Forensic Psychologist - Therapeutic Community

Forensic Psychologist (Therapeutic Community) 

HMP Dovegate, ST14 8XR 

Full time, 40 hours 

Permanent 

£43,042 Per Annum 

HMP Dovegate is a category B male establishment prison based on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border near Uttoxeter. The operational capacity for the prison is 1100 prisoners who are serving a range of sentences including; trial, remand, those awaiting sentence and convicted men serving up to life in prison. Joining our onsite team at this category B prison, you’ll play a key role in delivering Psychological Services to residents. Here at Serco we have a vacancy for a Forensic Psychologist to join our Therapeutic Community Team.  

The Therapeutic Community is a unique role, offering the opportunity to work with long term prisoners who are engaged in therapy to reduce their risk of re-offending. The Therapeutic Community is part of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway; a network of services supporting some of the most complex men within the Criminal Justice System.  

Your primary job purpose will be to administer the delivery of Psychological Services at the prison. This role can vary including Parole directions, supervising Forensic Psychologists in Training, consulting to prison staff, conducting research and providing staff training. You will be based on one of our communities and be involved with tasks including the following:  

• Completing psychological assessments of prisoners including HCR-20, SARA, WAIS, IPDE and PCL-r. 
• To supervise Forensic Psychologists in Training, ensuring they work in line with the Code of Conduct of the British Psychological Society. 
• To ensure completion of Parole reports and Parole directions complying with deadlines. 
• To help develop the work of Psychological Services, for example through assessments and group spaces on TC 
• Deliver training as required to prison staff 

This is a role that offers variety and contributes enormously to the important work of reintegrating offenders back into society. 

Some of the benefits of working at HMP Dovegate include a significant focus on staff wellbeing, access to free dog training (subject to availability), and access to CPD opportunities including attendance at conferences and training events. 

What you’ll need to do the role 

To be considered for this opportunity it is essential that you have Chartered status with the British Psychological Society and Registered as a Forensic Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and be on the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAAPS) with the BPS. 

As a minimum, a Forensic Psychologist in Training on the BPS route must have fully completed Stage 1 of the Qualification in Forensic Psychology and completed most Stage 2. 

It is a requirement to have passed some core roles and be within six months of being Registered with HCPC. 

If they are a Forensic Psychologist in Training on the Doctorate route, they must have completed all practitioner placements and be within six months of becoming registered with the HCPC. 

As a minimum, they must have experience of working with offenders and carrying out assessments and interventions with a forensic population. You will be comfortable completing parole reports and carrying out assessments such as WAIS IV, HCR-20, PCL-R, IPDE and SARA, you’ll also be able to work in a multi-disciplinary way and bring a collaborative approach to your work with your team and with the offenders. 

They must have good knowledge of Psychological theory regarding treatment of violent and sexual offending.  Familiar with what works literature and of a range of psychotherapeutic treatment approaches.  

What we offer

• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme and more
• Access to a huge range of discounts and exclusive deals such as Merlin Attractions, Mobile Phone discounts, Cinema discounts, Leisure and Hospitality discounts
• Free Parking
• Free lunch
• Free Dog training
• A fantastic culture and supportive team where you’ll get the chance to make a positive difference in a company passionate about diversity and inclusion 
• Interesting and enjoyable work
• Committed to professional and personal development with a wide range of training and coaching opportunities to expand your capabilities
• A safe and supportive culture
• Training Fees paid

Why Serco 

A place you can make an impact:   Using specialist behavioural analysis you’ll contribute to the reintegration of ex-offenders back into society, helping them to address the factors that influence offending behaviour. The work we do around the world touches the lives of millions of citizens and makes a positive impact on the communities and the wider society we serve. 

A place you can count on:  A fast growing global company, With six prisons across the UK and a breadth of roles, you’ll be wholeheartedly supported with development and career progression. We actively fund psychologists towards chartered and/or registered status and with ongoing CPD activities and look to promote from within. 

A place for you : When you join Serco, you join a team of 50,000 people. You’ll become an integral member of a well-defined and supportive team, who believe passionately in the value of our work. We promote an empathic and therapeutic approach, respecting individual differences and promoting self-efficacy 

#sercopsychologicalservices

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services.  We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Silver Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.  For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.
 

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.