Assistant Psychologist

We are looking for an assistant psychologist to join the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway services across Devon. The pathway is based in Prison & Probation, with NHS and HMPPS staff working to increase the wellbeing & reduce the risk of those screened into the pathway, whilst improving the knowledge and attitudes of wider workforce.

Teams within the service:

Support to Succeed (STS) community-based service offering support to probation staff through consultation, formulation & training; and psychologically-informed intervention & risk management (IIRMS) for those leaving prison.

Outside the Box (OTB) intervention service in HMP Channings Wood supporting those who are stuck & would benefit from relational ways of working.

This role is available within OTB service.

The role will include developing and facilitating psycho-educational and/or skills-based groups, providing psychologically-informed and relational support to people on caseload, consultation and training for probation/prison staff, and discrete pieces of psychological intervention.

There may be opportunity in the future for staff to rotate between the services and in exceptional circumstances, staff may be asked to provide support into the other service to help meet service need., The roles will include working on an individual and group basis with those on caseload to support them to achieve shared goals based on a collaborative psychological formulation.

In both services, the post holders will have the chance to develop and facilitate psycho-educational and skills based groups such as DBT skills, emotional regulation etc. There is also scope to be involved in co-facilitating pro-social groups such as cooking, bee keeping (OTB), social group, and gardening (OTB).

Additionally, in OTB, the post holder will hold a caseload jointly with prison staff, and for those individuals will develop a shared formulation and intervention plan/goals, and then work towards these, with supervision from the psychologist/clinical lead. There will be opportunity to offer support and consultation to operational staff within OTB, as well as to the wider prison workforce.

In STS, the post holder will provide consultation and practice support to probation staff, as well as undertaking joint work alongside them with those on their caseloads. The post holder will also hold a caseload of individuals working with IIRMS, where the primary identified needs relate to psychological work.

The services work closely together with the aim of creating a supportive pathway for those leaving prison.

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do