Psychologist in Newark on Trent

We are seeking a Senior Psychologist to join our in‑house team. You will be instrumental in ensuring the children in our care receive the highest level of support but also support our staff by delivering training and supervision to ensure their well‑being and growth. We are looking for a passionate, values‑led Senior Psychologist to join our childrens residential care service, to provide a high‑quality therapeutic and psychological service to children in our homes. Due to the unique nature of our work, this role would suit someone from an education, counselling or forensic psychology background. The primary purpose of this role will be to promote the mental health, safety and wellbeing of children in our care. Key aspects of the role are supporting our teams to recognise and address the needs of children in our care through consultation, reflective practice, training and development and providing therapeutic support to young people where appropriate. Whilst this role is primarily within the Childrens Residential Service, you will also lead on a really exciting pilot project with a local secondary school to support young people with their mental health and wellbeing. We hope this will lead to further projects where we can replicate this programme with other schools, benefiting more young people in our local community.

Overall Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing and continuing to develop clinical services in therapeutic childrens residential care, ensuring high‑quality assessments, therapy and therapeutic care of children in our care. This is delivered directly by the clinical services team, and indirectly through consultation with and training of care teams
• Delivery of the schools wellbeing programme, and any other therapeutic programs aligned to YMCA RHG's objectives
• People management responsibility for the psychologists and therapists in the Clinical Services team

Principal Clinical, Strategic & Operational Responsibilities

• Responsible and accountable for the clinical care provided by the YMCA Robin Hood Group (YMCA RHG)
• Lead the development of effective clinical governance within the YMCA RHG, including clinical audit, complaints management, policy writing and other quality assurance measures across the entire organisation
• Provide operational management to the clinical services team, undertaking regular one to ones, setting clear objectives, monitoring progress, ensuring appropriate cover, ensuring the delivery of a high‑quality service, whilst acting as a role model and demonstrating strong leadership
• Be responsible for workforce planning including recruitment and selection and retention within clinical services
• Take responsibility for the professional education, development, and training of all clinical staff and other staff requiring clinical support
• Maintain, develop, and nurture the current therapeutic and psychological services within Childrens Residential Care and Supported Housing, including oversight of and direct involvement in psychological assessments, placing and matching new referrals, interventions, clinical reflections and consultations to the care teams, and other associated duties
• Support the development of new services within Childrens Residential Care offering new therapeutic environments and homes, as well as additional therapeutic services for the community and other areas of the business
• Deliver the YMCA RHG schools wellbeing programme, empowering school staff to use a trauma‑informed approach to support children
• Raise the profile of YMCA RHG Residential Services and Clinical Services among the wider community and professional communities, providing the highest standards of care and opportunities for shared learning and development
• Ensure that effective systems are in place to continuously review and evaluate services and to plan for improvements in relation to the Ofsted inspections and Childrens Homes Regulations, and any other regulatory bodies and requirements (including but not limited to HCPC, BACP, UKCP services or accreditations and any future CQC registration)
• Work closely with psychologists, therapists, mental health professionals, and operational professionals within our services and embed a trauma informed approach across our services, including development of further support for our staff
• Devise and deliver training and workshops to staff across the organisation
• Represent YMCA RHG at sector/regional/national events
• Take the lead role for clinical risk management, ensuring policies and practices comply with legislation and quality standards
• Facilitate a culture of learning throughout the services

Legal Framework: Work within the parameters of the HCPC, the Childrens Home Regulations (England) 2015, the Childrens Act 1989/2004, Care Standards Act 2000, Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Equality Act 2010 and associated guidance including Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and Every Child Matters.

Line Management Responsibility: All members of the Clinical Services team including psychologists and/or therapists. Responsibilities for all Staff, Casual Workers, and Managers.

Ambassador for YMCA Robin Hood Group: To act as an advocate and ambassador of the group; promoting and exemplifying the groups values, mission, vision, and ethos and to positively and proactively protect the groups reputation.

Other Duties: To undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by your Line Manager. To work in a flexible way to ensure that workload is completed and to undertake any other jobs commensurate with the seniority of the post. Discretion to Act: To exercise discretion in the performance of the duties of the post, to use best practice and to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources.

Relationships and Confidentiality: To establish, maintain and enhance team‑working with colleagues and staff of the group and to keep confidential all information about individuals and the business of the group. Any breach of confidentiality will be treated seriously and may lead to dismissal.

Health and Safety: To adhere to the groups Health and Safety policies at all times.

Our Values: Character counts. We are committed to building teams of staff and volunteers who share our uncompromising dedication to supporting one another and our community.

We Seek Out: We never stop looking for ways to transform lives for the better.

We Welcome: We respect, support, and protect without fail. Everyone is included, and everyone belongs.

We Inspire: We build and rebuild peoples confidence in their own strength, and foster conviction in everyones potential.

We Speak Out: We stand up for whats right, advocate when needed, and encourage people to find the power of their own voice.

We Serve Others: We are committed to the wellbeing of others in mind, body and spirit, and to fair and equitable opportunities for all.

Our North Star: An expression of our YMCAs mission, vision and values. Every team within our YMCA is united under one shared ambition our North Star. We will work relentlessly to ensure all children and young people:

• Have the developmental relationships and close connections that help them discover who they are
• Develop the strengths and abilities to shape their own lives
• Learn how to engage with and contribute to the world around them

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (additional hours, weekend and bank holiday working may be required to fulfil requirements of the post). Salary: £67,000 per year

Qualifications:

• Doctorate (or equivalent) in Clinical Psychology / Counselling Psychology / Forensic Psychology.
• Post-Doctorate training and development in specific modalities such as CBT, DBT, DDP, PACE, EMDR etc.
• Registered / accredited with a professional body e.g. HCPC.
• Full driving licence and willingness to drive Association vehicles as and when required.
• Willingness to undergo a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and to register with the DBS Update Service OR hold a satisfactory enhanced DBS check for the correct workforce plus existing registration for the DBS Update Service.
• Knowledge of relevant residential child care and social care Legislation, Government Guidance and Best Practice.
• High level working knowledge of Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.
• Experience and/or knowledge of at least 2 therapeutic models / clinical models that are relevant to working with children and young people.
• Qualified psychologist in a relevant field, with post‑qualification experience of working with children and young people ideally with experience in residential/housing/social care settings.
• Demonstrable experience of managing and motivating a team.
• Able to demonstrate experience dealing with complex issues relating to developmental trauma, childhood abuse, and safeguarding.
• Demonstrable experience using outcome measures, evaluation and service improvement.
• Experience of managing clinical audits, evidence based practice and research, and quality assurance.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision.
• Understanding health and social care needs of looked after children, complexities of network and systems for children and families, and individualised care needs.
• Ability to undertake comprehensive psychological assessment and formulation of needs for children, and then formulate individualised treatment / intervention plans.
• Knowledge of relevant residential child care and social care Legislation, Government Guidance and Best Practice.
• High level working knowledge of Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.
• Experience and/or knowledge of at least 2 therapeutic models / clinical models that are relevant to working with children and young people.
• Qualified psychologist in a relevant field, with post‑qualification experience of working with children and young people ideally with experience in residential/housing/social care settings.
• Demonstrable experience of managing and motivating a team.
• Able to demonstrate experience dealing with complex issues relating to developmental trauma, childhood abuse, and safeguarding.
• Demonstrable experience using outcome measures, evaluation and service improvement.
• Experience of managing clinical audits, evidence based practice and research, and quality assurance.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision.
• Understanding health and social care needs of looked after children, complexities of network and systems for children and families, and individualised care needs.
• Ability to undertake comprehensive psychological assessment and formulation of needs for children, and then formulate individualised treatment / intervention plans.