves. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments for either the role or during the recruitment process.

Care and Rehabilitation Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and adults at risk and each employee is expected to support these goals.

Please note that these vacancies are subject to a 5 year checkable history and the strict vetting standards set by the company and the Secretary of State for the Home Office.

You must be eligible to work in the UK and must have been resident in the UK for a minimum period of 3 years. You will also need to provide full details of your employment and education history for the last 5 years as part of the security screening process for this role.