About this role
Job summary
To provide a comprehensive, highly specialist clinical and forensic psychology service within the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women (NHSHSW). To provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention as well as offering advice and consultation regarding service users' psychological care to other members of the clinical team. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within Rampton Hospital.
The post-holder will provide a highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy service to female service users within the NHSHSW. The post-holder will offer advice and consultation on psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the Hospital's policies, procedures and service priorities.
The post-holder will participate fully in multidisciplinary clinical teams, at times leading them. They will develop knowledge and skills in general aspects of forensic clinical psychology and the assessment and treatment of service users who are legally detained as 'mentally disordered' and experience a range of complex mental health difficulties. The post-holder will be capable of conducting projects, working largely independently, with only general briefings and working directly to Trust senior managers.
Main duties of the job
Clinical or Work Practice
To provide specialist psychological assessments to service users within the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users and others involved in the service user's care.
To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment and/or management of a service user's mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the service user's difficulties, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.
To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions, individual and group, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.
To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of service users whose difficulties are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.
To liaise closely with other members of the multidisciplinary team, giving authoritative specialist advice on psychological aspects of care, contributing directly to formulation, diagnosis and treatment planning.
About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.
We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.
We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.
The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.
The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.
Job description Job responsibilities
As detailed above and in job description. In summary
To provide specialist psychological assessments to service users within the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users and others involved in the service users care.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Rampton Hospital is currently consulting on the introduction of a probationary period. Candidates should note that, if approved, this may be applicable at the time of appointment to this post.
Person Specification
Physical Requirements Essential
Ability to undertake MVA training and employ these skills when required
Qualifications - Academic / Craft / Professional Essential
Good honours degree in psychology, accredited by the British Psychology Society. MSc or Doctorate in Clinical or Forensic Psychology (applicants with equivalent training as a practitioner psychologist (for instance Health and Counseling Psychology) will also be eligible. Must be HCPC registered as a Practitioner Psychologist
Desirable
Chartered status or eligibility for chartered status with the BPS Further relevant post-qualification training/qualifications
Training Essential
Training includes models of psychopathology, psychometric assessment, developmental psychology through the life span and two or more distinct approaches to therapeutic intervention. Training and supervised practice within forensic mental health services. Evidence of CPD
Desirable
Advanced knowledge, experience, and expertise in at least one specialist area of clinical/forensic practice gained through specialist training and supervised practice (e.g., psychotherapy, neuropsychology, risk assessment, clinical and forensic supervision). Evidence of training in assessment/therapies relevant for women's forensic services e.g., DBT, Fire setting Treatment, Complex Trauma, Self-Harm
Contractual Requirements Essential
Ability to carry out all mandatory training
Desirable
A full UK driving license and vehicle for business use (due to the remote location of the hospital, reliance on public transport can be challenging).
Values and Behaviours Essential
All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation
Experience Essential
Experience of working collaboratively and effectively in multidisciplinary teams. Experience of working with people, in gender sensitive ways, who present severe problems and complex needs. Experience of exercising clinical responsibility, under supervision, for psychological care and treatment in the context of multidisciplinary care plans. Experience of Risk Assessment
Desirable
Experience of working with women in forensic mental health settings Experience of delivering female specific group programmes or interventions Experience of facilitating ward/MDT based supervision and/or reflective practice groups Experience of delivering training and supervision to staff, MDT colleagues, and other psychologists. Experience of clinical audit, service evaluation and research. Experience of providing and evaluating evidence-based highly specialist psychological interventions to address complex problems and needs of female mentally disordered offenders in a forensic service. Experience of teaching psychologists and/or other professionals. Experience of service development projects. Experience of working as a qualified psychologist in a forensic environment, or with women. Can demonstrate experience of supporting the development of others / improving others' clinical practice Experience of developing therapy programmes in a relevant context Experience of involvement in recruitment and appraisals of junior staff
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of legal system/MHA. Can demonstrate knowledge and skills in assessment and interventions relevant to clinical forensic practice. Knowledge and skills in therapeutic approaches relevant to mentally disordered offenders. Good knowledge of research design and methodology and understanding their application within secure forensic mental health settings. Awareness of current national policy and legislation in the criminal justice system and/or health relevant to the service.
Desirable
Awareness and knowledge of the difficulties of working in forensic settings.
Skills Essential
Can demonstrate clinical effectiveness in individual and group work, risk and clinical assessment. Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with patients who are often highly distressed and challenging. Ability to communicate with patients, families, and other professionals about sensitive and sometimes contentious issues relating to patient care. Research skills for audit, service development, and research projects. Ability to plan and organise clinical service provision to meet service demands. Proven ability to work effectively within multi-disciplinary teams. Groupwork Skills. IT literacy - including skills in the use of SPSS or R/databases/spreadsheets.
Desirable
Experience of dissemination of research/service evaluation. (e.g., publications). Record of clinical effectiveness in a forensic women's service. Can demonstrate competence in supervision of junior psychology and MDT staff and psychology trainees. Presentation and teaching skills.
Attributes Essential
Good communication skills. Commitment and enthusiasm. Reliability & personal integrity.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address Rampton Hospital,
Woodbeck
DN22 0PD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)