This permanent post sits within Psychology Services at the Ministry of Justice, where psychologists work with prisoners and people on probation. The role centres on assessing the risk of harm and reoffending, alongside research, consultancy, staff training and offender interventions. It is a non-operational, offender-facing post with line management duties and designated supervision of trainee psychologists, and it offers hybrid working where business needs allow. Applicants must be HCPC registered and have a professional psychology background.
What the job involves
- Advise on offender targets and placement, and give professional opinion for reports such as lifer and parole reports
- Lead risk assessment and management, and take part in assessments of risk of harm to self, others and reoffending, including ACCT and self-harm assessments
- Deliver or oversee complex treatment programmes
- Supervise trainee forensic psychologists, including designated professional supervision towards chartered and registered status
- Provide training, mentoring and support to trainees and other staff, such as interventions staff
- Ensure staff development against key competencies and gateways, with consistent application of policies and procedures
- Provide specialist consultancy, for example on sexual offending or indeterminate sentenced prisoner strategy, and consultancy to colleagues including the senior management team
- Conduct research, including data gathering and analysis
- Develop strategy and plans of activity for some areas, such as programme assessments and indeterminate sentence interviews
- Act as professional witness at parole board hearings and multi-agency meetings, and as expert witness in court for the Ministry of Justice
- Act as negotiation adviser where competence has been demonstrated
- Maintain own continuing professional development and HCPC registration
What’s required
Qualifications
- Qualified forensic or clinical psychologist
- Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practice
Registration & licences
- HCPC registration in place
Experience
- Professional background in psychology
- Experience of providing clinical supervision
Skills & knowledge
- Spoken and written English
- Civil Service Success Profile behaviours: making effective decisions, leadership, communicating and influencing, working together, developing self and others
Checks & eligibility
- Enhanced DBS check
- Security and identity checks before taking up post
- Eligible under Civil Service nationality rules
- Declare any membership of a group HMPPS considers racist
What’s offered
- Annual leave plus 9 days for bank, public and privilege holidays
- Choice of two Civil Service pension schemes
- Flexible working and hybrid working where business needs allow
- Season ticket advance after two months' service
- Training and development, including promotion programmes
- Loan or secondment for up to 2 years for current NPS employees, subject to approval
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Contact Details:
The Methodist Church in Britain Recruitment Team
