Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a newly commissioned pan-London Men’s Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) service to reduce custodial sentences and improve the wellbeing of men in the criminal justice system with mental health needs. MHTRs were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act in 2003, recognising that for many individuals who offend, mental health and substance misuse issues underpin their offending behaviour. Treatment requirements offer courts an alternative to short custodial sentences and aim to prevent reoffending by addressing underlying vulnerabilities and improving quality of life. This service aims to increase the use of primary care treatment requirements as part of a community sentence, offering psychologically informed interventions and advice.
The MHTR Service will also provide the courts with information and confidence to sentence to robust and effective treatment requirements. North London Forensic Collaborative is the largest forensic Provider Collaborative in England and is a partnership between forensic services within five NHS Trusts including: North London NHS Foundation Trust - Lead Provider; Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust; East London NHS Foundation Trust; North East London NHS Foundation Trust and West London NHS Trust.
These 2 Band 7 posts will be hosted by Central North West London Foundation Trust as part of a team that will work across North West and North Central London.
Main duties of the job
North London Forensic Collaborative are looking for three Band 7 Psychologists or Psychological Therapists. The two CNWL posts will cover North West and North central London and NELFT’s post will cover North East London. These posts will be responsible for assessing for suitability and making recommendations for MHTRs across and for delivering short-term psychological interventions for those that are sentenced to an MHTR. We expect all of the MHTR services to work closely together to ensure that there is consistency in the MHTR service being offered across London.
The successful candidates will hold a clinical caseload and be responsible for supervision of the Senior Assistant Psychologist team.We hope to recruit a staff team reflective of the population we serve and welcome applications from those with protected characteristics, including minoritised ethnic groups. Candidates will be considered for all three NLFC posts at interview. Both trusts support flexible working and applications for secondments to this substantive role will be considered.
We welcome applicants who are newly qualified or are approaching qualification who are enthusiastic and dedicated to working in this field, with or without prior experience in secure or forensic services.
Working for our organisation
By joining CNWL’s Health & Justice Directorate you will be joining a large department of psychologists and psychological therapists that provide an array of mental health and OPD services across London, Surrey, Kent and Bucks. Our staff are dynamic and welcoming and the networking and CPD opportunities are central to our services ethos. We have active research forums and promote our services and work through academic and clinical forums. All staff receive regular supervision and are supported with career aspirations and progression.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Assessment of men prior to sentencing to consider suitability for an MHTR
2. Providing short-term psychological interventions for those that are sentenced to an MHTR
3. Liaison with stakeholders including probation colleagues and court staff Supervision of prequalified staff including trainees and assistant psychologists
4. Involvement in service research, audits and development
5. The postholder will supervise pre-qualified psychological therapists including assistant psychologists
Please see attached document for full Job Description and Person Specification.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
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