Assistant Psychologist HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes inMilton Keynes PUBLISHED SUN 11 AUG 2024 Jump to job information section

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust rc223v5z

Job description

Job Overview

To support and enhance the psychological care of men across the Mental Health Service in HMP Woodhill. This includes providing mental health assessment and interventions under the supervision of a qualified psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures and those of the wider prison service.

Main duties of the job

To participate in clinical governance and utilise research skills for audit, service development and research within the area served by the multi-disciplinary team.
To undertake clinically-related administration and project work.
To provide assessments and mental health interventions to clients under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist
To work independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the clinic’s policies and procedures
To liaise with other professional services (resettlement workers, probation, CMHT) sharing information where appropriate
To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work

Working for our organisation

We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.

We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Please see attached JD&PS for full details of duties and responsibilities.

To support psychologists in the assessment of male patients within HMP Woodhill. This may include using self-report measures, risk assessment, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care. Assessments will involve making judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options, as well as requiring prolonged concentration
To work in a highly emotive atmosphere with clients with offending histories and / or mental health problems on a regular basis, and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information, whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times
To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings
To support psychologists in preparing for and conducting psychological interventions, both group and individual. To co-facilitate groups with both psychology and non-psychology colleagues when appropriate
To work closely with senior colleagues to ensure information in relation to risk is collected and communicated sensitively and comprehensively
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping, including electronic data entry and recording
To attend and contribute to other prison meetings, and to present the view of Mental Health Team [JR1] for relevant clinical issues. To ensure any actions taken from these meetings are met or that the appropriate individual to carry out the action is informed
To ensure that efficient pathways of care are being created for the clients, including collecting collateral information for new clients and making appropriate referrals into the community when they are approaching discharge.

Person specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria

High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses service user’s particular needs
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities
An ability to apply High standard of report writing skills Knowledge and experience of using SPSS for windows. Application Form Interview References Assessment 10 existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Experience using IT for databases or data-analysis

Desirable criteria

High standard of report writing skills Knowledge and experience of using SPSS for windows.

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

Achieved or working towards an upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
Achieved or working towards entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable criteria

Further training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or offending behaviour problems and/or other disabilities

Desirable criteria

Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
Experience of working in prisons or secure settings
Experience of cofacilitating psychosocial groups
Experience of working within a team.
Experience of using computers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows

Personal

Essential criteria

An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to establish and sustain engagement with people who have mental health problems and severely challenging behavio

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If you're interested in this role but you have questions or you're not yet ready to apply, then please book a quick call with us and we'd be happy to answer any questions you have and tell you more about the role.

Requirements

See the job description for full role requirements.

Benefits

Benefits are provided by the employer and will be confirmed during your application.

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More information related to this job opportunity, from jobsincare:

Useful skills for an Assistant Psychologist HMP Woodhill: Click to view

To work as an Assistant Psychologist at HMP Woodhill (or any similar setting) in the UK, you would typically need a combination of educational qualifications, relevant skills, and experience. Here are some key skills and qualifications that would be beneficial:

Educational Qualifications:

1. Degree in Psychology: A recognized undergraduate degree in psychology that is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) is often a minimum requirement.

2. Postgraduate Qualification (optional but advantageous): A master’s degree in a relevant field such as clinical psychology or forensic psychology may enhance your application.

Relevant Skills:

1. Understanding of Psychological Theories: A solid understanding of psychological theories and frameworks, particularly those relevant to forensic psychology and mental health.

2. Research Skills: Ability to conduct and assist in psychological research, including data collection and analysis.

3. Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with clients, colleagues, and other professionals.

4. Interpersonal Skills: Good interpersonal skills to build rapport with individuals in a prison setting and work effectively in a team.

5. Assessment Skills: Basic understanding of psychological assessment methods and tools, with the ability to administer and score standardized tests under supervision.

6. Organizational Skills: Strong organizational skills to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, and keep detailed records.

7. Empathy and Sensitivity: Ability to show empathy and sensitivity when dealing with individuals from diverse backgrounds, often in challenging circumstances.

8. Resilience and Adaptability: Ability to cope with the emotional and psychological demands of working in a prison environment, as well as flexibility to adapt to changing situations.

Relevant Experience:

1. Work Experience: Prior experience in a clinical or forensic setting (e.g., internships, volunteering) would be beneficial.

2. Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System: Understanding of how psychological issues relate to criminal behavior and knowledge of the justice system may be advantageous.

3. Teamwork: Experience working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams is often important in a prison environment.

Additional Requirements:

- Background Checks: You would likely need to undergo background checks due to the nature of working within a prison environment.

- Training: Some positions may require specific training in safeguarding, health and safety, or managing challenging behavior.

Personal Qualities:

- Integrity and Professionalism: Strong ethical standards and professionalism are crucial when working with vulnerable populations in restrictive settings.

- Curiosity and Continuous Learning: A commitment to ongoing professional development and a willingness to learn from experience.

inMilton Keynes

52.04059982299805 -0.7594169974327087 Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom

in Milton Keynes click to show distance

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