The aim of the Service is to serve all the people of Northern Ireland by keeping in safe and humane custody those committed by the courts and, by working with them and with other parts of the Criminal Justice System, to seek to reduce the risk of reoffending and to help them to lead useful lives. The average prison population in Northern Ireland is around 900 and is comprised of prisoners of both sexes including adults and young offenders who are committed for a very wide range of offences. This number includes around 90 life sentenced prisoners and around 150 sex offenders. Whilst necessarily over the last 30 years the Service has had to devote much of its energies to dealing with terrorist prisoners, the political progress that has been made in Northern Ireland over the last few years has allowed us to refocus on working with non-terrorist prisoners. A wide variety of education, vocational training and behavioural programmes are delivered within all the prison establishments to prepare these prisoners for reintegration into society.
Psychologists play a vital role in developing and delivering such programmes.
Legislation will come into effect on 1 October 2001 that will make new arrangements for the release of life sentence prisoners which will require a greater involvement of psychologists. The post holder can expect to contribute to this work. The successful applicant will be based at HMP Maghaberry but must be prepared to work in any prison service establishment in Northern Ireland. HM YOC, Hydebank Wood, Belfast. To contribute to the provision of psychological services in the Northern Ireland Prison Service.