Psychological Specialist for Refugee Support

Job Title: Clinical Psychologist (Partnership with British Red Cross)

Location: Leicester and Derby

Reporting to: Director of Therapy

Employment Type: Full-time for a duration of two years and six months

Compensation: £46,000 per annum

Benefits: 27 days of annual leave (pro rata) along with a 4% matched pension contribution

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

The Helen Bamber Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to assisting asylum seekers, refugees, victims of human trafficking, and individuals affected by human rights violations. Our esteemed team of therapists, medical professionals, and legal experts is recognized internationally for delivering therapeutic care, medical consultations, legal protection, and practical assistance. We are committed to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. The British Red Cross (BRC) is part of the global humanitarian network, connecting compassion with crisis response. In the aftermath of incidents or emergencies in the UK, the BRC provides practical and emotional support to those affected.

The Helen Bamber Foundation seeks a Clinical Psychologist to lead a new initiative in collaboration with the BRC. This partnership aims to enhance access to trauma-informed interventions for individuals fleeing conflict, particularly those affected by the situation in Ukraine, as well as victims of trafficking, torture, and other forms of human cruelty. The BRC team, in collaboration with the Helen Bamber Foundation, will deliver direct casework, psychological assessments, and treatment support at two BRC Refugee Support service locations in Leicester and Derby over the course of two years.

ROLE SUMMARY

As the Clinical Psychologist overseeing the partnership with the BRC, you will operate within two BRC Refugee Support services in Leicester and Derby, as part of the Helen Bamber Foundation team.

Your responsibilities will encompass conducting specialized psychological assessments for both clinical and medico-legal purposes, providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions, facilitating referrals to local mental health services, delivering training to local mental health providers and non-clinical staff with significant client interaction, fostering internal relationships, monitoring outcomes, and potentially supervising a final-year trainee clinical psychologist. You will also contribute to partnership development, policy formulation, research, and fundraising efforts.

We are looking for a candidate with experience and a commitment to therapeutic work with individuals who have experienced human rights abuses and developed trauma-related disorders. The ideal candidate will possess a passion for human rights advocacy beyond individual client interactions and a desire to influence change at a policy level. Monthly travel to HBF offices for meetings and professional development will be required, with travel expenses reimbursed.

Although this position involves direct work exclusively with adults aged 18 and over, the successful candidate will have indirect contact with clients' children and will be expected to consider their best interests in all interventions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Conduct specialized psychological assessments and provide therapeutic interventions to clients of the BRC Refugee Support services in Leicester and Derby (and, where approved, other East Midlands services);

· Contribute to the evaluation of partnership activities and outcomes;

· Collaborate closely with the BRC's Senior Psychosocial Practitioner to develop training and outreach initiatives for local mental health providers and BRC Refugee Support service teams;

· Assist in the preparation of medico-legal reports and contribute to their development for clients of the East Midlands BRC Refugee Support services;

· Design and implement audits and research projects relevant to the Helen Bamber Foundation or the partnership (in collaboration with the BRC's Senior Psychological Practitioner and the Director of Therapy);

· Provide training internally and externally in collaboration with the Director of Therapy;

· Supervise junior staff; and

· Liaise with other statutory and non-statutory organizations regarding clinical care and policy matters.

· Contribute to policy and position statements alongside other members of the Helen Bamber Foundation and the British Red Cross, promoting the partnership at conferences and other events.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Annual performance reviews and personal development planning will be conducted.

· Ensure compliance with Continuing Professional Development requirements set by the Health and Care Professions Council and other governing bodies.

· Stay updated with relevant literature and research pertinent to the client demographic of the Helen Bamber Foundation and attend necessary training sessions.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Essential Qualifications and Registration

· Completion of a recognized doctoral-level training in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) with a range of clinical placements during training.

· Registration with HCPC as a practitioner psychologist.

Experience

· A minimum of two years of post-qualification clinical experience in a relevant field;

· Experience working with clients suffering from PTSD and other trauma-related disorders;

· Experience assisting individuals who have undergone multiple traumatic experiences, developmental trauma, or exhibit complex PTSD symptoms;

· Proficiency in delivering therapies for PTSD treatment using trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, or Narrative Exposure Therapy;

· Experience in assessing and providing evidence-based therapies to individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, including through interpreters;

· Experience presenting at conferences or similar events;

· Commitment to multidisciplinary teamwork; and

· Experience in providing training.

Knowledge and Skills

· Understanding of the legal, political, and social issues in the human rights, asylum, refugee, and health sectors;

· Ability to manage a complex caseload while collaborating with the safeguarding lead for appropriate referrals;

· Exceptional organizational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple tasks effectively;

· Attention to detail and accuracy;

· Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to work independently and maintain professional boundaries.

Able to represent the Helen Bamber Foundation's objectives and values within the British Red Cross service; and

· Proficient in using all MS Office software.

Professional Attributes

· Commitment to the mission of the Helen Bamber Foundation;

· Understanding and implementation of trauma-informed practices and systems; and

· A positive attitude towards and commitment to audit, monitoring, and evaluation as required by the role.

Desirable Qualifications

· Experience in a specialized trauma service post-qualification or completion of a specialized trauma placement during clinical training.

· Training in the supervision of trainee clinical psychologists.

· Experience providing clinical supervision.

· Background in the non-statutory sector.

· Demonstrated research skills and experience in manuscript preparation for publication.

We encourage applications from underrepresented groups in Clinical Psychology, including individuals with disabilities, those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, or those with lived experiences similar to our clients.

Note: Successful candidates will be offered the position subject to suitable references and a DBS check. This role will require disclosure of both adult and child barring lists. If appointed, you will need to consent to HBF receiving regular updates on your criminal records status and disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your employment.