Psychologist from Staines-upon-Thames urges others to join prison service
HM Prison and Probation Service is looking for experienced psychologists to join their team and help complex individuals take a new path. As a psychologist in the prison and probation service you could work in a range of different settings including adult prisons, young offender institutions, in the community or at HMPPS headquarters for example, designing accredited interventions.
The varied role means those qualified can work with prisoners to judge their risk of harm, understand their behaviour and make important decisions to help protect the public and reduce reoffending.
Sophie Rimes from Staines-upon-Thames works in HMP Send, a women’s prison in Surrey, after knowing from a young age she wanted to work in psychology. Outside of work, she regularly switches off by travelling abroad or volunteering at a local dog shelter. She says:
“I knew from the age of 14 I wanted to be a forensic psychologist so after school I went on to do psychology at A Level and studied at university, becoming a registered forensic psychologist earlier this year. I’m very lucky to say I’m in the job I always wanted to do and that I think I was born to do.
“I started my career as a worker in a youth justice team in Reading, where I supported parents of children in the criminal justice system for four years, before joining the prison service in 2018. I have the option to work in different prisons locally to me but I’m currently based at HMP Send where I work with lots of different female prisoners, running group programmes or through bespoke one-to-one support.
“I want to make a difference in prisoners’ lives and that’s what drives me every day. I know what I’m doing is going to help in some way, no matter how big or small. That’s why it’s important to be resilient. No day is ever the same and there’s so much scope working in psychology in the prison service, you’re really helping turn people’s lives around.
“As a forensic psychologist, you promote changes that can help prisons to become a more rehabilitative environment, which helps to reduce reoffending when people leave prison and also keep the public safe.”
The prison service is looking for qualified psychologists who are resilient, non-discriminatory, non-judgmental and are able to build trust with prisoners. Applicants need good communication and team working skills, a great deal of compassion and an ability to be analytic.
HMPPS is the biggest single employer of psychologists in the UK, offering a range of progression and specialist opportunities. The roles also promise stability, with staff benefitting from a high level of job security and a public sector pension.
Sophie adds: “When I was training I discovered that I was dyslexic and autistic so I often have a connection with prisoners who are neurodiverse as I have a lived experience of it and can help them. I have a unique perspective on their personalities and thought processes. That for me is a real area where I get a sense of warmth and fufilment when I come home as I know I’ve made an impact.
“Working in a prison environment can be tough at times, but it can be really rewarding. My career has been my focus for a long time but I love travelling abroad and volunteer for a local dog rescue centre to switch off. I either visit the kennels to play with the dogs for a few hours, or even foster them at home.”
People who would like to take their psychology career in a rewarding new direction can apply or find out more by visiting https://prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=prc_send_sophie&utm_medium=media%20&utm_source=pr