Job Description for Band 8 Pipe role
Psychologically Informed Planned Environments (PIPEs) are specifically designed,
contained environments where staff members have additional training to develop
an increased psychological understanding of their work. This understanding
enables them to create an enhanced safe and supportive environment, which can
facilitate the development of those who live and work there. They are designed to
have a particular focus on the environment in which they operate; actively
recognising the importance and quality of relationships and interactions. They aim
to maximise ordinary situations and to approach these in a psychologically
informed way, paying attention to interpersonal difficulties, for example those
issues that might be linked to personality disorder.
PIPEs are not treatment interventions - the PIPEs model has been developed as
an environmental approach to enhance the delivery of core work within Prison and
Probation (community) settings, where additional psychological or ‘psychosocial’
considerations are required.
PIPE Clinical Lead - Sample Job Description (Not Provider-Specific) April 2018
Page 2 of 8
Principal Duties:
The post holder will hold a strategic position as Clinical Lead for the PIPE service.
They will have a key role in creating and maintaining a healthy psychosocial
environment; ensuring that the unit adheres to the theoretical principles of the
PIPE model. This will include design, delivery and oversight of the core
components of the PIPE model, including group work and the management of
group dynamics.
The post holder will manage the development of a positive and enabling milieu,
ensuring that the delivery of psychosocial aspects of the PIPE service is compliant
with policy and delivery arrangements. This will include ensuring the PIPE service
works towards and meeting and maintaining the standards set out for the Enabling
Environment award1
Responsibilities:
The post holder will be managing a wide range of complex dynamics within the
environment and host organisation. This will require the post holder to take on a
leadership role within the organisation, working effectively alongside operational
and strategic leads for the service.
The post holder will contribute to staff development by offering training, supporting
and providing clinical supervision. They will also participate in individual and group
(peer) supervision, provided in a central location by a group analytic consultant
each month.
The PIPE clinical lead will ensure that the application of the PIPE service supports
and adheres to its agreed pathway function, e.g. Progression or Community.
The post holder will be expected to carry out the following duties:
Clinical/Psychosocial:
? To manage the implementation and delivery of the PIPE model in line with
the PIPE service specification and national guidance; developing
operational structures and approaches so that they are appropriately
psychologically and psychosocially informed.
? To develop necessary psychosocial conditions required to support
progression through the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway, ensuring
the service has a focus on the lived ‘experience’ of service users.
? To develop and implement socially-creative semi-structured activities within
the PIPE in order to contribute to a healthy psychosocial environment. To
ensure these sessions are responsive and adhere to principles of service
user involvement and engagement.
1 www.enablingenvironments.com
PIPE Clinical Lead - Sample Job Description (Not Provider-Specific) April 2018
Page 3 of 8
? To develop a culture that promotes ‘planned’ and ‘psychologically informed’
responses from staff in relation to the host environment. This includes
consideration of institutional dynamics and processes.
? To oversee and manage the referral and assessment process for those
applying to the PIPE, ensuring any relevant population and criteria
considerations are taken into account, and all decisions are documented.
Also, to liaise with the national Clinical Development Lead for PIPEs where
appropriate.
? To ensure that there is consistency and equity in approach from frontline
members of the PIPE team, managing and mitigating the clinical impact of
staffing structures, e.g. shift patterns or long absences.
? In conjunction with the Operational Lead to ensure the weekly programme
of activities in the PIPE meet both clinical and operational requirements.
? To oversee the delivery of the structured and socially-creative groups and to
develop further groups as the need arises.
? Where appropriate, to contribute to or facilitate contributions to public
protection and the MAPPA process for suitable cases including attending
and contributing to relevant meetings.
? To ensure the unit develops towards and maintains the recognised
“Enabling Environment" award status, in conjunction with the Royal College
of Psychiatrists.
? To promote and support a culture of innovation and creativity in the
approach to working within the PIPE framework.
? To manage the design and integration of ‘shared experience’ or ‘enriching’
opportunities within the PIPE services, facilitating external organisations
(e.g. Reader in Residence or Creative Arts organisations), and their
integration into the PIPE model.
? To support and facilitate effective psychologically informed contributions
from the PIPE staff to Parole and other reporting process
? To contribute to the national programme of PIPE service development, and
attend national clinical business meetings as required
Supervision/Consultation:
? To provide professional supervision to the PIPE service staff both on an
individual and a group basis, promoting the PIPE culture and ethos, and
PIPE Clinical Lead - Sample Job Description (Not Provider-Specific) April 2018
Page 4 of 8
supporting a developed understanding of Personality Disorder and
psychosocial processes.
? To support non-clinical staff to engage effectively in a process of
supervision and reflective practice, developing an understanding of groups
and group process.
? To manage and provide professional supervision to the Clinical Support
staff member
? To participate in national individual and group (peer) supervision, provided
by a group analytic consultant each month.
Teaching/Training:
? To promote a developed and applied understanding of Personality Disorder
within the staff group.
? To undertake, where appropriate, a training needs analysis for the PIPE
service, and facilitate delivery of an agreed training plan, in line with the
requirements of the PIPE model.
? To design and deliver in house training and development of PIPE unit staff
as required, in order to develop a healthy psychosocial environment and to
enable the staff to carry out the requirements of the PIPE operating model
effectively.
? To coordinate and facilitate access to external training events for PIPE
service staff.
? To coordinate local PIPE awareness training for the host establishment or
organisation
? To attend training sessions in line with the Continuing Professional
Development requirements of the BPS and the Health Care Professions
Council, or equivalent authority.
Managerial/Organisational
? To liaise with NHS/HMPPS Personality Disorder team, and co[1]commissioners as
required.
? To work collaboratively with the host establishment/organisation
? To link in effectively with Offender Managers and Offender Supervisors
? To manage and be responsible for providing data as required to
co[1]commissioners, in line with contracting arrangements
PIPE Clinical Lead - Sample Job Description (Not Provider-Specific) April 2018
Page 5 of 8
? To link in with appropriate OPD pathway and other services, facilitating
access to internal or external clinical services as required, e.g. regional
OPD networks
? To represent the PIPE at appropriate forums, workshops and development
meetings as required.
? To represent the PIPE at internal and external events.
? To represent the PIPE at National meetings as required, and in the
development of pathways for Offenders with Personality Disorder.
? With the operational lead to ensure key stakeholders and potential referrals
are fully informed of the PIPE, ensuring the marketing and profile of the
PIPE are effectively managed.
Evaluation/Research
? To contribute to the national evaluation of the Offender PD Pathway under
the guidance of the national NHS/HMPPS OPD Research lead.
? To ensure data requirements are met, submitting data returns to the
national OPD team where required.
? To develop a local research and evaluation strategy specific to the PIPE,
that complements the national evaluation process.
? To oversee the delivery of psychological or climate measures as required.
? To ensure local staff are familiar with the service outcomes for PIPEs and
how their work contributes to the national strategy.
? To contribute to a growing body of evidence around the development of the
PIPEs concept e.g. through contribution to academic articles, maintaining
local evidence about PIPE experiences and informing the design of
research and evaluation processes.