Specialised Clinical Psychologist. Adopt Thames Valley (ATV) Anchor Team

Job Introduction

About Us

We are excited to announce that we have an opportunity for a Clinical Psychologist to cover a year long maternity leave in Adopt Thames Valley Anchor team. Anchor is part of a national project developing multi-disciplinary approaches to meeting the needs of adoptive and special guardianship families.   Anchor is a newly developed multi-disciplinary team offering holistic, evidence based, psychological support for adopted and special guardianship families across the ATV region.  We believe in the importance of offering high quality, multi-disciplinary therapeutic support to some of our most vulnerable families, families whose needs are often not understood within the context of other agencies.   We are keen to eliminate the barriers to support and reduce the fragmentation of services that our families talk about experiencing.  We are looking for an individual that is dedicated to understanding the needs of adoptive and SGO families, committed to being part a team to meet these needs, able to engage and work alongside partner organisations and those with lived experience.

Our Vision

Our vision is to offer highly specialised accessible care to our families, working in a team that prizes the importance of working with the networks around a family, offering direct therapeutic support alongside consultation, reflective practice and training to colleagues within ATV and across wider partner services.  At the core of the work Anchor offers is a systemic understanding of developmental trauma and the application of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy both theoretically and clinically to support families. This is complemented by a range of other therapeutic approaches with an attachment lens including, Video Interaction Guidance, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Non-Violent Resistance.   Adopt Thames Valley Regional Adoption Agency launched in December 2017 and is the shared Adoption Service for Bracknell Forest, Oxfordshire, Reading Borough Council (Brighter Futures for Children), The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (Achieving for Children), Swindon Borough Council, West Berkshire Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council.

About the Role

This is a brief overview of the key objectives of the job including the context within the team:
- To contribute as a Clinical Psychologist to the development and operation of a multi-disciplinary specialist psychological service for adopted and SGO families across the Berkshire and Swindon area of Adopt Thames Valley (ATV). 

- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments to adoptive parents, Special Guardianship carers and their children, leading to psychological formulation and the delivery of evidence-based interventions.
To play a key role in the development and operation of a service which improves the mental health and educational outcomes for adoptive children and those in SGO families across the region.

- To play a strategic role in identifying and developing relationships with partner organisations across the region including health, education and the third sector.

-To map services across the region to be able to effectively signpost families and professionals to appropriate services.
- To work collaboratively with other members of the team and those in partner organisations to improve outcomes for adoptive and SG families.
- To provide highly specialised consultation and training relating to the needs of adoptive and SG families to colleagues within and outside of ATV.
- To take responsibility for the development and implementation of robust, evidence-based assessment and outcome processes.
- To contribute to the ongoing audit process with a focus on data collection and analysis
- To create opportunities where the voices and experiences of our families can directly inform service development.

About you

Are you the right person to join us for this journey?

This is just the beginning. This role calls for an individual with big ideas, strong communication skills, and one who values partnership working. It offers the opportunity to play a strategic role in the development of a new service, developing your own knowledge and skills alongside this. We want you to bring your ideas and experience and help us shape this team.  If you are interested in the creativity this post requires and the chance to work with young people and families who have experienced developmental trauma, then please get in touch to discuss further.

Rewards and benefits

This post provides the opportunity to be part of a creative, supportive and innovative team which is committed to providing high quality holistic, preventative, multi-disciplinary support to adoptive and special guardianship families.  You will have access to a strong support and supervision network and opportunities for training and development.

ur 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, full time and 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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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk