Trainee Forensic Psychologist

Job overview

Job Summary:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, dynamic and committed Trainee Forensic Psychologist to join our Norfolk Forensic Community Learning Disability Team (NFC-LD). As part of a multi-disciplinary team, you would be working alongside qualified psychologists contributing to high-quality individualised psychological service provision including assessment, formulation, individual / group-based therapeutic interventions and consultation under the supervision of a qualified psychologist working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the service’s policies and procedures. The role will also include assisting in report writing and the completion of risk assessments, as well as clinically related administration and data analysis. You would be supported with regular supervision and training opportunities to facilitate continued professional development.

All staff should comply with the trust’s Anti-discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

Main duties of the job

Key Relationships:

The successful candidate will work closely with other members of the psychology team and the wider MDT within the service. There will be a need to liaise with a range of outside agencies e.g. Adult Care Services, Probation, MAPPA and community providers.

Please see attached JD & PS and box below for full main responsibilities of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Honours Degree (minimum 2:1) in Psychology & MSc in Forensic Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society.
• Working towards registered forensic psychologist status (BPS Stage 2 training or Doctoral training programme), currently enrolled on a HCPC approved Forensic Psychology Practitioner Programme.
• Experience of working with individuals with complex needs including, personality disorder, intellectual disability, mental illness, neurodiversity and forensic issues.
• Experience of working across a range of settings including probation, prison, in-patient services and community services.
• Good knowledge of relevant psychological theories, psychometric assessment and theory.
• Knowledge of cognitive-behavioural therapy or one model of counselling.
• Proficiency in psychological assessment, and a high standard of report writing including detailed psychological formulations.
• Proficiency in research including sampling, qualitative data collection, quantitative data collection and statistical analysis.
• Proficiency in keyboard skills, word processing, and internet and email use.

Clinical Responsibility

• To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users applying psychological measures, including psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the service user’s care & management.
• To assist in consultation and formulation of complex cases with staff groups from a range of professional backgrounds.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of action plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service user’s problems, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
• To assist in the delivery and evaluation of group treatment programmes.
• To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users, across all settings where care takes place.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

• Responsible for personal record keeping, processing and storage of data and taking and transcribing minutes where appropriate.
• To ensure that all databases related to their service area are maintained satisfactorily.
• To contribute to peer supervision with the Assistant Psychologist.
• To provide supervision for group programmes (under the guidance of a registered psychologist).

Financial Responsibility

• The post does not have financial responsibility attached to it other than the appropriate use of trust resources.

Service Development and Improvement

• To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
• To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
• To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects relating to the assessment and treatment of service users.
• To assist in the design and implementation of service evaluation projects to evaluate group programmes.
• To undertake data collection and analysis using SPSS and Excel.
• To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified psychologists in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
• To produce audit and research reports to be disseminated locally and nationally through poster and oral presentations at a variety of research, academic and clinical forums.

Communications

• Communicate highly complex, sensitive and potentially contentious information to service users, carers and staff in a manner that is clear, respectful, psychologically informed and appropriate to the individual's cognitive and emotional needs.
• Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with service users, including those who may be distressed, anxious, ambivalent, hostile, suspicious, or reluctant to engage.
• Adapt verbal, non-verbal and written communication to meet the needs of individuals with learning disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions, mental health difficulties, communication impairments or cultural and linguistic differences.
• Produce clear, concise and accurate clinical records, psychological assessments, formulations, intervention plans, risk assessments, process notes and professional reports in accordance with Trust and professional standards.
• Maintain effective working relationships with colleagues across professions and agencies, including nursing, psychiatry, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, social care, probation services and case managers.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.