Band 4 Assistant Psychologist - Secure Care and Offender Health

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
• Experience of work with people with mental health problems or disabilities, or other relevant problems or disabilities (e.g. learning disabilities, organic impairment).
• Experience of working with people with serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia)
• High level interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to work and effectively communicate complex or sensitive information in highly emotive and emotionally charged settings involving conflict and significant personal distress.
• An awareness and understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and disabilities and of contemporary issues in the field
• An awareness and understanding of the differential needs of people from black and minority ethnic communities and from other minority groups and of the service issues arising within a multi-cultural urban area.
• Awareness of boundary issues between professionals and between clients and psychologists.
• Ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health problems and associated disabilities
• Adaptable and able to work flexibly when required (e.g. in the light of changing service priorities) such as some evenings and/or weekends
• Capacity for tolerating frustration, change and high levels of demand with an ability to work effectively under pressure.
• An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, please ensure that you check if this role meets the eligibility criteria for sponsorship. Non UK /Republic of Ireland  candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The minimum salary threshold for a Health and Social Care is £25,000 and for the Skilled Worker route is £38,700. If the starting salary for this role is below this, we will not be able to provide sponsorship.

Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Relocation expenses may be reimbursed subject to eligibility. The policy provides for reimbursement up to £8,000.

Please note - if you are applying for a role within Police custody, due to Police Vetting requirements you must have been a UK resident for the last years.

Secure Care and Offender Health - (Adult Forensic Community Services, Male Medium Secure Service, & Secure (CAMHS) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service)

Several vacancies for Assistant Psychologists have arisen across the Secure Care and Offender Health directorate. Our services which currently have vacancies are:

·       Forensic Intensive Recovery Support Team (FIRST) (based in Northfield

·       Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Service (based in Erdington)

·       Reaside Clinic, male medium secure unit (based in Rubery)

·       Secure Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, SCAMHS (based at Ardenleigh hospital, Erdington)

·       Women’s Outreach Service (based at Ardenleigh hospital, Erdington) – 0.6 WTE

This role would suit committed, hardworking, and compassionate candidates who have an interest in supporting people with complex needs within the criminal justice system.

 As an Assistant Psychologist within our services, you will have access to regular, highly specialist supervision and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities as part of a wider Psychological Therapies team comprising over 70 staff. We are committed to supporting ongoing professional growth and career progression within this network, while ensuring that our roles remain inclusive, rewarding, and enriching. We also place a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, striving to create a positive, supportive, and fulfilling working environment.

Assistant Psychologists support qualified psychologists in delivering high-quality care as part of multi-disciplinary teams. The role involves working directly with men, women and children who present with complex mental health needs, high levels of risk and/or offending behaviours.Current vacancies are available across a range of services within Secure Care & Offender Health Division:

FIRST – a specialist forensic community mental health service for adults with mental health and forensic needs.

MHTR – a psychological treatment service designed to help people over the age of 18 who experience mental health difficulties to engage with treatment as part of their sentence outside custody.

Reaside Clinic – a medium secure psychiatric hospital for men with mental health difficulties and forensic risks

Secure CAMHS (SCAMHS) – a secure inpatient service for young people aged 12-18 experiencing significant mental health difficulties.

Women's Outreach Service – supporting teams working with women who present with complex trauma, emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), and self-harm.

 Assistant Psychologists will typically contribute to psychological assessments, formulations, and individual or group interventions for adults and young people with complex mental health needs and histories of high-risk behaviours. Candidates with previous experience of working within a range of clinical settings including Forensic, Mental Health, Social Care, Learning Disabilities are welcomed.