Y EAR 10 S CIENCE 2011 Psychology SPORT PSYCHOLOGY FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY.
Forensic Psychology In Scotland - University of Edinburgh · Definitions of Forensic Psychology...
Transcript of Forensic Psychology In Scotland - University of Edinburgh · Definitions of Forensic Psychology...
Forensic Psychology In
Scotland
Stephen Evans
Chartered Forensic Psychology
Chair-Elect Division of Forensic Psychology Scotland of the BPS
Plan of Presentation
What is Forensic Psychology
Tasks Undertaken by Forensic
Psychologists
Training of Forensic Psychologists
Funding
Make up of Forensic Psychology in
Scotland
Definitions of Forensic Psychology Psychologists in the courtroom
• Gisli Gudjonsson and Lionel Haward
Literal meaning “of the law”
Applying Psychology in Criminological and Legal Context
• Applied Science and Rules of Knowledge
Practitioner Guidance• BPS Position Papers
• Standards of Proficiency – Practitioner Psychologists
Local idiosyncracies• “forensic skills” and “clinical skills”
• Forensic Clinical
Relationship between BPS
and HCPCBritish Psychological
Society
Established by Royal
Charter
Focus on promotion of
psychology (not
psychologists)
Not a Guild or Trade
Union
Maintains professional
standards and has a
code of conduct
Health and Care
Professions Council
Established by Act
Focus on protecting the
public
Regulates Standards of
Practice
Can strike people off
Forensic Psychologists
receive more complaints
than other divisions
A Short History of
Criminological
Interventions
A Short History of Risk
Assessment Research
Areas of Work – Prison Psychology
Largest group of Applied Forensic Psychologists
Most at Training Grades
Key Tasks• Managing treatment programs
• History of correctional interventions
• Evidence base for structured interventions
• Monitoring compliance
• Specialist Interventions
• Risk Assessment• Reports to Designated Lifer Tribunals, Reports to Parole
Boards, Reports to the Courts
• Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
• Managing Prison Regimes• Therapeutic Regimes, Advice to Governors
• Psychometric testing
Work in Youth Justice
Supporting Interventions• Multi-systemic therapy
• Treatment Foster-Care
Evaluating Interventions
Work in Secure Units
Working with Children’s Panel
Work in Youth Offending Teams
Risk Assessment
Working Under Social Work Legislation
Forensic Mental Health
Similar work to other correctional settings• Programs
• Risk Assessment
• Individualised Treatment
• Supporting Diagnosis
Supporting Regimes and Transition
Working under the Mental Health Act
Areas of Work – Investigative
Psychology
Currently very few psychologists employed
by the police primarily individual referrals
National Offender Management Service
(NOMS)• Behaviour Analyst
Profiling• Statistical Modelling – David Canter
• Clinical Insight
Support to the Courts
Psychology in the Courtroom• Analysis of jury decision making
• Analysis of lines of argument
• Analysis of fitness to plead
• Analysis of evidence
Expert Testimony• Advice on sentencing or disposal (Risk
Assessment)
• Advice on special measures
Research
Developing Risk Assessment• Standardising
• Evaluating Predictive Validity
Developing and Evaluating Treatment
Regimes• Evaluating recidivism and reconviction
• Evaluating behaviour and attitude change
Evaluating work environments and training
Training of Forensic
Psychologists Stage 1
Approved Masters
Degree
BPS or HPC
approved or both
Stage 2
Undertaking
Diploma for
Chartership and
Registration
Completing
Modules
Time limited
6 year Doctoral
level qualification
Variations in Training
Practitioner Doctorates
Currently in Birmingham University
• Being Developed in other Universities
Grandfathering (now closed)
Overseas qualification• Divisions only exist in the UK
• Language competencies
HCPC but not BPS route
Funding
First stage generally self-funded• In the past supported by Scottish Prison Service
• Some NHS support on local basis
Second Stage completed whilst employed
Further training generally funded by
employer
Realities of Training
Vast majority of Forensic Psychologists in
training
Large numbers may be timed out• But this may not affect careers
Enormous change in training over time
and in transition
Stage 1
No bottle neck
Large number of
providers
Stage 2.
Bottle neck
Limited
numbers of
training
places
Full-Grade
Employment.
Possible
future bottle
neck
Make up of Forensic
Psychologist in Scotland Around 60 Chartered Forensic Psychologists
Majority in Training but many have transitioned into
management posts
Majority in Scottish Prison Service
Employed in Private Sector Prisons
Handful in Forensic Mental Health (NHS and Third
Sector)
Youth Justice
• Secure Units
• Community Interventions
Research and Academia
Civil Service
Realities
Difficult career to pursue but rewarding
Realities of working with offenders Impact of threat
Impact of violence
Legal challenge
Public/Media scrutiny
Average rates of pay lower than other
areas of psychology
Conflict within the profession