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 10Email: careers@moj.gov.jm
Base Salary: Undisclosed