Clinical Psychologist Team Leader

Competitive salary aligned with the National Health Service: up to £70K dependent on successful candidate’s experience and qualifications

Hours and working pattern can be flexible – could be full or part-time, largely in school term time

We are seeking to recruit a creative and enthusiastic Consultant Clinical Psychologist to lead the friendly and supportive team of six Clinical Psychologists within The Howard Partnership Trust (THPT), a Surrey-based Multi-Academy Trust comprised of 4 Secondary, 6 Primary and 3 Special Schools, with a total number on roll in excess of 7,500. THPT is a highly-inclusive trust, which believes in bringing out the best in all our children and young people to increase their life-chances and future success into independent adulthood. The Trust has always been in the vanguard of initiatives that improve what we are able to offer our school communities and, to this end, developed our Psychology Team approach some four years ago. Our Consultant Clinical Psychologist influences organisational issues and Trust direction by meeting regularly with the top tier of executive leaders to share and help formulate Trust-wide policy on initiatives in mental health and wellbeing, together with strategies for implementation. This scope is further extended to all school leaders through the regular attendance at meetings of the THPT Principals’ Board.

The successful candidate will lead and support the Psychology Team of assistant psychologists and others in training posts. We encourage the use of positive and evidence-based psychology to support children while prioritising professional wellbeing. The team work very closely together, engaging with quality supervision both within the Trust and formal supervision externally. Our Psychology Team has a growing reputation for having effective relationships with other professionals including those within CAMHS and the primary mental health teams. The Team also works with the Trust Inclusion Team, SENDCos, counsellors and other specialists further strengthening the support on offer for both personal development and the service as a whole.

The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting the provision of a clinical psychology service to students referred to the Psychology Team from senior staff within each school. You will have an appropriate level of autonomy within your professional guidelines and provide specialist psychological assessment, care planning and a range of evidence-based psychological interventions. THPT has invested in WISC, WPPSI, ADOS and several screening measures.

Our service encourages collaborative and flexible working, and we are committed to continuous development of each Clinical Psychologist’s professional skills.

Essential Requirements:

• Is able to perform a strategic role and be an excellent practitioner

• Has good communication, interpersonal, organisation and time-management skills;

• Is reliable, flexible, able to show initiative and take responsibility;

• Is committed to consultative problem solving as a model of service delivery;

• Has a sound knowledge of evidence-based interventions;

• Has professional Clinical Psychology qualifications (usually a Doctorate) recognised by the BPS, has HCPC registration.

• Employment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

As a qualified psychologist, you will be required to assess, diagnose and treat young people. In addition to this, we have launched preventative projects including building resilience for all our children and young people. We have created a research project which includes annual questionnaires to our students. Our goal is to invest resources that support those to whom we have a duty of care, their families and our staff to build positive mental health across THPT.

THPT has established strong relationships with Surrey University. We offer “specialist” and “core” placements to doctorate trainees, and this role is responsible for their professional supervision.

Benefits THPT can offer:

• An opportunity to be part of a dynamic and developing organisation

• Excellent Local Government Pension Scheme, including generous employer contributions

• Rewards and Benefits Scheme that includes Loyalty and Service Awards

• Benefit package to include Cycle to Work, Sainsbury’s Loyalty Discount and access to discount schemes

Employment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Howard Partnership Trust is school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Our Vision is to excel at ‘bringing out the best’ in young people of all abilities and aptitudes, and so increase their life chances for their future success and fulfilment.