The MPFT Forensic Directorate Psychological Service has a vacancy for a full time Applied Psychologist in the low secure in-patient rehabilitation service at Willow ward at The Redwoods Centre in Shrewsbury. Willow ward supports further recovery for adult men with established histories of mental health difficulties.
Applications are invited from Clinical, Forensic and Counselling Psychologists. Experience of working in forensic services is not essential as relevant training will be provided, but is desirable. Of primary importance is an interest and commitment to working with individuals with complex mental health and risk-related needs.
The post is suitable for both newly qualified and experienced clinicians as the starting salary will be based on experience. For a newly qualified psychologist, the post will be offered as a preceptorship with an expectation that the successful candidate will transition from a Band 7 to an 8a within two years of taking up a post. If an applicant has significant relevant post-qualification experience, the offer of a Band 8b post may be considered. The successful applicant will be motivated and committed to making a positive contribution to improving the quality of life for people with complex mental health problems who present a risk of harm to others. They will have an interest in compassion focused, trauma informed approaches and will be keen to contribute to the development of psychological services within the Forensic Directorate.
Main duties of the job
The Practitioner Psychologist post at Willow ward will lead provision of a specialist psychological service to support inpatient service users in their further recovery and prepare them to step down from secure care. The Psychological Service strives to provide a high quality, psychological service for men with complex, long term mental health problems, often rooted in traumatic life experiences. Working in a forensic inpatient setting requires familiarity and confidence in engaging with service users responsible for offences that have caused serious violent or sexual harm.
In addition, strong emphasis is placed on supporting the wider workforce, enhancing their understanding of and support for psychologically-informed ways of working, for example through use of formulation-based meetings, while also supporting them in their roles through provision of reflective practice, critical incident support and training. Supervision and support will be offered to other members of the psychology team at Clee. Currently the Psychological Service offer is multi-modal, using a wide and flexible range of therapeutic models and types of psychological interventions, both individually and in groups where appropriate. The post-holder will be expected to have established skills in the use of highly complex methods of psychological assessment, including specialist psychometric and neuropsychological testing. Experience of using and reporting structured professional judgment tools is desirable.
About us
By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by:
* Supporting your career development and progression
* Excellent NHS Pension scheme
* Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
* Options for flexible working
* Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
* Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
* If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
* Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
* Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
* Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
* Free car parking at all trust sites
* Free flu vaccinations every year
* Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)
And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.
Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Job description
Job responsibilities
**Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the role.**
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* A First or Upper Second honours degree in psychology OR a lower Second degree with a post-graduate qualification, e.g. Masters degree.
Experience
Essential
* Significant prior experience of face-to-face work with people with severe and enduring mental illness or learning disability and a history of behaviour that presents a risk of harm to others.
Desirable
* Prior experience of work in a secure setting or co-facilitating therapeutic group interventions.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Essential
* High level communication skills (written and verbal).
Employer details
Employer name
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Willow Ward at The Redwoods Centre
Stafford / Shropshire
SY8 8DS
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