Description:

Staff Grade (Grade II) Clinical or Counselling Psychologist - Irish Prison Service

Locum Staff Grade (Grade II) Clinical or Counselling Psychologist required for Castlerea Prison, a closed, medium security prison for adult males. It is the committal prison for remand and sentenced prisoners in Connacht and also takes committals from counties Cavan, Donegal and Longford.

The IPS Psychology Service is currently made up of a Head of Psychological Services, supported by a Principal Psychologist, Senior Psychologists, Staff Grade Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists. IPS Psychology Service Headquarters is based at Arbour Hill Prison, Dublin 7.

The IPS Psychology Service is a national, public psychological service. Psychologists work as part of broad multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) within all prisons across the country. The Service holds the principle of equivalence of care as its foundation. Its integrated model of care is bio-psycho-social, strengths-based and recovery focused and balances this with the principles of Risk, Need and Responsivity (RNR). Services are organised within a layered care model.

As the IPS Psychology Service provides an integrated care model, it accepts referrals for a broad range of mental health and criminogenic needs. The Service prides itself on thorough, individualised, evidence-based assessment and interventions with clients, and to this end, there are excellent Continuing Professional Development opportunities for all staff members. 

Castlerea Prison is a closed, medium security prison for adult males. The population profile is otherwise heterogeneous, consisting of men from across the adult age profile, who may be on remand or serving a broad spectrum of sentence lengths. 

At any one time it accommodates approximately 300 men. The appointed Grade II (Staff Grade) Psychologist will support the Senior Psychologist and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to assess and intervene with people who have been referred to the IPS Psychology Service in relation to any, or a combination of the following: a) mental health difficulties including, but not exclusive to: Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Disorders of Personality and Behaviour, complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviour, Eating Disorders, Psychosis and Schizophrenia, Addiction, and b) offence-specific needs, including the need for formal offence related risk assessments, preparation of Parole Board reports, offence related group and individual work, complex case consultation and risk management work. In addition to the above presentations, the Service works with people presenting with developmental disorders, intellectual difficulties, cognitive decline, traumatic brain injuries, people with limited literacy, and people from a wide variety of cultural (national and international) backgrounds. 

Interventions include a variety of evidence based group and 1:1 interventions. 

Prison-based Psychologists have regular contact with community agencies involved in the support and resettlement of people leaving custody. 

They also work with the families and carers of those in custody. Where clinically appropriate, IPS Psychologists provide time-limited community intervention(s) to support a client’s transition from custody to community.

The Service plays a critical role in supporting the broader IPS organisation (and Criminal Justice Agency partners, as required) through consultation, training and education. 

Placements are available for psychologists-in-training and the Service provides regular input to training programmes. Psychologists are also involved in research in conjunction with various Universities.  

Essential qualifications and competencies

Candidates must: 

(a) Be eligible for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS).

and

(b) (i) Hold a postgraduate professional qualification in Clinical Psychology recognised by PSI. (Applicants with qualifications obtained outside of Ireland must obtain a statement of equivalence in Clinical Psychology from the Department of Health);

or

(b) (ii) Hold a postgraduate professional qualification in Counselling Psychology recognised by PSI. (Applicants with qualifications obtained outside of Ireland must obtain a statement of equivalence in Counselling Psychology from the Department of Health);

(Potential applicants who are considering relocating to Ireland and may have queries or concerns relating to the current Irish validation process should feel free to contact the IPS Psychology Service through CPL Healthcare to discuss and seek support on the process).

In addition to the above, the following are desirable but not essential requirements:

-Experience in addressing emotional, mental health and / or offence-related difficulties with a forensic or inpatient population 

-Experience of providing consultation, education, guidance and support to multidisciplinary colleagues.

-Further therapeutic or research qualifications

For further information, please contact Brian Murray on +353 1 482 5421 / +353 87 222 6752 or email brian.murray@cplhealthcare.com