Psychology careers

In this role you learn the ‘ropes’ of what it is to be a Forensic Psychologist in a prison. This is an entry level role, where you will be provided the opportunity to gain experience in preparation for progression to the Forensic Psychologist in Training role. Some of the tasks included in this role include: 

• To conduct and support the Offending Behaviour Programmes (OBP’s) selection processes. 
• To support and co-deliver moderate intensity offending behaviour programmes.
• To maintain psychological records and secure information on individuals in custody. 
• To coordinate, prepare and implement the Risk Management Plan and to support the Case-Management of prisoners with Order of Lifelong Restriction (OLR) sentences. 

Criteria

Qualifications: Post holders must hold a degree in Psychology conferring Graduate Basis for Registration and must be hold a MSc Forensic Psychology.  The MSc is stage one of a two stage process of the professional qualification to become a Registered or Chartered Forensic Psychologist. 

Experience: Assistant Psychologists are expected to have a knowledge of working within prison settings. They must also have an understanding of the criminal justice system, relevant legislation such as the equality act 2010, GDPR 2018, Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (legislation for OLR sentences). 

Working as an experienced FTiP within SPS, you will be required to enrol onto the chartership route. The SPS is committed to supporting trainees pursue the route to independent practitioner status, via Chartership (Stage 2 of the Qualification in Forensic Psychology). Some of the main tasks included in this role include: 

• To deliver moderate/high intensity Offending Behaviour Programmes in a group or individual setting as part of a multi-disciplinary working team.
• To supervise programmes providing supervision and support to those staff responsible for direct delivery of the programmes and interventions.
• To supervise programmes providing supervision and support to those staff responsible for direct delivery of the programmes and interventions.
• To deliver interventions in an individual format where appropriate on a 1:1 basis.
• To provide routine case-management of those in custody subject to an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) on behalf of the RMT.
• To conduct interventions assessments for the purposes of identifying individual needs for appropriate treatment selection and planning, including risk assessments for risk management and sentence planning.

Criteria

Qualifications: Post holders must hold a degree in Psychology conferring Graduate Basis for Registration and must be hold a MSc Forensic Psychology.  The MSc is stage one of a two stage process of the professional qualification to become a Registered or Chartered Forensic Psychologist. 

Experience: Have worked in an equivalent and/or similar role for a minimum of 1-2 years.

The role of a Practitioner Forensic Psychologist is to work autonomously within a regional team providing key psychological provision to the requirements of the population. Including; conducting risk assessment, treatment interventions, supervision, case management and delivering training. This role is aimed at registered and/or chartered Forensic Psychologists. Some of the main tasks include: 

• Undertaking and delivery of psychological Risk Assessment
• OLR case manager including RMP and annual submission.
• Supervision of high intensity interventions.
• To supervise Forensic Psychologists in Training (FPiT) in the capacity of designated supervisor as required by a Consultant Psychologist.
• To provide high intensity 1:1 psychological therapy intervention work.
• To provide line management to Assistant Psychologists (AP) as required.

Criteria

Qualifications: Essential qualifications required include, a degree in Psychology that conforms to the graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society, a BPS accredited post-graduate Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology and a postgraduate FPiT training qualification that has eligibility for HCPC practitioner status and hold Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) practitioner status.

Experience: Have worked in an equivalent and/or similar role for a minimum of 5 to 6 years.

A Principle Forensic Psychologist will contribute to the range of functions performed by psychological services, including risk assessment and management, treatment interventions (psychological therapies and offending behaviour interventions), supervision, case-management and training delivery, all of which contribute to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) vision of helping to build a safer Scotland. Post holders will provide management and leadership to Psychology Departments within establishments and deliver training to other staff. Some of the main tasks include: 

• To provide highly specialist psychological assessments (including risk, cognitive functioning and personality assessments).
• To act as a case manager and provide risk assessment for those prisoners subject to an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR). 
• Prepare and present complex psychological reports for the senior management team, appropriate qualified psychologists, and staff from other disciplines within SPS and the wider criminal justice setting, both internal and external to the SPS.
• Provide specialist psychological advice and information at Risk Management Team meetings to guide decision making on progression and discussion cases. 
• To supervise Forensic Psychologists in Training (FPiT) in the capacity of designated supervisor, or coordinating supervisor, as required by a Lead Psychologist. 
• To supervise high intensity interventions.
• To provide line management to Assistant Psychologists and Forensic Psychologists in Training and lead local Psychology teams.

Criteria

Essential qualifications required for the role include a degree in Psychology that conforms to the graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society, a BPS accredited post-graduate master’s degree in Forensic Psychology and a post-graduate doctoral level Forensic Psychologist qualification that has eligibility for HCPC practitioner status. 

Experience:  It is anticipated that there will be a minimum 7 to 8 years’ experience, in line with psychological services strategy. For example, it is expected that the post holder will have at least two years’ experience post registration with HCPC as a practitioner.

Consultant Forensic Psychologist within SPS will provide a consultancy service in relation to the assessment, intervention and management of those in our care by being the strategic lead for different clusters within psychology services. The role involves integrating empirical research and validated approaches to achieve best practice within a thematic cluster or region. The post holder will also be required to work innovatively and creatively in order to develop new approaches and develop the research base for the approaches being used and the strategic direction of their cluster. Some of the main tasks include: 

• Strategic lead of cluster areas.
• Provide specialist, psychological research expertise to the organisation.
• To provide highly specialised psychological advice, guidance, and consultation to a range of key stakeholders.
• Project managing national, local SPS and specialised psychological training.
• To undertake and contribute to assessment and risk management for individual.
• Provide specialist psychological advice and information across various multi-disciplinary forums. 
• Provide specialist clinical supervision. 
• Line management, recruitment and budgetary responsibilities. 

Criteria

Essential qualifications required for the role include a degree in Psychology that conforms to the graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society, a BPS accredited post-graduate master’s degree in Forensic Psychology and a post-graduate doctoral level Forensic Psychologist qualification that has eligibility for HCPC practitioner status. 

It is anticipated that there will be a minimum 7 to 8 years’ experience, in line with psychological services strategy. For example, it is expected that the post holder will have at least two years’ experience post registration with HCPC as a practitioner and further significant ‘on the job’ prior experience of operating at the Principal Psychologist level.