Clinical Psychologist (Contract)

Branch: National Office

Division: Victim Services

Grade: (HCG/ALH 3)

Supervision Received From: Director Victim Services Division

Nature of Supervision: Periodic supervision based on functional policies

Job Purpose
The Child Diversion Clinical Psychologist will  provide diagnosis and psychological treatment of mental, emotional and behavioral  disorders/illnesses in children, monitors client  progress through regular meetings or sessions and supports the development of assessment and  intervention tools, including data collection  instruments (surveys questionnaires and general  psycho-social instruments).

Qualification and Experience

• Minimum Masters’ Degree in Clinical Psychology, from a recognized tertiary institution;
• Up to date registration to practice with the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine.
• Minimum of three to five (3-5) years’  relevant working experience in the field of  psychology (preferably with the  government);
• Minimum of three to five (3-5) years’  experience working with children  (specifically youth offenders).

Responsibilities

• Identifies psychological, emotional or behavioural issues in the children that  interface with the justice system through  appropriate assessment. 
• Monitors client progress through regular meetings or sessions.
• Helps clients define goals and plan actions to achieve personal, social, educational and vocational development and  adjustment.
• Develops and implements personalized treatment plans and therapeutic processes with clients and make modifications as necessary and administer needs assessment and psychological intervention programmes/plans for children.
• Provides individual counselling services to children that interface with the justice system as necessary.
• Participates as part of a multi-disciplinary team, in case-conferences and consultations for children.
• Provides in-home counselling sessions as necessary. Devises or creates assessment tools, including data collection instruments (surveys, questionnaires and general psycho-social instruments) to gather information about the needs of children who come into conflict with the law under the National Child Diversion Programme.
• Supports the evaluation of referral services to the diversion programme.
• Provides court and other progress reports to implementing partners of Child Diversion Programme, as needed.
• Ensures the timely and thorough documentation of cases in the database.
• Facilitates parenting support groups.
• Guides crisis intervention and follow up support as necessary.
• Supervises the maintenance of updated case files of children on database.
• Works as a part of the Ministry’s team in the community to address concerns or issues relating to children as they arise.
• Creates interventions based on needs presented by clients or community.
• Assists in the design and implementation of capacity-building interventions.
• Ensures that Child Diversion Officers (CDO’s) are kept current in the use of needs assessment tools through training and/or sensitizations. 
• Develops relevant forms (intake, reporting, needs assessments etc.), and provides
  administrative support to the child diversion processes.
• Prepares monthly and quarterly reports to the Child Diversion Office regarding the
  counselling needs of children.
• Prepares impromptu Status Reports/Briefs on the psychological aspect of the Programme and responds to general queries from both internal and external stakeholders.
• Supports the development of standards, guidelines, and/or procedures of prescribed counsellors.
• Helps to develop an approved list of qualified psychologist, counsellors and others in similar/ related professions.
• Assists with the coordination of activities of non-government agencies that provide
  community services and psychological intervention programmes that will address the needs of victims and offenders, identified through NCDP Processes.
• Ensures that effective Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms are in place to track counselling/psychological interventions, by conducting site visits to the Parish Justice Centres and providing  timely progress reports, to the CD Office. 

Required competences

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Integrity
• Good interpersonal relations
• Team work and cooperation
• People Management skills
• Excellent customer relations and quality focus skills
• Time management skills
• Knowledge of the organization’s mandate and objectives;
• Knowledge of the following legislations:
   Child Diversion Act, 2018
   Child Care and Protection Act, 2004
   Corrections Act, 1985
   Criminal Justice (Reform) Act, 1978
   Drug Court (Treatment and Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act, 2001
   Gun Court Act, 1974
   Parole Act, 1978
• Sensitivity to the needs of children in conflict with the law and victims
• Strong coordination and mobilization skills
• High level of professionalism and ability to formulate proactive measures to achieve
  required objectives
• Ability to analyze multiple data streams to provide Programme intelligence that clearly illustrates impact, performance and trends.

Salary

$2,254,290 per annum and travelling allowances at the rate of $894,924 (with motor car) $362,472 (without motor car)

Note

Kindly submit cover letter and resume along with the names, telephone numbers and email addresses of two (2) references, one must be a  former/current supervisor.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Contact

Director,

Human Resource Management and Development
Ministry of Justice
61 Constant Spring Road,
Kingston 10

 

Email: careers@moj.gov.jm

Base Salary: Undisclosed