Psychologist

Open to part-time Ashdale Care has been providing Residential Care and therapeutic support across the North-East of the country for over 25 years. We provide residential support for children and young people who are unable to live at home and who present with a range of behavioural, emotional, psychological and social difficulties, often as a result of being exposed to early-life traumatic experiences.

Our team Our service is child-centred and uses a comprehensive, evidence-based, programmatic approach (CARE/TCI) which is implemented by staff in our homes. Additional clinical support and input is provided by our skilled interdisciplinary Therapeutic Support Team (TST), which consists of Psychologists, Behaviour Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Trauma-Informed Teachers, and Art Therapists.

Role Overview We are searching for a highly skilled and motivated Psychologist to join our dedicated team, bringing expertise and passion to support the children and young people in our care. This role is perfect for a clinician who is driven to make a meaningful difference and who values collaboration and innovation in practice.

As a Psychologist, you will conduct specialized assessments and deliver impactful interventions, providing expert guidance not only to children and young people but also to the staff who support them within our residential care settings. Your clinical leadership will foster a nurturing and therapeutic environment, ensuring the highest standards of care and support.

This dynamic position requires strong clinical judgement, creativity, and the ability to work effectively across busy interdisciplinary teams. The role centres around both direct work with children and young people, and the provision of clinical support and advice to staff, shaping our care services through consultancy, training, and supervision.

If you are a compassionate leader with a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people, and you thrive in a busy environment that values learning and service development, we invite you to bring your expertise and enthusiasm to our team. Please direct any enquiries to Dr. Ronan Gibney at rgibney@ashdalecare.

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The Psychologist will work as an integral part of the interdisciplinary Therapeutic Support Team, working collaboratively to support our children and young people to achieve their potential in all areas of their lives. Working within a Model of Therapeutic Support that is informed by the literature on Attachment theory, Developmental Trauma, and the Neurosequential Approach, the Psychologist will:

• Provide specialised psychological assessments, therapeutic interventions, treatment programmes, trauma-informed positive behaviour support plans and tailored supports for a diverse caseload of young people with complex needs on both a 1:1 and group basis.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across Ashdale’s interdisciplinary Therapeutic Support Team to ensure coordinated, high quality care.
• Engage in clinical consultations and provide therapeutic guidance and support to social care staff in our homes
• Serve as the Psychology Department’s representative in both internal forums and external stakeholder meetings.
• Coordinate the clinical input and support of the Therapeutic Support Team to assigned homes
• Provide clinical supervision to staff grade psychologists, assistant psychologists, and trainees, as required.
• Offer clinical leadership in shaping service development and advancing the work of the psychology team and the wider Therapeutic Support Team.
• Assign tasks effectively and contribute to the growth and development of team members.
• Promote a strong culture of evidence informed practice, contributing to research, service evaluation, and quality improvement activities.
• Fulfil responsibilities as a mandated person under the Children First National Guidelines, maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards.
• Exercise sound clinical judgement and leadership in all aspects of the role.
• Develop, complete and maintain comprehensive trauma-informed and attachment-oriented assessments and support plans for children and young people
• Devise holistic, clinical formulations to facilitate the provision of effective support across the service
• Consult and collaborate extensively with social care teams in our homes to provide guidance and support for young people
• Engage in ongoing CPD activities to develop skills and competencies (time and budgeting is available to support these activities)
• Participate actively in general development of Ashdale Care’s service.
• Ensure that professional standards are maintained.
• Monitor and keep up-to-date with developments in Psychology and residential care, including attending training courses and participating in research and development, as appropriate.
• Maintain quality standards within the service and participate in quality development.
• Comply with policies and procedures as advised.
• Support and uphold Ashdale Care’s values and mission The professional reporting relationship for clinical governance and regular clinical supervision will be to the Psychology Manager in the department through the professional line management structure.