Overview
Psychotherapist For People On Probation. Belong provides hope, rehabilitation and recovery for victims and perpetrators of crime, through mentoring, restorative justice and psychotherapy interventions, in prisons and communities. Me Time is a programme for people with criminal convictions from Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds, aimed at improving wellbeing and reducing re-offending amongst participants. The programme offers short-term emotional well-being support and medium-term community and through the gate creative psychotherapy primarily to people who are under probation supervision in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, with some scope to work remotely with those under supervision in the wider East England probation region. The programme is open to people of all genders aged over 18 years, with priority given to people facing multiple and complex disadvantages.
Responsibilities
* Provide specialist one-to-one psychotherapy interventions over 6 to 12 weeks, and tailored well-being support sessions over 3 weeks, as part of the Me Time service to people with criminal convictions from Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds.
* Work flexibly at HMP The Mount, remotely and/or Hertfordshire/Beds probation units, holding a caseload of 3 to 4 participants.
* Support participants to improve their wellbeing and to identify and tackle issues related to their offending behaviour (e.g., relationship problems, substance misuse, adverse childhood experiences and racial trauma).
* Maintain detailed, high-quality records of psychotherapy sessions in accordance with Belong, HCPC and UKCP guidelines and standards.
* Build effective working relationships and communicate with Belong’s team and with prison and probation colleagues.
* Model and encourage non-verbal, creative methods (visual arts, music, movement and writing) as part of psychotherapy to help participants process thoughts and feelings.
* Integrate psychodynamic and psycho-educational approaches and, where appropriate, a mentalization-based approach to meet participant needs.
* Manage difficult clinical situations, exploring complex, sensitive and disturbing issues.
* Apply evidence-based practice and assist participants in processing transference and counter-transference in relation to daily experiences and creative work.
* Share risk and safeguarding information promptly with other professionals.
* Assess mental state, identify risk and protective factors, and contribute to risk assessments with other professionals.
* Participate in relevant meetings (team, line management, clinical supervision, service reviews with participants).
* Maintain HCPC registration and adhere to Belong, Prison and Probation Service and HCPC standards and policies.
* Stay informed about developments and research in psychotherapy and forensic psychotherapy.
Required Qualifications
* Good honours degree (2.2 or above) in psychology or equivalent.
* State Registration as a Psychotherapist.
* Master’s-level training in Psychotherapy.
Required Experience And Knowledge
* At least 2 years’ post-qualifying experience delivering one-to-one psychotherapy to people with criminal convictions or facing significant disadvantages.
* At least 2 years’ experience in the criminal justice sector, prison service or a related field.
* Experience integrating psychodynamic and psycho-educational models.
* Experience managing difficult clinical situations and exploring complex, sensitive issues with individuals.
* Excellent understanding of issues faced by people from Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds who have committed offences.
* Strong knowledge of emotional and mental health needs.
* Understanding of confidentiality principles and when breaches are appropriate.
* Awareness of appropriate boundaries and personal safety when working with service users.
Required Skills And Abilities
* Ability to form therapeutic relationships with people who have committed offences and are in prison or community settings.
* Ability to apply a variety of models and theories in work with individuals.
* Ability to interpret psychological, non-verbal and symbolic expressions as meaningful communications.
* Maintain appropriate boundaries and personal safety in prisons and probation units.
* Ability to process transference and counter-transference in relation to daily experiences and creative work.
* Ability to work under pressure of highly charged situations and maintain clarity of thought.
* Ability to work autonomously in potentially stressful conditions with participants.
* Excellent interpersonal, communication and listening skills.
* Good organizational and artistic skills.
* Ability to collaborate with Belong’s multi-disciplinary team, Probation and Prison Service colleagues and other stakeholders.
* Ability to produce high-quality, detailed records of work completed.
Additional Details
* Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
* Employment type: Contract
* Job function: Health Care Provider
* Industries: Advertising Services
Interviews will be held in person in Central London on Tuesday 21st October. Place of work: HMP The Mount, Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire Probation Units, depending on participant locations. Hours of work: 8 hours per week, on a Tuesday or Friday. Pay scale: 39,400 per annum pro rata, plus travel expenses to/from community locations. Contract term: 15 months fixed term from December 2025, with potential for renewal subject to performance and funding. Reports to: Lead Psychotherapist. National Security and DBS Vetting Required: Enhanced.
#J-18808-Ljbffr