Senior Practitioner Psychologist - Crisis at Christmas

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. In 2024 we embarked on our new 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

It is an exciting and important time to be joining us at Crisis. We work with thousands of people across England, Scotland, and Wales so they can leave homelessness behind for good. We have recently adapted the way our services work to maximise our impact in ending homelessness.

Title : Senior Practitioner Psychologist (internally this role is known as Senior Skylight Psychologist)

Qualifications : You must be a Practitioner Psychologist qualified for at least 18 months and registered with the HCPC

Hours : 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. This vacancy could be filled by a candidate looking for a full-time opportunity or by two candidates looking to work part-time, as per Crisis’ Flexible Working Policy. Please let us know what working arrangements you are looking for when completing the application form. Please note this role require the successful candidate to work for some of the Christmas and New Year period each year but won’t require working on Bank Holidays.

Salary : Full-time salaries are as follows:

• 18 months to 4 years qualified – £53,755 (Regional), £57,755 (London) per annum FTE.

• 5 to 7 years qualified – £56,454 (Regional), £60,454 (London) per annum FTE.

• 8+ years qualified – £60,504 (Regional), £64,504 (London) per annum FTE.

Please note if you are working part-time these salaries will be pro rata. Our salaries are fixed to counter inequity, and we do not negotiate at offer stage.

Location: Crisis Skylight London, 50 – 52 Commercial Street, E1 6LT will be the main base for the role but it will include travel to Christmas centres and hotels in London for specific activities and at different times of the year. There will also be some homeworking as an option in line with Crisis’ Hybrid Working Policy.

About the role

We are excited to offer this new role which is an opportunity to support our two London Crisis at Christmas teams. There is the Crisis at Christmas team who lead on the set up and delivery of our hotel and day centre delivery in the capital. This is a huge and innovation operation, supporting hundreds of people out of rough sleeping. It also involves huge numbers of volunteers. Our Christmas Case Management Team focus on supporting people through the Crisis at Christmas hotel offer, and throughout the year afterwards. More information here: What is Crisis at Christmas? | Crisis UK

The postholder will be working alongside the Crisis at Christmas team and Christmas Case Management Team to develop this post. You will form part of the local Leadership team, supporting the implementation of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs). You will support the delivery of our work to members by offering training and leading reflective practice for staff and providing direct services to members at times. You will be working alongside the Christmas team to plan how we ensure our service offer is psychologically and trauma informed as well as developing and delivering training for volunteers and staff and supporting the delivery of our services. You will be joining a part-time Psychologist working into the Christmas Case Management team, as well as several Psychologists who are also based in the London Skylight.

You will also be a part of a national psychology team made up of a Lead Clinical Psychologist, two Regional Lead Clinical Psychologists, and seven Practitioner Psychologists as well as one Assistant Psychologist and Trainee Clinical Psychologists on placements.

We are committed to ending the homelessness of more people using our direct services, including people with complex needs. To do this, we are seeking either full-time or part-time Practitioner Psychologists to work with us to develop a new and innovative role supporting our Christmas teams.

This an opportunity for you to work within an agile and progressive charity where you can influence psychologically informed ways of working to end homelessness for good.

You will join an extraordinary team of frontline lead workers with a focus on people facing homelessness who have survived a range of difficult and traumatic experiences.

About you

We are looking for people who are community focused and driven by our shared values. This role brings a real opportunity to be creative and flexible in our approach to working psychologically with people who face multiple disadvantages, and to support the staff teams via training and reflective practice.

There are opportunities to provide direct support as well as working extensively with local teams and other parts of the organisation to influence policy and practice developments. We are looking for someone with post qualification experience of working within complex systems and you may have direct experience of working with people who experience homelessness.

You will be excited by the prospect of working innovatively to deliver services locally alongside the Skylight team, as well linking in closely with the wider Psychology team to develop the service. You will be committed towards social justice, and to being an advocate for those we work with and for breaking down the systemic barriers that exclude those who need most support.

We welcome informal conversations to learn more about the role with a member of our Practitioner Psychology Team, please email us and we will arrange a call. If you would like to visit the Skylight prior to applying that can also be arranged.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%

• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave.

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.

• Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm

• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly.

• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

As a member of the Practitioner Psychology Team, you will have:

• Access to funds to support CPD as part of a wider commitment to ensure meeting HCPC standards.

• Reimbursement of costs to join a professional body (e.g., ACP/BPS)

• Bi-annual away day with the Team

• Access to high quality clinical and professional supervision

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. When answering the screening questions please do be thorough, reflecting on your experience to date and using relevant examples. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Sunday 19 January 2025 at 23:59

Interview date and location: Wednesday 5 February 2025 at Crisis Skylight London, 50 – 52 Commercial Street, E1 6LT

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for my application?

We strongly discourage applicants from using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. This is so we can run a fair, transparent process which gives all applicants an equitable chance of success. We want to hear about your own experience and perspectives in your application and if shortlisted, during the interview too.

Accessibility

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team will contact you to discuss how we can help.

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094