Psychologist - Irish Prison Service, Nationwide

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

Locum Staff Grade (Grade II) Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, Nationwide (Band 7 equiv.), including:

Mountjoy Prison

Cloverhill Prison

Midlands Prison

Portlaoise Prison

Castlerea Prison

Loughan House

Limerick prison. 

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) is made up of 10 closed prisons and two open centres. Typically, the IPS manages approximately 4,000 people in custody at any one time, both male and female, aged 18 and over.

The IPS Psychology Service is made up of a Head of Psychological Services, supported by a Principal Psychologist Manager, a Principal Specialist Psychologist, Senior Psychologists, Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists, in addition to Psychologists in Training and Masters Students on placement and Research Assistants. IPS Psychology Service Headquarters is based on the grounds of Arbour Hill Prison, Dublin 7.

The IPS Psychology Service is a national 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. As the IPS Psychology Service provides an integrated, layered model of care, which is bio-psycho-social, strengths-based and recovery focused and balances this with the principles of Risk, Need and Responsivity (RNR). It accepts referrals for a broad range of mental health and criminogenic need. 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. 

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, please note the IPS Psychology Service can provide suppo