Psychologist

We are seeking a compassionate and skilled Psychologist to join our dedicated team. This role involves working directly with children and young people, as well as providing essential support, training, and consultation to staff. The ideal candidate will have expertise in trauma-informed practices, child development, and promoting mental health in care settings. 

You will play a pivotal role in fostering a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment that meets the emotional and psychological needs of children, while also equipping staff with the tools and knowledge to deliver exceptional care. 

You will be joining a leading children's organisation with a mission to provide looked-after young people with a safe and nurturing environment, one that promotes empowerment, independence and choice, while enhancing their core living skills, and ability to move across the care continuum into fully independent living. 

Location: This role requires working across our services in London, Peterborough, Kent and Northampton. 

Duties And Responsibilities

Supporting Children and Young People:

• Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments to identify the emotional and developmental needs of children and young people.
• Develop and deliver tailored therapeutic interventions using evidence-based approaches, such as CBT, play therapy, Dyadic Development Psychotherapy (DDP).
• Work with children to address trauma, attachment difficulties, and emotional regulation challenges.
• Act as a key member of multi-disciplinary teams to develop care plans and strategies to support individual needs.
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation support when required. 

Supporting Staff:

• Offer regular consultation and reflective practice sessions to staff, empowering them to manage complex behaviours and emotional needs effectively.
• Develop and deliver training programs on topics such as trauma-informed care, attachment theory, and behaviour management strategies.
• Provide psychological insights to staff to help them understand and respond to the needs of children in their care.
• Support staff well-being by addressing workplace stressors and promoting resilience within the team. 

Service Development:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and practices aligned with Ofsted requirements and best practices in child psychology.
• Conduct audits and evaluations to ensure the quality of therapeutic interventions and care.
• Collaborate with external agencies, including education, health, and social care professionals, to provide holistic support for children. 

Please Note: This job description provides an outline of the duties and responsibilities involved in the post Psychologist and is not intended to establish a total definition of the job, which by virtue, is developmental and subject to ongoing review and improvement. 

Person Specification:

• You must hold a master’s or doctoral degree in Psychology (Clinical, Educational, or Child Psychology preferred).
• You must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• You must have at least 2 years’ experience working with children, young people, and staff in care or residential settings.
• You must have a strong understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed care, and attachment theories.
• You must have excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• You must be suitable to work with Children. A DBS Certificate is a requirement for the role.
• You may have experience in working within an Ofsted-regulated environment.
• You may have specialised training in therapeutic approaches, such as, Dyadic Development Psychotherapy (DDP).
• You may have the ability to design and deliver engaging staff training sessions.
• You may have knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) or other behavioural management frameworks. 

Company Overview:

SBCHL have in excess of 60 homes across London, Peterborough, Northampton and Kent plus an independent specialist school for children aged 8-19 with autism and other learning difficulties. 

We deliver high quality care to support children and young people with overcoming obstacles, and enabling them to celebrate achievements and develop independent skills. Our qualified and dedicated team will work on nurturing and building the self-esteem of every individual, ensuring they feel safe and supported. Further details about our companies can be found on our website: https://sbc-holdings-limited.com/