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.
HMPPS Youth Custody Psychology Services (YCPS) is a geographically dispersed team which provides distinct services for all children (girls and boys aged under 18 years) accommodated within the Youth Custody Service (YCS) for England and Wales. YCPS Cluster Lead Psychologists (CLP) are part of a dynamic child-focussed central team which co-ordinates the services for children within Public sites: HMYOIs; Cookham Wood, Feltham (A & B: 18-21), Werrington and Wetherby and also across Private sites and HQ. Each CPL oversees psychology services within their cluster including contribution to a multi-agency/departmental approach for those children with exceptionally complex needs. CLP hold line management responsibilities of Senior Forensic and Counselling Psychologists and Family Therapists and a team of those in training in sites plus other central staff including Forensic, Occupational and Educational Psychologists. All CPLs also provide clinical oversight on specific YCS wide psychologically informed strategies such as Enhanced Support Services, Girls, Interventions, Safety, Staff Support etc. Cluster allocation and strategy areas can change and are usually matched to business need and personal skill set, interests and circumstances. As part of the wider HMPPS Psychology Service Group (PSG), the post-holder will also benefit from numerous opportunities to be involved in work within the adult estate and each CPL will be an active member of a PSG Board e.g. Diversity & Inclusion, Safety, Research, Staff Training etc. and various other service-wide working groups e.g. Psychometric Assessments. Whilst experience of working with children involved in the youth justice system is desirable as ongoing support and training will be provided, the motivation to do so is essential. Applications are welcomed from all those with the relevant qualifications and skills and who have a desire to be involved in improving the life chances of the girls and boys in YCS care.
Please note the Locations for Youth Custody Service are:
- HMPYOI Cookham Wood
- HMPYOI Feltham
- HMPYOI Werrington
- HMPYOI Wetherby
Organisation Level Senior Management - The job holder will be a Senior Manager and is accountable for the provision of leadership, direction, coordination, strategic decisions and risks for a large/complex establishment with managerial responsibility for all staff across their functions. They are accountable for the budgets allocated to functions and the effective and efficient use of resources to ensure the security of establishment.
Overview
Job holders within this Group Profile will be report to Regional Lead and be responsible for managing delivery of services across a region. They will provide specialist knowledge, guidance and support on their area of specialism to establishments with the region.
The job holder will need to ensure that they implement robust systems to manage the services they provide, as they will often be distanced from front-line duties and will need to delegate appropriately. They will be required to robustly apply national policies in their area and draft local policies accordingly.
These are non operational roles but may be prisoner facing.
Characteristics
Typical tasks associated with this Group Profile include:
- Accountable for the delivery of the specialist psychological services as defined in the Service Delivery Agreements (SDA) for each prison within the cluster
- Accountable for ensuring psychological services are delivered in an ethical and professional manner, in line with the Health Professional Council (HPC) Standards of Proficiency, the HPC Standards of Performance and Ethics, and the British Psychological Services (BPS) Code of Ethics and Conduct
- Accountable for supporting the development of Forensic Psychological Services through the supervision of trainee Psychologists
- Accountable for contributing to research, consultancy and training activities as deemed appropriate by the Regional Psychologist
- Accountable for managing and providing professional supervision to forensic psychology staff across a range of locations
- Accountable for monitoring the work outputs within the psychology clusters against the Service Delivery Agreements(SDA)s to identify performance issues quickly and effect appropriate change to rectify them if needs be
- Liaise with Regional Forensic Psychology staff and HMPPS managers as appropriate
- Accountable for undertaking strategic and developmental work in conjunction with the Regional Psychologist, other Cluster Managers in the Region and with the HMPPS Lead Psychologist
- Responsible for trouble shooting and supporting prison sites with delivery issues/accredited programmes/other interventions in conjunction with the head of Reducing reoffending and/or Programme Managers at delivery sites
- Accountable for managing the needs based prioritisation and allocation process for the provision of forensic psychological input into risk assessment and management of specific offenders within the region for their cluster.
- Accountable for supporting the delivery and management of the risk assessment and management of offenders for their cluster
- Accountable for collating information relating to the assessment and treatment needs of violent and sexual offenders in order to inform future commissioning of appropriate treatment/services
- Accountable for monitoring changes to prisoner populations and subsequent demand for psychological services within the Region within their cluster
- Work collaboratively within the HMPPS Region Forensic Psychology Service to undertake good quality and timely risk assessments, personality assessments and ability assessments as directed/required
- Accountable for conducting and overseeing appropriate interventions with high risk offenders as directed by the HMPPS Regional Psychologist
- Accountable for contributing to public protection and the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) process for suitable cases and in terms of attending and contributing to relevant meetings.
- As a trained Negotiation Advisor (NA), to provide input at live and simulated incidents within the Region or wider HMPPS (e.g. as Gold NA), as required
- Accountable for coordinating research, training and consultancy work within the cluster, and linking across clusters where necessary to limit duplication and increase cohesion of psychology work delivered
- Represents the Region Forensic Psychology Service at internal and external events and venues.
- Maintains own Continued Professional Development (CPD) and registration with the Health Professional Council (HPC)
Job Descriptions relating to this Group Profile
The job holder once in post will be in matched to a job description a sample list is attached below. The post is rotational so the job holder could during their career carry out the role of several job descriptions
- Cluster Psychology Lead : Psychology
Essential Skills/Qualifications/ Accreditation/ Registration
The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. They will have experience of delivering psychological services directly, and through a managed team. They will have been registered for over two years and are eligible for Associate Fellowship of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Behaviours
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Essential Experience
- Experience of delivering psychological services directly, and through a managed team
Technical Requirements
- Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title
- Must be eligible for Associate Fellowship of the British Psychological Society
Hours of Work
37 hour working week
TOP