Forensic Psychologist in Training (Therapeutic Community)

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HMP Dovegate, ST14 8XR

Full time, 40 hours

Permanent

£33,580 Per Annum

HMP Dovegate is a category B male establishment prison based on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border near Uttoxeter. The operational capacity for the prison is 1100 prisoners who are serving a range of sentences including; trial, remand, those awaiting sentence and convicted men serving up to life in prison. Joining our onsite team at this category B prison, you’ll play a key role in delivering Psychological Services to residents. Here at Serco we have a vacancy for a Forensic Psychologist to join our Therapeutic Community Team.

The Therapeutic Community is a unique role, offering the opportunity to work with long term prisoners who are engaged in therapy to reduce their risk of re-offending. The Therapeutic Community is part of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway; a network of services supporting some of the most complex men within the Criminal Justice System. 

Your primary job purpose will be to administer the delivery of Psychological Services at the prison. This role can vary including Parole directions, supervising Forensic Psychologists in Training, consulting to prison staff, conducting research and providing staff training. You will be based on one of our communities and be involved with tasks including the following: 

• To complete psychological assessments of prisoners including HCR-20, SARA, WAIS after training and under supervision
• To ensure completion of Parole reports and Parole directions complying with deadlines.
• To help develop the work of Psychological Services, for example through assessments and group spaces on TC
• Deliver training as required to prison staff
• To contribute psychological knowledge - and provide support - to prison procedures
• To be involved in research within the prison as required by the Head of Service, Prison Director, and/or Senior Prison Managers
• To provide a consultancy role to staff in psychological matters as required
• To develop and deliver training to prison staff and colleagues as required.
• To make progress towards qualification enabling Registration with the HCPC (and BPS) as a Practitioner Psychologist.

This is a role that offers variety and contributes enormously to the important work of reintegrating offenders back into society.

Some of the benefits of working at HMP Dovegate include a significant focus on staff wellbeing, access to free dog training (subject to availability), and access to CPD opportunities including attendance at conferences and training events.

What you’ll need to do the role

As a minimum, a Forensic Psychologist in Training must have fully completed Stage 1 of the Qualification in Forensic Psychology (BSc in Psychology or equivalent that is approved through the BPS and an MSc in Forensic Psychology that is approved by the BPS).

As a minimum, they must have experience of working with offenders and carrying out assessments and interventions with a forensic population. They must have good knowledge of Psychological theory regarding treatment of violent offending.  Familiar with what works literature and of a range of psychotherapeutic treatment approaches. 

Why Serco

Meaningful and vital work - Using specialist behavioural analysis you’ll contribute to the reintegration of ex-offenders back into society, helping them to address the factors that influence offending behaviour.

A world of opportunity - With six prisons across the UK and a breadth of roles, you’ll be wholeheartedly supported with development and career progression. We actively fund psychologists towards chartered and/or registered status and with ongoing CPD activities and look to promote from within.

Great people - You’ll become an integral member of a well-defined and supportive team, who believe passionately in the value of our work. We promote an empathic and therapeutic approach, respecting individual differences and promoting self-efficacy

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone. By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.  At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact j&icareersUK@serco.com. 

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on j&icareersUK@serco.com to discuss.