Job summary
This vacancy is for a 12 month post covering maternity leave.
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and motivated individual to join Durham Children and Young Peoples Service in-house therapeutic team - The Full Circle, based in Annfield Plain, County Durham.
The Full Circle's focus is to support children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma due to experiences of neglect and abuse. The team works in close partnership with children looked after, children in need, residential, fostering and adoption services and has close links with partnership agencies including Education and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within post holder will have the opportunity to develop both their clinical and leadership skills and be an integral member of a strong leadership team. The Full Circle team is committed to providing a trauma informed approach and supporting wider children and young people services to understand and respond to children's trauma in the most helpful way.
Main duties of the job
The post involves offering clinical support and guidance to the team which consists of therapeutic social workers, a clinical nurse specialist and an existing consultant clinical psychologist. It also includes consultation and training to social workers and other professionals working across CYPS along with support to foster carers, parents and residential services. The post involves working with children complex needs requiring collaboration and partnership working with a range of systems. Part of this role will be to support Durham County Council's growing residential services and working in innovative and creative ways to support the most complex young people in Durham's care.
About us
The Full Circle are proud of their Investing in Children Membership Award(TM) status, which recognises and celebrates examples of imaginative and inclusive practice with children and young people.
Ofsted have also recognised how valuable Full Circle Support is"The therapeutic service provided by Full Circle is invaluable. Using evidence based research, the service is making a real difference to children who have been traumatised by adverse childhood experiences, as well as supporting their carers." (September 2019). At their more recent inspection, Ofsted said of children, young people and families, "They receive tailored and highly effective support with their emotional needs from the specialist therapeutic Full Circle team. Foster carers and adopters are well supported by social workers and Full Circle in the transition and continuing care of children placed with them." (May 2022)
Details
Date posted
19 November 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£47,810 to £62,682 a year per annum
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
346-DDC-051-25-B
Job locations
Full Circle
Morrison Road
Annfield Plain
DH9 7XW
Job description
Job responsibilities
We welcome applications from staff who are currently coming to the end of their training in Clinical or counselling psychology that on successful completion will achieve the required qualification and registration with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist. Trainee counselling psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their 3rd year of the doctoral training and have the following confirmed as completed by the university. This information may be requested prior to interview: a. All clinical competencies. b. 80% of the 450 supervised clinical practice hours (360 hours)
Trainee clinical psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their third year of training, as they will have completed their core clinical competencies by this stage of the course.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
For more information on the role please contact in the first instance, Dr Alison Foster, Consultant Clinical Psychologist - k
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
2. HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
3. Trained in clinical supervision (within agreed timescale)
4. Trained in care co-ordination (within agreed timescale)
5. Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
6. Post-graduate qualification showing evidence of supervised practice in an evidence-based psychological therapeutic model
7. Registration with BPS
Experience
Essential
8. Must have experience/interest in: Working with mental health/learning disability clients (depending on designated service area)
9. Multi-disciplinary team working
Desirable
10. Experience of CBT, DBT, Psychodynamics, systematic therapy
11. Experience of research and audit
Knowledge
Essential
12. Doctoral level knowledge of: Evidence- based practice relevant to the role
13. Risk assessment and risk management
14. Clinical governance
15. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
16. Audit and research methodology
17. Social Inclusion agenda
18. Awareness of: The Trust's Quality Improvement System