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ABSTRACT
This is a retrospective study of the HM Prison and National Probation Services 2003 national recruitment of trainee forensic psychologists. The study looks at which competencies were assessed, how they were assessed, and who was successful at each stage, with reference to equal opportunities and diversity.
Keywords: staff selection; psychologists; forensic psychology; applied psychology
Introduction
Centralised recruitment of trainee forensic psychologists for the National Probation Service and HM Prison Service has been taking place since 2001 (Ashmore & Tanner, 2003). Between 2000 and 2003, around 100 psychology graduates each year were recruited by HM Prison Service (Towl, 2003). These recruitment drives were largely a response to the rapid increase in funding for accredited cognitive-behavioural group work interventions in the Prison and Probation Services post 1999, when the first Joint Prison and Probation Services Accreditation Panel for offending behaviour interventions was established, and, later, to growing interest and investment in individual interventions, risk assessments, and suicide and self-harm prevention. HM Prison Service is now the single largest employer of applied psychologists in the UK (Towl, 2003), and there are nearly 800 psychologists and psychological assistants in the Prison and Probation Services. Retention levels of psychological staff also rose considerably between 2000/2001 and 2001/2002, from 70% to 75% for psychological assistants, and from 76% to 90%, and 82% to 93% for trainee and qualified psychologists respectively (HM Prison Service & National Probation Service, 2003). There are now fewer trainee vacancies for external recruitment and competition is strong.
The 2003 national recruitment campaign took place amid the launch of a new strategic framework for psychological services in the Prison and Probation Services. A major aim of this document, Driving Delivery, was to recruit and retain a more diverse workforce and address the traditional over-representation of 'non-disabled, young, white women predominately from higher socio-economic groups' (HM Prison Service & National Probation Service, 2003). Although this trend is largely inherited from the available pool of psychology graduates - for example in 2001/2 80% of all those studying psychology as a biological science in higher education were female (HESA, 2004a) - it remains the duty of the Prison and Probation Services to work towards improving the diversity of their staff. Steps towards this aim have included delivering information...