Forensic Psychologist

Forensic Psychologist – JOB SUMMARY -To assist in the delivery of specialist psychological input to the adult service, providing high quality and specialist assessment and treatment to patients in the service.
Lead in the development, delivery and maintenance of evidence based assessment and treatment initiatives for a complex treatment group, including, where appropriate, the evaluation of the effectiveness of such treatment via systematic empirical research.
To provide complex assessments for patients, and deliver therapy (group and individual), in addition to providing input into multi-disciplinary team working. Support staff through the provision of psychological consultancy regarding the individual patients and the service as a whole.
To supervise and support in the training and supervision of psychology assistants and junior psychology staff, as appropriate.

Job Requirements – KEY RESULT AREAS
1. Therapeutic Skills
1.1 To assist the Head of Therapy Services with the development, delivery and maintenance of evidence based treatment initiatives for a complex treatment group, to include individual and group therapy and to account for the development and refinement of psychological formulations.
1.2 To assist in the provision of complex, sensitive and contentious information to patients presenting with a range of mental health needs, feeding back and managing personal exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances/material.
1.3 To assist in the provision of specialist psychological assessments and risk assessments for patients referred to the service including those with forensic needs. This should be based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological 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 patients, family members and others involved in the patient’s care.
1.4 To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a patient’s difficulties, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the person’s complex problems, and employing methods of proven efficacy, across the full range of care settings.
1.5 To deliver therapy, as directed by the multi-disciplinary team to the highest standard.
1.6 To ensure that all members of the multi-disciplinary team have access to a psychologically based framework for understanding and caring for patients, through the provision of advice and consultation and the dissemination of psychological research and theory.
1.7 To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation, treatment and management plans of patients and those involved in their care and treatment, and to monitor and evaluate progress.

1.8 To attend multi-disciplinary reviews and meetings to contribute to the client formulation, offering a psychologically informed perspective.
1.9 To support nursing staff in the provision of psychologically informed treatment approaches.
2. Teaching, Training and Supervision

2.1 To assist in the provision of teaching and training to staff on the effective psychological management of the patient group as directed by the Head of Therapy Services.

2.2 As a supervisor of therapy groups, provide supervision to therapy co-facilitators, that includes providing advice on performance.

2.3 To assist in the provision of professional supervision to recently qualified or more junior applied psychologists and/or nursing staff attached to the team as and when appropriate.

2.4 To assist in post-qualification training (CPD) and professional supervision to therapists, and help with management of their workload.

2.5 To maintain and develop skills in the area of professional pre- and post-graduate training and supervision.

3. Research and Service Evaluation

3.1 To assist, as a qualified clinician, in the development of research projects that further the knowledge of the service offered and its related theories. This may also include taking the lead in some research projects, and offering research advice to other staff.

3.2 To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in assessments and individual and group based therapies with other team members.

4. General

4.1 To comply with Professional Standards and maintain professional registration as a Psychologist.

4.2 To ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes.

4.3 To ensure the development and articulation of best practice in psychology within the service area and contribute across the service by exercising the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of applied psychology and related disciplines.

4.4 Ensure all required reports are completed within a reasonable time scale as directed by the service specific standards for psychology.

4.5 To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice and organisational policies and procedures.

4.6 To comply with the provisions of Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and other relevant legislation and taking personal responsibility for own safety and health whilst at work.

4.7 To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.

4.8 To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent, reliable attendance.

To Apply Please submit your CV