Principal Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services - Directorate of Security - HoU HMP Belmarsh & HMP Swaleside

The job holder will be responsible for managing a number of work area(s) within the Psychology of the establishment. These include all aspects of the Psychology and should include the management of registered and trainee psychologists. As a member of the senior management team, they will contribute and implement their objectives as defined in the Establishment’s Business Plan.

The Head of Psychology must be a registered psychologist and where there is a requirement of the post, a chartered psychologist.

This is a non-operational job with line management responsibility.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Accountable for managing and providing professional leadership of psychologists.

• Accountable for ensuring the psychology service exhibits key competencies, provides performance reports to key stakeholders and complies with HMPPS and professional standards

• Accountable for the delivery and quality of those aspects of treatment programmes that must be overseen by a registered psychologist (typically these courses are the more complex interventions and would include, for example, Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) but may not include the Thinking Skills Programme (TSP) or Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it (CALM) programmes

• Accountable for providing the short term evaluation of effectiveness of relevant psychological intervention within the establishment

• Accountable for contributing towards the choice of the appropriate balance of programmes/interventions through conducting Needs Analysis

• Accountable for leading on key areas of offender risk assessment

• Accountable for supervising and overseeing research work

• Accountable for initiating research within the establishment or co-ordinating the establishment’s contribution to national research projects

• Accountable for promoting the work of the Prison Service, through preparing and disseminating research findings detailing clinical practice and outcomes

• Accountable for providing consultancy support for a range of regime issues e.g. Safer Custody/Resettlement/Treatment Programmes

• Accountable for the admissions, applications and referral process for prisoners applying to the relevant settings

• Accountable for ensuring that psychologists have a clearly defined remit in leading on identified tasks

• Manages and provides professional leadership for supervising trainee psychologists’ organisational outputs (e.g. risk reports)

• Accountable for supervising pre-registered psychologists as they move toward registered and/or chartered status

• Accountable for supervising trainees towards qualified status (e.g. as a coordinating supervisor), where appropriate

• Accountable for conducting Psychological Assessments as required

• Accountable for conducting individual interventions as required

• Accountable for assisting in producing policy documents

• Accountable for managing own Continuous Personal Development (CPD) requirements and maintains professional standards

• Act as a negotiation adviser, where suitable and competence has been demonstrated

• Act as a "professional witness" in parole board hearings, multi-agency meetings, and other formal settings where psychology input is required. May also act as an expert witness, in respect of court proceedings, for the Ministry of Justice

• Act as a mentor and exhibit appropriate role modelling to pre-registered psychologists and less experienced staff

• Maintain own CPD and registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC)

Undertake other management tasks including:

• Accountable for the performance of the Function and the staff within it. Manage the achievement of qualitative and quantitative standards including Service Delivery Indicators (SDI’s) within the Function, verifying and signing off documentation as appropriate. Analyses and acts upon data which is relevant to their Function

• Ensure that all managers and staff within the Function are held accountable for providing decent conditions for prisoners and a safe working environment for staff

• Promotes prison service policy in all activities and behaviours e.g. promote

diversity, decency, safety and reducing re-offending agendas

• Provides leadership and management of the Function. Will have the skills to apply all Human Resources (HR) related policies and practices and be able to carry out all aspects of people management such as attendance management, disciplinary investigations, performance management and staff appraisals

• Investigate and manage Function prisoners complaints process within the Function

• Responsible for ensuring all litigation claims following staff assaults relevant to area have been dealt with in accordance with policy

• Oversee the compilation and achievement of any performance improvement programmes reporting on progress regularly as appropriate

• Manage the appropriate authorisation of financial compliance statements

• Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation

• Ensure that the Function produces and analyses audit and establishment performance management information identifying variances and areas requiring improvements

• Contribute to the establishment’s overall achievement of (SDIs) and standards and be accountable for the performance and delivery of targets relating to the budget, People Plan for the Function

• Accountable for all local and national policies relating to Function, and ensure procedures implemented are compliant, including development of new policies

• Contribute to the development and delivery of the medium-to-long term strategic and business plan for the establishment, with overall responsibility for implementation within their Function

• Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member

• Responsible for ensuring the defined work areas and associated activities comply with Health and Safety legislation. Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility towards Health and Safety compliance

• Work collaboratively and provide constructive challenge to colleagues to ensure that their own and other Functions are joined up and together contribute towards the overall delivery of the establishment’s performance

• Contribute to the preparation of the establishment contingency and emergency plans and ensure implementation when required.

• Ensure the effective use of staff resources and the provision of training and annual leave opportunities

• Produce relevant reports as required and ensure that the response to all correspondence are within agreed timescales

• Ensure effective use of staff resources provide training and annual leave opportunities

• Deliver and implement projects as directed by the Governor

• Actively encourage staff engagement within the Function to ensure objectives are met

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Behaviours

• Delivering at Pace

• Leadership

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

• Managing a Quality Service

• Changing and Improving

• Making Effective Decisions

Essential Experience

• Experience of delivering psychological services directly, and through a managed team.

Technical Requirements

• Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title.

• May be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it.

• Registered for over two years and are eligible for Associate Fellowship of the BPS.

• When transferring to a Young Persons establishment the job holder will be required to successfully undertake an assessment to demonstrate suitability to work with Young People.

• Job holders must complete specific training in their specialism once they take up post.

Hours of Work

37 hour week

Mandatory Eligibility Requirements

Licences, The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on ‘modernised’ terms in their current post or onto ‘unmodernised’ MoJ terms if they are on ‘unmodernised’ terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate’s Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment., Level of security checks required

Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC)

Please note the successful applicant will need to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Security Check for this post.

Success Profiles, The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.

For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are ‘at risk of redundancy’.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate’s will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Must have ability to travel to both Swaleside and Belmarsh on a weekly basis., The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. Possess a professional background in Psychology. Experience in providing clinical supervision. Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise. The job holder are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. Please note that being a Chartered Psychologist is desirable but not essential, The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. Possess a professional background in Psychology. Experience in providing clinical supervision. Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise. The job holder are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. Please note that being a Chartered Psychologist is desirable but not essential

Languages

Spoken and Written English, Communicating and Influencing

Delivering at Pace

Developing Self and Others

Leadership

Making Effective Decisions

Managing a Quality Service

The national salary range is £68,295 – £75,124, London salary range is £71,192 – £78,311. Your salary will be dependent on your base location, Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);

• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);

• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Interview dates

To be confirmed

Closing Date

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com, if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance, · nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules