Clinical Psychologist

Leeds, United Kingdom

The Oakdale Centre Community Interest Company (CiC) was established over twenty years  ago and is highly regarded as a professional therapy provider for adults as well as children  and their families. As a not-for-profit organisation our focus is always on the goal of doing the best job we can to help people who come to us for therapy in their time of need. 

Oakdale has recently enjoyed a period of growth within our adoption support service where we offer high quality assessments and interventions to adoptive children and their families across Yorkshire. Oakdale is also passionate about supporting families with neurodiverse children and offers holistic assessments to consider attachment and trauma, alongside neurodevelopmental conditions (ADHD, Autism and Learning Disabilities).

As a result we are seeking a highly motivated Clinical Psychologist to join our thriving adoption support service. In this role, you will be responsible for providing specialist trauma and attachment assessments, neurodevelopmental assessments and therapeutic interventions for adopted children and their families. Opportunities for further training in both assessment tools and therapeutic interventions are available. 

Job Description 

• Conduct specialist trauma-informed assessments for adopted children and young people (aged 4-25) with their families/carers. 

• Conduct trauma-informed neurodevelopmental assessments (ADHD, Autism) for children, young people and adults where there is a history of early developmental trauma. 

• To develop and formulate children’s presenting areas of difficulty or difference, and effectively communicate this to the child, parent/carer, social worker and other professionals as appropriate by drawing on conceptual and psychological frameworks, commonly using attachment theory.

• Provide therapeutic interventions to support adopted children and their families.

• To work collaboratively with post-adoption social workers, schools, and other professionals.

• Interpret and integrate psychometric measures to assist with assessment, formulation, and evaluation of intervention.

• To support the ongoing evaluation of all interventions provided within the adoption support service through ongoing support and guidance for colleagues around the use and interpretation of psychometric measures. 

• Participate in supporting the MDT in reviewing referrals and devising an assessment or intervention proposal for families.

• Produce high-quality assessment and intervention summary reports, written from a strengths-based and formulation driven perspective.

• Where appropriate provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients’ formulation and treatment plan.  

• To participate in regular clinical supervision.

• To participate in service development initiatives.

• To offer clinical supervision to an Assistant Psychologist.

• To maintain accurate case records on Oakdale’s case management system, including clinical observations, clinical notes, tests and other associated data according to Oakdale’s operating procedures.

• Be responsible for ensuring that any clinical activity and that of colleagues under your supervision are entering data in a timely and accurate way.  

• To provide all clinical assessments and interventions in line with Oakdale’s policies and operating procedures.

• To maintain adherence to NICE guidelines and Oakdale’s clinical standards

• Undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

• The post-holder will provide compassionate care that is based on empathy, kindness, respect and dignity.

• To prioritise own workload in order to achieve goals agreed and reviewed at intervals with the Clinical Psychologist. 

• Any other tasks deemed appropriate. 

Person Specification

Essential:

• Postgraduate doctorate qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent)

• HCPC registration as practitioner psychologist

• A working knowledge of child and adult safeguarding legislation

• Experience / knowledge of routine clinical outcomes monitoring

• Experience / knowledge of clinical risk assessment

• An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal and team working skills 

• The ability to use a computer competently, with a broad base of IT skills

• The ability to work on your own initiative and prioritise workload

• Strong literacy and report writing skills, with excellent accuracy and attention to detail

• Passion for supporting individuals who have experienced early life trauma and their parents or families

Desirable:

• Knowledge of developmental trauma and in supporting families with children who are looked after/adopted

• Experience of delivering specialist assessments in trauma and attachment, Autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, complex needs and/or challenging behaviours

• Experience of managing complex caseloads and applying a range of interventions

Salary: £46,000 (FTE)

To work flexibly across our different centres, with a main base at either Harrogate or Horsforth. Some remote working available.
Full and part time opportunities available.

Hours by agreement.

This role would suit an organised and capable clinician who shares Oakdale’s values, and is keen to work with commitment and flexibility within a mutually supportive team.