23808 - Senior Registered Forensic or Clinical Psychologist - Psychology Services - PIPE Clinical Lead - HMYOI Hindley in Wigan

Psychology Services (NWPS) currently have a vacancy for the Clinical Lead of the 10-bed, main location, Preparation PIPE (Psychologically Informed Planned Environment) at HMP Hindley, a Category C prison located in Wigan. This post is a permanent full-time Senior Psychologist role within the NWPS team with 0.8 (WTE) based on the PIPE and 0.2 (WTE) in the wider NWPS team. The successful candidate will, in partnership with the Operational Lead, support a range of professionals to deliver positive and boundaried relationships with prisoners to facilitate rehabilitation. They will also be passionate about collaborative formulation, supporting progression, reducing reoffending and relational working.

NWPS have 3 PIPEs in total, meaning that there is a supportive team offering clinical PIPE provision in NWPS. The post holder will be expected to engage in all necessary duties, including but not limited to mandatory training and reporting requirements, as well as completing duties as required by the PIPE role, including regular attendance at in-person national meetings at various locations and regular in-person group clinical supervision; therefore, travel is a requirement of this post. The post holder will be based on site on the PIPE at HMP Hindley. Placement as PIPE Clinical Lead would be collaboratively reviewed with the post holder after a period of not more than 3 years to ensure development needs of both the PIPE environment and the post holder are being met.

To be eligible, the post holder should have two years post registration experience at the point of taking up post. However, applications will be welcomed from psychologists who have a minimum of 18 months post registration experience; although they will not be able to formally take up the post until they have been registered for two years and subject to the necessary pre-employment checks. The post holder will be working with complex individuals and staff, applying their experience and competence in psychology to reduce the risk of harm and re-offending by providing collaborative formulation, psycho-education, consultancy, supervision and training for staff, undertaking complex risk assessments, conducting research and interventions, both as part of the PIPE Clinical Lead and generic NWPS roles. This is a non-operational prisoner facing role with line management responsibilities.

PIPE Context: Psychologically Informed Planned Environments (PIPEs) are part of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway, which is jointly commissioned by the NHS and HMPPS. PIPEs are specifically designed, contained environments where staff members have additional training to develop an increased psychological understanding of their work. This understanding enables them to create an enhanced safe and supportive environment, which can facilitate the development of those who live and work there. They are designed to have a particular focus on the environment in which they operate; actively recognising the importance and quality of relationships and interactions. They aim to maximise ordinary situations and to approach these in a psychologically informed way, paying attention to interpersonal difficulties, for example those issues that might be linked to personality disorder. PIPEs are not treatment interventions - the PIPEs model has been developed as an environmental approach to enhance the delivery of core work within Prison and Probation (community) settings, where additional psychological or ‘psychosocial’ considerations are required.

Key Clinical Lead Duties: The post holder will hold a strategic position as Clinical Lead for the PIPE service. They will have a lead role in creating and maintaining a healthy psychosocial environment; ensuring that the unit adheres to the theoretical principles of the PIPE model. This will include design, delivery and oversight of the core components of the PIPE model, including group work and the management of group dynamics, delivery of group and individual supervision. It also requires the post holder to work closely with the Operational Lead. The post holder will manage the development of a positive and enabling milieu, ensuring that the delivery of psychosocial aspects of the PIPE service is compliant with policy and delivery arrangements. This will include ensuring the PIPE service works towards and meeting and maintaining the standards set out for the Enabling Environment accreditation.

Responsibilities as Clinical Lead: The post holder will be managing a wide range of complex dynamics within the environment and host organisation. This will require the post holder to take on a leadership role within the organisation, working effectively alongside operational and strategic leads for the service. The post holder will contribute to staff development by offering training, supporting and providing clinical supervision. They will also participate in individual and group (peer) supervision, provided in a central location by a group analytic consultant each month. The PIPE clinical lead will ensure that the application of the PIPE service supports and adheres to its agreed pathway function. Attendance at monthly Clinical Lead business meetings (London), monthly individual and group supervision sessions provided externally (Leeds) and quarterly contract review meetings with commissioners is integral to the role. You will also be required to provide a quarterly report for commissioners alongside the PIPE unit Custodial Manager.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties as part of NWPS: Please see the generic Band 8 Senior Psychologist job description and advert.

Additional Information:

• The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows.
• 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.

Benefits:

• Annual Leave - The holiday year runs from 1 March.
• Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays - You are entitled to 9 days in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.
• Pension - The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes.
• Work Life Balance - HMPPS is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements.
• 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.

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.

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.

Diversity & Inclusion: The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans: The initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria.

Redeployment Interview Scheme: Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant.

Civil Service Nationality Rules: This job is broadly open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK, and others as specified.

Reserve list: A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.