We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. We receive over 30,000 applications a year for compensation from people who have lost loved ones or have been injured through violent crime. We know financial compensation can never fully redress what they have suffered. Nevertheless, what we do is an important part of providing justice for victims and we take pride that the compensation we pay helps people move forward with their lives.
We employ around 300 people and are based in Glasgow city centre with excellent transport links. We are a small, engaged, productive workforce with a real sense of corporate community. We want to keep improving our services and the way we work to best serve the public, meet new challenges, deliver value for money and ensure CICA is a great place to work.
The role
We are seeking to recruit a qualified and experienced Clinical Psychologist with established leadership skills to lead our team of in-house Clinical Psychologists (CPs). This is a non-client facing post, leading the clinical psychologist function within CICA. The function is delivered by a team of 9 CPs who assimilate multiple sources of complex information to provide a diagnosis or prognosis of disabling mental injury (DMI) in line with the criteria set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Schemes. CICA receives over 30,000 applications per year and approximately 1500 are referred to the CICA CP Team for assessment. Where there is not sufficient evidence to make an informed assessment , CPs may recommend further information is requested or that an applicant is referred for a face-to-face consultation, which will be undertaken by a contracted external provider.
This role supports our decision makers in deciding an appropriate level of compensation for qualifying applicants, as soon as is practicable and contributes to the achievement of organisational key performance indicators.
You will need to be regarded as an expert in the field of clinical psychology with experience and ability of leading other clinical psychologists through complex and difficult diagnosis, based on documented medical histories . Your role is critical to managing this resource efficiently, ensuring compliance with professional standards and defined responsibilities. Performed effectively, this leadership role will foster a highly engaged team to deliver its objectives and support operational delivery colleagues in the achievement of CICA strategic objectives. You will operate effective controls on work allocation and quality assurance to ensure quality and accurate assessment of DMI within the terms and criteria of the compensation scheme.
This role is the most senior Clinical Psychologist within the organisation reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, providing assurance on the team’s operational delivery and professional performance, identifying improvement opportunities, exercising risk management control within the function and developing solutions in partnership with the wider business. This role will have considerable discretion within their own area. Most day-to-day decisions taken at this level will not be vetted before implementation. You will refer to senior colleagues on those matters involving major questions of policy or significant departures from accepted practice.
In liaison with the Deputy Chief Executive, you will build connections with the wider Psychology Services in the MoJ to support compliance with professional standards, be alert to new initiatives and approaches and to explore opportunities for closer working and professional development.
You will have line management responsibilities for Grade 7 CPs
Responsibilities
- Key interface with operational delivery colleagues, managing and negotiating CP worklists and referrals for diagnosis or prognosis of DMI and interdependencies with external contracted provision.
- Undertake capacity planning, allocating cases and deployment of CP resource to ensure turnaround times and production of reports align with CICA operational objectives.
- Develop and deliver CP function workforce planning strategy, including succession planning models to meet operational demand.
- Identify resource requirements and secure commitment and approval from the Executive Management Board.
- Leading the CP team to flex and adapt to shifts and changes in CICA operational strategies and ways of working
- Production of monthly and ad-hoc management information for the Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
- Monitor performance taking prompt action to address emerging issues setting out the impact and consequences for operational delivery, immediate and downstream.
- Set performance benchmarks and operate regular performance reviews at team and 1:1 levels.
- Operate a quality assurance framework including calibration exercises and peer review to test quality and accuracy of DMI reports, supporting continuous learning and development. Provide feedback to Director of Operations as required to improve operational performance and compliance with operational processes.
- Accountable for accurate and timely assessment of high profile DMI referrals, including major incidents and complex sensitive cases which attract media and political attention. Undertaking risk assessments where required to contribute to reputational risk controls.
- Use performance data to drive continuous improvement to optimise and improve CP and DMI processes.
- Develop and deliver training to all new CPs
- Set and maintain standards on information management and security within the CP team.
- Accountable for own and team members’ Continuing Professional Development (CPD), ensure team compliance with Health and Care Profession Council (HCPC) standards. Provide assurance that CICA CPs maintain HCPC registered status and take appropriate action where this is not achieved, specifically regarding fitness to practice.
- Act as mentor and supervisor, exhibiting appropriate role modelling to less experienced psychologists.
- Responsible for team and individual communications including performance and clinical meetings and reviews
- Subject to capacity, undertake assessment of DMI referrals
The post is offered on a fixed term appointment basis for up to 2 years however it may subsequently be extended or offered on a permanent basis in accordance with Civil Service employment policies. Working patterns are available on a full-time or part-time basis, with flexible office hours between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday. There is the potential to work from home, however some office attendance will be required. If you are interested in part-time working, we can offer a minimum of 5 hours per working day and 16 hours per week.
Essential criteria
- We are looking for a Clinical Psychologist with leadership experience and capability.
- They must hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). A minimum of five years post qualification experience is required.
- Confident in delivering operational leadership responsibilities in combination with professional clinical psychology expertise
- Ability to review and analyse management information with a view to identifying issues, learning opportunities and opportunities for improvement
- Strong stakeholder engagement and collaborative working skills
Selection Process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Experience, Behaviours and Strengths.
To apply please upload a CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 1000 words detailing previous relevant experience, what attracts you to this role and what attributes you would bring to this position. Please also indicate your preferred working pattern.
If you are invited to interview, you may be asked to deliver a presentation. Further information, including the presentation topic, will be shared in the interview invitation. At interview we will assess you against these behaviours:
- Leadership
- Making effective decisions
- Working together
- Communicating and influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
During the panel interview, you will be asked behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of and strength-based questions to explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.
The interview will take place in CICA office at Alexander Bain House, 15 York Street, Glasgow.
Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Disability Confident
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Reasonable Adjustments
Tell us if you have a disability when you apply, and we can offer reasonable adjustments to help with the selection process.
If you require any assistance at any time please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am-6pm) or e-mail MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com.
Contact
If you have any questions about this role please contact us at Linda.brown@cica.gov.uk
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