Job summary

We are seeking an experienced HCPC registered Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or a Child Psychotherapist who is passionate about children in care to work with Dorset's Harbour Service in the East of Dorset. The Harbour Service is a specialist service meeting the needs of Dorset children, young people and families where there are both chronic and acute relational needs. The Harbour Service works intensely with young people adopting and outreach and inreach model where the child has experienced adversity and disruption in their family system and where for some, residential care is required.

You will be a central member of The Harbour Therapies team which includes Child Psychotherapy, Emotional Health and Wellbeing Practitioners and Speech and Language Therapy. You will have strong links with the Specialist CAMHS Care Adoption and Permanence Service and the wider CAMH service. This is a 4x day a week post though full time hours are available if requested.

You will work closely with children's and carer's SWs and the team around the child/family, bringing specialist psychological expertise and formulation to highly complex families and children. This includes in-depth understanding of childhood trauma, attachment experiences, sibling relationships, contact arrangements as well as bringing psychological perspectives to carers' trauma histories, blocked care, attachment styles and resilience. You will be well supported with clinical and management supervision and CPD.

Main duties of the job

You will provide a specialist service offering assessments of need for young people who require a trauma and neurodevelopmental informed approach. You will work directly with young people and parents/carers to promote stability and connection within the family system. You will also provide consultations to SWs and other key professionals to facilitate psychologically informed care planning - with particular focus on permanency, psychological safety and CiC mental health.

You will bring a trauma, neurodevelopmental and attachment informed approach and have experience in adult mental health and systemic approaches, which are required for understanding carers' psychological capacities and psychological health as well as the systems around the child and carer.

Training to staff and carers is highly valued and you will be part of a rolling programme of specialist training for carers and residential social care staff.

This post is based in Wareham and will cover the East of Dorset. You will work closely with the Harbour West team based in Weymouth.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Job description

Job responsibilities

If you are interested in moving to Dorset, we also offer a generous relocation package of up to £5,000. For further details on relocation expenses please email

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare is working in partnership with The Princes Trust to support people getting into work, as part of this partnership, we are offering an employability service to support individuals between 16-30 years old with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support please do contact

Person Specification

Skills and training

Essential

Relevant work-related experience and specialist training, such as facilitating therapeutic groups.

Knowledge

Essential

Post-graduate doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent) and eligible for Chartered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist Status in the British Psychological Society. Or, a Master's level pre-clinical training at a school recognised by the ACP

Job Specific criteria

Essential

Clinical experience with children in care, children and adolescent's mental health and working with their carers.

Skillls

Essential

Experience of clinical supervision and consultation with teams and networks around the family.

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