Job Description
Associate Clinical Director - Children’s Services (Residential) - HCPC Registered Clinical/Counselling/Forensic or Educational Psychologist
Contract: Permanent 37.5hrs per week (5 days - Monday to Friday)
Location: Remote
Work Pattern: Home based (plus 1 day a month from head office in West Midlands)
Our client is a leading UK provider of specialist education, care and activities supporting thousands of children, young people, adults and families across England and Wales. They deliver care through residential homes, schools, supported living and community-based services, creating safe, nurturing and ambitious environments where everyone can thrive.
Job Purpose
As a senior member of Clinical Service, the postholder will support the Clinical Director with the development, delivery, and oversight of high-quality, trauma-informed clinical services. They will manage the day-to-day operations of the Clinical Residential Team and work with managers across the organisation to embed effective therapeutic practice within Children’s Residential Services.
The role also includes contributing to ongoing clinical development across services and providing supervision and line management to team members.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide strategic psychological leadership across Children’s Services, offering supervision, guidance, and oversight to support high-quality, trauma-informed practice.
• Lead and embed therapeutic and psychologically informed approaches within Children’s Residential Services, aligned with organisational developments and the connect clinical model.
• Oversee specialist psychological input for children and young people, ensuring assessments, interventions, safeguarding, and risk management are informed by evidence-based practice.
• Deliver training in therapeutic approaches and applied psychology; provide consultation on assessment, intervention, trauma, attachment, and recovery.
• Supervise and support psychologists and contribute to wider professional development across the Clinical Service.
• Lead on the development and implementation of therapeutic policies, contribute to service improvement projects, and advise managers on areas requiring psychological input.
• Maintain strong working relationships with Local Authorities, NHS partners, and external agencies to support effective, coordinated care.
• Use current research to inform practice, lead on outcome measures, and contribute to clinical governance and service evaluation.
• Undertake psychologically informed research (subject to approvals) and provide guidance on research design and methodology.
• Maintain and update professional knowledge through ongoing CPD, reflective practice, supervision, and participation in relevant meetings and learning opportunities.
• Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams and travel as required to fulfil the role.
Requirements:
Essential: Qualification in Clinical, Forensic, Counselling or Educational Psychology or equivalent and substantial experience post qualification.
Essential: Experience working within Children's Residential Settings
Essential: Strong strategic & operational background
Essential: Full Driving clean driving licence and access to own vehicle
Essential: Completed training in clinical supervision
Essential: Other clinical training such as CBT; Systemic Psychotherapy; DBT; DDP; EMDR.
Essential: Assessment and Service development experience.
Essential: Experience of line management.
Essential: Experience of providing (within a care setting) consultation, training,
support and supervision