Clinical Psychologist Specialist LAC and Adoption Service

Job summary

Could you be the person to join oursmall & friendly team? If you are then together we can bring passion , commitment ,and integrity to our work as well being responsive, flexible and given our independent status, able to think outside the box.

We are looking for Clinical Psychologists to join our independent, forward thinking, organically expandingpractice supported by a small, friendly team of like-minded professionals. We want you to experience support and room todevelop professionally and personally as well as having the opportunity to helpto grow and expand our practice and invest in its future. The particular jobrole can be primarily focused on child and family work and many of ourcontracts provide a variety of opportunities therein.

Main duties of the job

You will ideally have a good understanding of trauma, its impact and associated models of psychological intervention and assessment. The work will be varied and can be complex and challenging. However, our team is highly skilled and committed to our work and we will support you to develop your assessment, formulation and intervention skills across contexts and modalities ( CFT, ACT, CBT, EMDR, DDP), alongside how to deliver and manage bespoke support packages to other front line professionals via training, supervision, consultation and / or service development opportunities.

The post will be working across a range ofcontracts some of which require working directly in, alongside and in partnershipwith a range of statutory and third sector organisations therefore we are looking forsomeone who will be invested in carrying out meaningful work to genuinelysupport our community; someone driven to develop psychological mindedness inorganisations to enable them to support themselves and their clients; someoneable to plan, put together and carry out bespoke packages of work and see themthrough to their conclusion.

About us

Phoenix Psychology is a well-established independentpractice with two bases in the Midlands. We provide therapeutic services,assessments, consultancy, supervision, and training, specialising in workingwith complex trauma presentations across the lifespan whether that be lookedafter and adopted children (LAAC) and families with complex difficulties whoare supported by their local authorities, young people at risk of exploitation and/oroffending, or adults who have experienced complex trauma through theiremployment, early life, military experiences or as a result of more recentsignificant events.

We value relationships , a guidingprinciple which underpins every aspect of our practice. We believe thatrelationships facilitate psychological well-being when they are built on connection, compassion, integrity, honesty, respect , and trust and have the aim of encouraging and supportingmutual development and growth. Whether it is within our 1-1 relationships, our peer connections or our dealings with organisations weinvest energy in the embodiment of these values with a view of enhancing thecapacity for all to thrive.

We can offer you our commitment topromoting equality & valuing diversity andrecognise the importance of awork life balance, respecting the need for flexible and balanced workingpractices. All employeesare entitled to our Employee Assistance Programme, Income Protection Plan,pension scheme and competitive salary alongside a generous CPD offer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY To provide a qualified psychology service to children and families with a range of presenting difficulties. With a focus on supporting those who have experienced complex trauma To provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to individuals, family groups and / or professional networks, with a specialist focus on attachment based models of understanding To offer advice and consultation on clients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non professional carers To provide input and clinical management to a contract providing adult therapy to individuals within a specialist residential parenting assessment unit To offer specialised training, consultation and developmental opportunities to professional and non professional audiences To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within areas serviced by Phoenix

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

You will provide psychology services within the LAC and Adoption Service as well as other related practice areas serviced by Phoenix. You will be expected to work in locations including both of our clinic bases and in the community.

KEY RESULT AREAS

Clinical:

1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.

2. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological intervention and/or management of a clients needs, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.

3. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.

4. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.

5. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for all aspects of case management including assessment, intervention and discharge of clients alongside ethical and transparent recording of information and communication with all relevant stakeholders.

6. To provide specialist psychological advice guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation and intervention plan.

7. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group, including Court proceedings.

8. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management.

9. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and intervention plans of clients under your care and to monitor progress during the course of any involvement.

10. To ensure that all services provided are acceptable and accessible to the clients of diverse community backgrounds and non discriminatory in nature.

11. To promote equality, respond to diversity and practice in ways that encourage self-reflection / do not discriminate or lead to other forms of unfair treatment

12. To provide input and contract management to a substantial framework agreement with a local provider of specialised residential parenting assessments.

Teaching, training, and supervision

1. To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior psychologist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.

2. To gain additional highly specialist experience and skills relevant to clinical psychology and/or the service as agreed with the Director.

3. To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate.

General

1. To maintain HCPC registration and comply with all professional and ethical standards therein.

2. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development opportunities.

3. To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines.

4. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, HCPC and organisational policies and procedures.

5. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration Knowledge of attachment and developmental trauma Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information toclients, their families, carers andother professional colleagues Skills in providing consultation to other professional and nonprofessional groups Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and data analysis as practiced within clinical psychology

Desirable

High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies including one attachment based therapy ( DDP, Theraplay) Knowledge of the legal framework and national context in relation to the LAC and adopted client group, parenting and mental health Skills in communicating complex issues in writing to legal / quasi-legal arenas

Qualifications

Essential

Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology Current HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist

Desirable

Training in clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology Accredited training in attachment based therapy ( DDP, Theraplay) Qualifications in supervision or training

Experience

Essential

Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of children and families across a range of environments Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse

Desirable

Experience of teaching, training and/or consultation to other professionals. Experience of engaging and working directly and indirectly with complex trauma presentations. Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts Experience of working with complex families and / or within LAC and Adoption services (attachment focused assessment and intervention, parenting support, consultation and training to foster carers, adoptive parents and professionals) Experience of Family Court proceedings

---