About Us
DrPA has been operating in secure environments since 2014 providing General Practitioner services and we are now growing to provide a complete healthcare service at Campsfield IRC by NHS England. This will be delivered directly or through a range of specialist partners who are experts in their field. We deliver our services based on our ethos of CARE:

• Compassionate care that is trauma informed and supportive
• Assurance that care is evidence-based & demonstrates high quality outcomes for our patients
• Respectful of people’s cultural and religious beliefs
• Empowerment We centre each resident by co-creating holistic care plans that treat their needs and equip them to self-manage their wellbeing.

Overview

Oakhill Secure Training Centre is a custodial environment for children both females and males between the ages of 12 years old and 18 years old. Children may present with complex wellbeing and mental health needs, undiagnosed neurodivergent needs and complex trauma.

This role sits within the healthcare team, consisting of Assistant & Trainee Psychologists, Qualified Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Psychiatrist, Registered Mental Health Nurses and Registered General Nurses.

Job Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join a developing new service aimed at improving the well-being and psychological functioning of children at Oakhill STC. The service provides weekly individual and group therapy sessions to children aged 12 to 18 years of age with an offending history.

As part of the SECURE STAIRS model as an Assistant psychologist you would be able to work with children with low level mental health needs, complex trauma, and neurodivergence. You will be involved in supporting psychological assessment, formulations, and interventions under the regular clinical supervision of a qualified psychologist. You will also work closely with the wider healthcare team and operational colleagues in delivering trauma informed services.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

? To complete wellbeing checks on all children across the centre and promote a psychologically safe environment by modelling trauma?informed approaches in all interactions with children and staff.

? To embed the Assistant Psychologist role within the house units, engaging daily with children in activities and their regime.

? To complete My Story formulations including updating them regularly, reviewing and collating sensitive information to inform My Stories, and engaging children to complete the My story collaboratively.

? To attend weekly meetings with professionals from the wider service to ensure consistent and appropriate support is provided for all children.

? To support the delivery of training to officers to support their understanding of mental health diagnosis, complex presentation, and neurodivergence, as well as how to support children’s wellbeing.

? To maintain accurate and up to date records for children, and recognise and report concerns in line with local and national safeguarding procedures.

? To attend weekly clinical MDT meetings with professionals from across the healthcare team and contribute to discussions.

? To undertake psychological assessments of children applying psychological theory, including observation, self-report measures and semi-structured interviews.

? To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a problem, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.

? Manage a caseload of children and deliver trauma?informed, child?centred wellbeing sessions in line with assessed needs.

? To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.

? To work with other staff to assess or support children within the secure training centre and contribute to multidisciplinary discussions or care guidelines as agreed with the psychologist/psychological therapist providing supervision.

? To assist in the development of a psychological based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all children of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

? Assist in gathering information relevant to risk assessments, including self?harm, violence, vulnerability, and exploitation.

Additional Opportunities:

? Opportunities to attend and present at professional conferences

? Opportunities to complete additional research and service audits

? Support with further Doctorate applications (Clinical and Forensic)

? Opportunities to shadow assessments with the Trainee and Qualified Psychologist

? Engage in supervision and ongoing training to maintain high standards of professional competence.

? To attend and facilitate peer reflective practice alongside other assistant psychologists.

? To assist in the development of the service including psychologically informed intervention packs.

Essential requirements:

? Undergraduate Psychology degree (BSc)

? Experience of working within a mental health or secure setting with vulnerable or at risks groups (paid or voluntary considered)

? Trained or experience of delivering at least one model of therapy (for example, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

? A demonstrable passion for working with children

? Prior experience of Assistant Psychologist position (including voluntary position)

Ideal requirements:

? Experience of working with children in custody setting

? Experience of working with complex and challenging presentations

? Understanding and experience of SECURE STAIRS

Working Hours

Shift patterns are as follows and includes one in four weekends, and bank holidays.

? 8am-16:30pm

? 8am-18:30pm

? 11am-19:30pm

General Information

The post holder may be required to perform other relevant and appropriate duties as reasonably needed. This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Please note, in order to apply, all applicants need to have been living in the United Kingdom (with residency in the UK, such as UK/Irish/EU Passport, or an Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa) for the last 5 years with no more than a 28 day break being outside of the UK and no gaps in employment during this time.

EMAIL CV TO : RECRUITMENT@DRPASECURE.CO.UK