Job Introduction
How about joining a vibrant and innovative team composed of Clinical Psychologists, a Counselling Psychologist, a Family Therapist, a Consultant Psychiatrist, 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. This exciting role will be part of a multi-disciplinary Clinical Team led by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and focus on supporting parents and families through the expansion of an existing Reunification Pathway. Oxfordshire County Council’s Children, Educational and Families Directorate continual drive for innovation has developed these exciting new roles within The Children Social Care Clinical Team.
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 children and families at an important point in their lives, where reunification is being explored, planned or supported following a child’s return home. Your morning might begin with a visit to a parent at home, using therapeutic and relationship-based approaches to explore their experiences, strengthen their confidence and help them reflect on 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. Later, you could be providing more practical, hands-on support helping a family establish routines before their children return home, attending an appointment alongside a parent, connecting them with community resources or working together to overcome practical barriers that could affect reunification success. Your afternoon might involve spending time 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 and contribute to plans for safe and sustainable reunification. 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.
Rewards and benefits:
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.
- Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays).
- Culture of flexible working
- Technology to support agile working where role permits
- Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
- Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24 x7.
- 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.
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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