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.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide trauma-informed, child-centred psychological support across a secure training centre. Core responsibilities include completing wellbeing checks, psychologically-informed formulations (My Stories), and managing a caseload of children through individual sessions and therapeutic groups. The role involves conducting psychological assessments using observation, self-report measures, and interviews, as well as contributing to risk assessments covering self-harm, violence, and exploitation. The post holder will be embedded within the house units, attending weekly MDT and multi-agency meetings, maintaining accurate records, and working collaboratively with the wider healthcare and operational team. They will also support the delivery of mental health and neurodivergence training to officers, and assist in developing a psychological framework of care all under the supervision of a qualified psychologist, and in line with safeguarding procedures.

About us
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.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• To complete wellbeing checks on all children across the centre and promote a psychologically safe environment by modelling traumainformed 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 childrens 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 traumainformed, childcentred 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 selfharm, 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.

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.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Undergraduate Psychology degree (BSc)

Experience
Essential

• 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)

Desirable

• Experience of working with children in custody setting
• Experience of working with complex and challenging presentations
• Understanding and experience of SECURE STAIRS

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.

For questions about the job, contact: Sine, sine.sibeko@drparecruitment.co.uk