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General Information

Salary
£68,295 - £75,124
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Sheerness
Region
South West
Closing Date
25-Apr-2025
Business Unit
Psychology Services
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
4679

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

      Please note the post is national, but there will be an expectation to travel with a frequent requirement to be in London as the successful candidate will be developing a national service so will go to the regional delivery teams and the central team sits in Petty France. 

 

Overview of the job    

This is non-operational offender facing role.

Summary         

The job holder reports to the Regional Lead Psychologist. The Principal Psychologist is responsible for the delivery of specialist psychological services across the geographical or functional area which comprise the relevant services. This will include management and provision of professional support to the psychological staff involved in this work. The jobholder will also undertake assessments/interventions of complex cases and will act in a co-ordination role to balance the demands on the team against available resources.

The job holder will be non-operational, with line management responsibilities.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties           

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Accountable for the delivery of the specialist psychological services as defined in the relevant Service Delivery Agreements (SDA).
  • Accountable for ensuring psychological services are delivered in an ethical and professional manner, in line with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency, the HCPC Standards of Performance and Ethics, and the British Psychological Services (BPS) Code of Ethics and Conduct.
  • Accountable for supporting the development of Forensic Psychological Services through the supervision of trainee Psychologists.
  • Accountable for contributing to research, consultancy and training activities as deemed appropriate by the Regional Psychologist.
  • Accountable for managing and providing professional supervision to forensic psychology staff across a range of locations.
  • Accountable for monitoring the work outputs within the psychology teams against the Service Delivery. Agreements (SDAs) to identify performance issues quickly and effect appropriate change to rectify them if needs be.
  • Liaise with Regional Forensic Psychology staff and HMPPS managers as appropriate.
  • Accountable for undertaking strategic and developmental work in conjunction with the Regional Psychologist, other PRPs in the Region, the Directorate Psychologists and the HMPPS Lead Psychologist.
  • Responsible for trouble shooting and supporting teams with delivery issues/accredited programmes/other interventions/assessments in conjunction with relevant HMPPS colleagues.
  • Accountable for managing the needs-based prioritisation and allocation process for the provision of forensic psychological input into risk assessment and management of specific offenders within the region or function for their teams.
  • Accountable for supporting the delivery and management of the risk assessment and management of offenders for their function or teams.
  • Accountable for collating information relating to the assessment and treatment needs of violent and sexual offenders to inform future commissioning of appropriate treatment/services.
  • Accountable for monitoring changes to offender populations and subsequent demand for psychological services within their Region or function.
  • Work collaboratively within the HMPPS Region Forensic Psychology Service to undertake good quality and timely risk assessments, personality assessments and ability assessments as directed/required.
  • Accountable for conducting and overseeing appropriate interventions with high-risk offenders as directed by the HMPPS Regional Psychologist.
  • Accountable for contributing to public protection and the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) process for suitable cases and in terms of attending and contributing to relevant meetings.
  • As a trained Negotiation Advisor (NA), to provide input at live and simulated incidents within the Region or wider HMPPS (e.g. as Gold NA), as required.
  • Accountable for coordinating research, training, and consultancy work within their team or function, and linking across other parts of PSG where necessary to limit duplication and increase cohesion of psychology work delivered.
  • Represents the Region Forensic Psychology Service at internal and external events and venues.
  • Maintains own Continued Professional Development (CPD) and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours      

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Managing a Quality Service

Experience      

  • The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title.
  • They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist with Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it.
  • They will have experience of delivering psychological services directly, and through a managed team.
  • They will have been registered for over two years.

Technical requirements          

  • Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title.
      

Hours of Work

37 hour working week.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.


Contact Information
 

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 4679

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 4679

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Specific membership requirements
The job holder will be a substantive Principal Psychologist and Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. Possess a professional background in Psychology. Experience in providing clinical supervision. Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise. The job holder are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. Please note that being a Chartered Psychologist is desirable but not essential
Specific licence requirements
The job holder will be a substantive Principal Psychologist and Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. Possess a professional background in Psychology. Experience in providing clinical supervision. Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise. The job holder are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. Please note that being a Chartered Psychologist is desirable but not essential
Specific language requirements
Spoken and Written English
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To Be Confirmed
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
DBS Enhanced
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)