Applied Trainee Psychologist

We are looking for a Trainee looking to develop and advance their career. We believe that people traumatised earlier in life deserve the opportunity to heal these wounds. We provide an innovative, trauma focused treatment programme for male offenders within a high secure prison who have often lost hope for their future.

Our cutting-edge treatment draws on attachment theory and incorporates sensorimotor psychotherapy and schema focused therapy. Through a combination of individual and group therapies, patients are given opportunities to heal from trauma and neglect, improve wellbeing and reduce risk.

We will support you in broadening your therapeutic skills, project management and working to achieve change in a complex system. There are opportunities to be involved in new interventions as well as furthering your research interests through our links with Nottingham Trent University.

The postholder will join our diverse clinical team of 22 people with a rich range of clinical and forensic experience. Flexibility, creativity, curiosity and openness to change are valued qualities within our team. The roles are permanent and there is scope to work from home on a weekly basis.

The Fens Service, is a high secure treatment service within the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway, which opened in 2000. The prison is located near the market town of March, which is situated 25 miles from Cambridge. A mainline rail link operates between Peterborough and London taking 50 minutes.

To provide an applied psychology and/or psychotherapy assessment, formulation and psychological therapy treatment under clinical supervision to patients who are agreed to be a part of the OPDP Fens Service, which includes outreach provision.

To support and advise on the psychological assessment and formulation of patients and the provision of psychological therapy and care provided by other members of the team who provide psychologically based care and treatment but are not professionally (clinically) qualified.

To contribute to the development of highly specialised programmes of assessment and care and to provide specialised advice to non-psychological staff working directly with the patients.

To work within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the Trust’s, OPDP and NHSE (NHS England) and HMPPS policies and procedures.

To contribute to the development of knowledge and evidence base in relation to the wider OPD pathway services including other high secure sites and lower security services.

The post holder will also adhere to the requirements of the OPDP SLA.

To adhere to professional standards and training as stated in the relevant approved professional bodies.

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
1. To deliver under supervision a high quality, responsive and accessible assessment, formulation and treatment programme for patients within the OPDP service, in accordance with the agreed treatment model.

1. To provide specialist psychological assessments (where competent) of patients referred to the OPDP service under supervision and guidance based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data from a variety of sources including specialist psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients, family members and others involved in the patient’s care.

1. To communicate the results of assessment and formulation to other members of the multidisciplinary team including non-clinical staff using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills.

1. To communicate, using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills, the results of this assessment to the patient who may be hostile and antagonistic to receiving this information. There are almost always significant barriers to men accepting that they meet the criteria for treatment within the OPDP service.

1. To, albeit under supervision and guidance, evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family, carers or group.

1. To albeit under supervision and guidance deve