Job summary
We are seeking to recruit an experienced, knowledgeable, and trauma-informed senior clinical psychologist to join our innovative Multi-agency and Integrated Service between Brighton & Hove County Council and Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust. You will work within the Partners in Change Hub in the Brighton & Hove Family and Children's Services department (recently awarded 'outstanding' by Ofsted, 2024). The Partners in Change team (PiC) is a multi-disciplinary team where you will collaborate with Psychiatric Nurses, Substance Misuse specialists, Social Workers, and Lead Practitioners. The PiC service is a friendly and welcoming team dedicated to providing high-quality services that complement the work of Children Services in liaison with other key agencies.
Main duties of the job
The service provides assessments and interventions to families within Brighton & Hove child protection, safeguarding, and care proceedings, especially where parental difficulties such as substance misuse, mental health issues, sexual risk, learning difficulties, and domestic violence impact parenting. This post involves further service development, offering assessments and interventions to adults with complex needs, including learning and neurodevelopmental needs, often related to their own childhood and adult trauma.
About us
The role balances consultation, psychological and cognitive assessment, and direct therapeutic intervention. It offers opportunities to develop skills in working with complex trauma, contribute to trauma-informed practice development, staff training, and service monitoring. You will engage with various interest groups such as anti-poverty initiatives and support active anti-racist practices within BHCC. There is scope to develop psychological formulation-driven reflective practice to understand complex families and systems within the wider social work network. The role involves collaboration with the BHCC legal team and decision-making regarding external expert witnesses. You will also help develop the psychology service through audits, performance monitoring, and participation in steering group meetings with senior managers.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This varied and challenging role involves working with families to improve outcomes for children on Child Protection Plans and pre-proceedings, through interventions with adults considering the needs of both children and parents. As an experienced clinical psychologist specializing in adult and family mental health, you will be confident in risk assessment and management, and able to communicate your professional opinions effectively both verbally and in writing. The role includes providing consultation to social workers to support case management and sharing your expertise within the team.
This position is advertised as full-time, but part-time work will be considered.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology, approved by the HPC, including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, multiple psychological therapies, and lifespan developmental psychology.
* For forensic psychologists: a Masters degree with the British Psychological Society qualification in forensic psychology or equivalent.
* Registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HPC).
Knowledge/Experience
* Experience in specialist psychological assessment and treatment across various care settings.
* Post-qualification experience as an applied psychologist with substantial clinical supervision (~50 hours).
* Doctoral-level knowledge of research methodology, design, and complex data analysis within psychology.
* Experience working with diverse client groups across the lifespan, handling highly emotive and distressing situations professionally.
* Experience in teaching, training, and supervision.
* Experience applying psychology in multicultural contexts and within a multidisciplinary framework.
* Knowledge of guidance and legislation relevant to the client group and mental health.
Additional requirements
This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check and requires current UK professional registration. Applications from those requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome, with further details available on the employer’s website.
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