Clinical/Counselling Psychologist - Prison Service

Job Description

Cpl Healthcare in partnership with the Irish Prison Service acre currently recruiting experienced Staff Grade Clinical or Counselling Psychologists to work across the Prison estate (Nationwide).

The Psychology Service plays a critical role in supporting the broader IPS organisation (and Criminal Justice Agency partners, as required) through consultation, training, and education.  The Service provides regular input to clinical and counselling training programmes.  Psychologists are also involved in research in collaboration with various Universities.   
 
 Reporting Relationship, Clinical Supervision and Principal Tasks:
The successful candidate will report to the Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologist at their designated prison base for clinical supervision and line management. The successful candidate will provide a psychology service in line with service plans and objectives, and within established professional standards, guidelines and policy, the principal tasks of which will include:
 Professional / Clinical

• Delivering a professional psychology service appropriate to the post and grade, and in line with best practice;
• Carrying a clinical caseload appropriate to the post;
• Providing psychological assessments for the client group based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self-report measures, direct and indirect observation and interviews with clients, family members and/or carers, and staff;
• Formulating and implement plans for psychological therapeutic intervention or management, based on an appropriate conceptual framework, working in clinical and community settings as appropriate;
• Exercising professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed using psychologically based care and management plans;
• Providing professional reports as required in accordance with professional standards, including for the Parole Board process;
• Fostering an understanding of the role and contribution of Psychological Services by providing professional consultation, education, guidance and support to others as appropriate to the grade

 Candidates must have:
 

• A recognised University Degree or Diploma (QQI level 8 equivalent) obtained with 1st or 2nd class honours in which Psychology was taken as a major subject and honours obtained in that subject,

•  Hold, a recognised professional post-graduate qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology. (Applicants with qualifications obtained outside of the Rep. of Ireland will be required to furnish a statement of equivalence in Clinical or Counselling Psychology from the Department of Health.  This does not affect a person’s ability to apply, but if a candidate is successful at interview, they will not come under consideration for an offer of appointment until all essential requirements are satisfied i.e. by 31st October 2025) 

Desirable: 
The following are desirable but not essential requirements:
 

• Have experience in addressing mental health difficulties using evidence informed psychological approaches in a forensic or inpatient setting.
• Have experience of providing consultation, education, guidance and support to multidisciplinary colleagues

To express interest and apply please send your Cover Letter and CV to Apply. Applications will not be accepted after 5pm on July 11th  

N.B. Interviews for these posts are likely to be held in September 2025.