Senior Registered Psychologist – Psychology Services – YCS Psychology Services - HMYOI Wetherby

The job holder will be working with prisoners, people on probation and staff, applying their competence in psychology to reduce the risk of harm and re-offending by undertaking a range of work including risk assessment of prisoners, conducting research, providing consultancy, delivering training for staff, and assessment and interventions for offenders.

This job holder will be able to provide designated support and supervision to trainee psychologists. Various exciting opportunities have arisen for several Senior Registered Psychologists within Psychology Services for HMPPS Youth Custody Service (YCS). We currently have a position at Wetherby (West Yorkshire) but also those involved in various areas of work provided across YCS for England and Wales including interventions, safety, children’s support services, and staff well-being and support.

With approximately 450 children in custody, YCS Psychology Services work across the whole spectrum of complex needs of this population as part of a trauma-informed approach. Practice is integrated across all partner agencies with an enduring focus on the best interests of the child. Given all services for this specialist population are underpinned by evidence-based practice, Psychology Services are integral to YCS. YCS Senior Psychologists also line manage and supervise the practice of other staff in the team including trainee psychologists.

Whilst mainly services for children, YCS Psychology Services works into HMP Feltham B which accommodates adults, thereby providing opportunities for working with other populations. Further, as part of the wider HMPPS Psychology Services Group, successful applicants will also benefit from numerous opportunities for CPD and career progression working across the wider custodial estate.

While experience of working with children involved in the youth justice system is desirable, full training and support will be provided. Motivation and resilience to work with this complex yet rewarding population is essential. All suitably qualified interested parties are therefore encouraged to apply.

For further information, please contact ycs.psychology@justice.gov.uk.

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.

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.

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 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.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is 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.