Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist | West London NHS Trust

We are looking for a Clinical/ Counselling Psychologist to join us within the local authority Children in Care service, specialising in Leaving Care Service (young people aged 16-25yrs). We would welcome applicants who may be working at a Band 7 level on a preceptorship basis.

Co-located with social care colleagues and be part of the Brighter Futures Psychology Service which sees a ‘team’ of psychologists embedded across other Ealing’s children social care teams including children looked after, adoption and safeguarding teams. Given the age range of the young people accessing leaving care services (16-25yrs) we would welcome applicants with experience and interest in working with adults as well.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about developing a psychology offer for care leavers and the network around them, with a strong focus on co-production with care experienced young people and providing an accessible and flexible service. This role requires a high level of autonomy. Hybrid working is in place for the teams and flexible working is supported and common in the team.

Supervision and CPD are important when considering a new role, the post holder will have regular supervision with the Principal Clinical Psychologist for Brighter Futures and there are a range of CPD opportunities both within West London and the Local Authority CPD programme, including Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP).

The team values a committed, empathic, and trauma-informed approach to the work with care experienced young people, their families and the professional network. The psychologist in this role would offer consultation to social work colleagues in the Leaving Care Team and support them to embed and embody a trauma-informed and relational approach to their work.

The post holder would support the team to sustain skills in key values/ approaches that underpin Ealing’s Brighter Futures model (e.g. attachment and trauma models, mentalization-based approaches) and support reflective group practice/ supervision sessions. Training and supervision is provided to the post holder to support this aim including Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP).

In addition, the post holder would offer accessible psychological/ emotional health and wellbeing screening and assessment for young people, 1:1 psychological interventions and group work/ workshops as needed. The post holder will have opportunities to be innovative in designing and offering a mental health service to care leavers which meets their needs and works to build links/ pathways with adult mental health services.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’. The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board.

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.