Clinical or Counselling Psychologist

Irish Prison Service | Castlerea Prison, Co. Roscommon

Locum Opportunity

Cpl Healthcare is currently recruiting a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist for a locum assignment with the Irish Prison Service (IPS) at Castlerea Prison, Co. Roscommon.

This is a unique opportunity to join the IPS Psychology Service, a national public psychological service that delivers evidence-based assessment and intervention within prison settings across Ireland. Psychologists work as integral members of multidisciplinary teams, providing specialist psychological services to individuals with a broad range of mental health, behavioural, and offending-related needs.

About the Irish Prison Service Psychology Service

The IPS Psychology Service operates on the principle of equivalence of care, ensuring that people in custody have access to psychological support comparable to that available in the wider community.

The service employs a bio-psycho-social, strengths-based, and recovery-focused model of care, balanced with the principles of Risk, Need and Responsivity (RNR). Services are delivered through an integrated, layered care model that addresses both mental health and criminogenic needs.

Psychologists receive referrals for a diverse range of presentations and are supported through ongoing professional development, training, consultation, research, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

About Castlerea Prison

Castlerea Prison is a closed, medium-security prison for adult males and serves as:

• The committal prison for remand and sentenced prisoners in Connacht
• A receiving prison for prisoners from Counties Cavan, Donegal, and Longford
• A facility accommodating approximately 300 prisoners at any one time

The prison population is diverse, comprising men across the adult age range, including individuals on remand and those serving a wide variety of sentence lengths.

The Role

As a Locum Psychologist, you will work closely with the Senior Psychologist and multidisciplinary team to provide assessment, intervention, consultation, and risk management services to individuals referred to the IPS Psychology Service.

You will work with clients presenting with a broad range of mental health, behavioural, developmental, and offence-related needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments.
• Deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions.
• Develop and implement treatment plans tailored to individual needs.
• Prepare psychological reports, including reports for the Parole Board where required.
• Contribute to offence-focused interventions and risk assessments.
• Provide consultation, advice, and support to multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Participate in complex case discussions and risk management processes.
• Liaise with community agencies to support successful reintegration and resettlement.
• Work collaboratively with families and carers where clinically appropriate.
• Support transition planning for individuals returning to the community.
• Contribute to staff training, education, and service development initiatives.

Clinical Presentations

The IPS Psychology Service works with individuals presenting with a wide range of difficulties, including:

Mental Health Presentations

• Mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)
• Personality and behavioural disorders
• Self-harm and suicidal behaviours
• Eating disorders
• Psychosis and schizophrenia
• Addiction and substance misuse difficulties

Offence-Related Presentations

• Criminogenic needs
• Violence and aggression
• Sexual offending behaviours
• Risk assessment and management
• Offence-focused intervention work
• Preparation of Parole Board reports

Additional Presentations

• Intellectual disabilities and cognitive difficulties
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Traumatic brain injury
• Cognitive decline
• Literacy difficulties
• Individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds

Professional Development

The IPS Psychology Service places a strong emphasis on professional growth and offers:

• Extensive Continuing Professional Development opportunities
• Participation in multidisciplinary learning
• Research opportunities in collaboration with universities
• Involvement in training and supervision of psychologists-in-training
• Exposure to a diverse and clinically rewarding caseload

Essential Requirements

Candidates must satisfy the following criteria:

Educational Requirements

• Be eligible for Graduate Membership of either:
  • The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI); or
  • The British Psychological Society (BPS)

AND

One of the following:

Clinical Psychology

• Hold a postgraduate professional qualification in Clinical Psychology recognised by PSI.

OR

Counselling Psychology

• Hold a postgraduate professional qualification in Counselling Psychology recognised by PSI.

Applicants whose qualifications were obtained outside Ireland must obtain a Statement of Equivalence from the Department of Health in the relevant discipline.

Desirable Experience

While not essential, the following experience is highly advantageous:

• Experience working with forensic populations
• Experience working in prison, secure, inpatient, or mental health settings
• Experience addressing complex emotional and behavioural difficulties
• Experience providing consultation and guidance to multidisciplinary teams
• Additional therapeutic qualifications
• Research experience and academic involvement

Why Apply?

This role offers an exceptional opportunity to work within one of Ireland's most diverse and professionally rewarding psychological services. You will gain exposure to complex clinical presentations, multidisciplinary practice, forensic assessment, rehabilitation work, and evidence-based interventions while contributing meaningfully to individual rehabilitation and public safety.

Interested?

For a confidential discussion or further information, please contact:

Brian Murray
📧 brian.murray@cplhealthcare.com
📞 +353 87 222 6752
📞 +353 1 482 5421

Cpl Healthcare is proud to partner with the Irish Prison Service in the recruitment of skilled and dedicated psychology professionals.