Psychological Family Practitioner (Family Support and Safeguarding)

Job Introduction

How about joining a vibrant and innovative team composed of Clinical Psychologists, a Counselling Psychologist, a Family Therapist, a Consultant Psychiatrist, and Psychological Family Practitioners? Over the past seven years we have quadrupled in numbers, developed very interesting tools, written a residential model, published papers and worked closely with colleagues in Europe. Oxfordshire County Council’s Children, Educational and Families Directorate continual drive for innovation has developed these exciting new roles, as part of the government-led Families First Partnership Programme, which is focused on supporting parents and families. This exciting role will be part of a multi-disciplinary Clinical Team, positioned within Children’s Social Care, and led by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

Oxfordshire County Council offers very generous work conditions, and this is a team with a strong value base who will fully support you. We want people in our team to thrive in what they do, so they can be the best professionals supporting the children and families we work with.  

 We are a creative, dynamic, caring, and reflective team that value diversity, ideas, and contributions which each member of our team brings. This is reflected in the supportive structure of the team with plenty of opportunities to share evidence-based learning, develop new ideas, share learning from our clinical experience and a variety of spaces for reflection and professional growth. At our core, we are a team who think, reflect and work systemically through a trauma-informed lens, while drawing on a wide range of evidence-based interventions to inform and guide our work with children, young people and families across Oxfordshire. We continue to learn from the services and teams we support alongside the experiences of children, young people and families to continually shape and develop the service and our clinical offers. As a team and across social care, we work with children, young people and families with diverse needs and cultural experiences, and we hope to reflect and value this diversity as a Clinical Team.  

 No two days as a psychological family practitioner are quite the same. You’ll work alongside parents and families at an important point in their lives, where your support aims to strengthen relationships and improve wellbeing. Your day will consist of visiting parents, using therapeutic and relationship-based approaches to explore their experiences, strengthen their confidence and help them reflect on their wellbeing, their parenting and their children’s needs. You might work together on emotional regulation, relationships, or understanding how past experiences can influence family life today. You may also provide more practical, hands-on support helping a family establish routines, attending an appointment alongside a parent, connecting them with community resources or working together to overcome barriers that might lead to break down in family relationships or children coming into or at risk of coming into care. Whilst the main focus is on supporting the parents, time may also be spent with a parent and child together, supporting them to strengthen their relationship, practice new ways of responding to difficult moments and build positive experiences together. 

 At other times, you may meet with a social worker or other professionals to share progress, think collaboratively about what a family needs. Throughout your work, you’ll have the opportunity to build meaningful and trusted relationships with families, recognise and develop their strengths and support parents to make changes that can last beyond professional involvement. It’s a role that combines therapeutic thinking with practical action. You’ll need warmth, curiosity and creativity, alongside the confidence to have difficult conversations and offer appropriate challenge when needed. At the heart of each day is the same goal: supporting families to create safe, stable and nurturing relationships in which children can thrive.

This post is currently funded until the end of March 2028 as part of the government-led Families First Partnership Programme.

Rewards and benefits

• Relocation allowance of up to £8,000 for eligible roles.
• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays).
• Option to buy additional holiday. 
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Flexible working.
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24x7.
• Range of family-friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
  
  

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to: Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to: Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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