Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Clinical Psychologist to work across North Somerset CAMHS and the North Somerset Service for Children in Care and Care Leavers in this innovative post.



The successful candidate will work collaboratively with social workers, foster carers, CAMHS professionals, and other health professionals. This role involves working four days within the Corporate Parenting Service, coordinating the work of a senior social worker and two family support workers within the CONSULT service. The remaining day will be based within the Community CAMHS Team, holding a small caseload and supporting the team to deliver effective interventions for children in care.



This is an exciting time to join the service, as the local authority is investing in developing innovative care options for children, and the successful candidate will be part of this development.



Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon are thriving seaside towns within easy commuting distance of Bristol and Taunton. The M5 motorway is easily accessible.



This role involves delivering clinical expertise within specialist community services, aligned to a defined local care pathway serving a specific population--children who are looked after or under Special Guardianship Orders (SGO), referred by North Somerset CYPS. The postholder will work collaboratively with the management and leadership team to deliver services within an integrated care pathway model, guided by a clearly defined set of aims and objectives that are delivered and monitored through an integrated governance approach.



The role also includes delivering training programmes to foster carers, social workers, and CAMHS clinicians to enhance their understanding of the impact of trauma on children in care. In addition to core clinical psychology skills, the successful candidate will have experience working with children in care and possess strong knowledge and skills in trauma-informed practices.



This post offers a high degree of autonomy, working across both health and social care sectors. The role is based at Weston Town Hall and Somerset CAMHS @ Rowan/The Barn in Clevedon.



Please see the attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.



We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.



We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire, and in parts of Dorset.



Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.



AWP is committed to supporting and creating a positive, research-informed environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.



At AWP, we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We are particularly keen to receive applications from people from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, and knowledge to AWP--because diversity makes us stronger.



To work alongside social workers and family support workers to provide support to foster carers, children in care, and their families.



To provide clinical consultation to social workers and the Team Around the Child.



To contribute to and inform the child or young person's care plan.



To support the delivery of therapeutic work for looked-after children.



To provide assessments and recommendations for children in care and their families.



To act as a liaison between CAMHS and Children's Social Care.



To have oversight of SDQ results and recommend appropriate support or signposting.



To contribute to service development around the local mental health and wellbeing offer for looked-after children.



To record clinical activity on the Children's Electronic System in accordance with Children's Services Practice Standards.



To record clinical activity on the CAMHS electronic record system in accordance with Trust policy.



To support the delivery of our training offer to foster carers and the Team Around the Child.



To represent AWP and BNSSG Trust professionally and positively at all times, with staff, local partners, service users, and carers.



To contribute to the Integrated Business Plan for the area, including the LDU delivery strategy, North Somerset Corporate Parenting Strategy, and the Trust's overarching Integrated Business Plan.



To deliver operational services in line with national, Trust, and LDU strategic objectives and policies.



To liaise with service users, carers, staff, and partners in both statutory and non-statutory fields, ensuring a shared understanding of service provision and commitments.



To contribute to service area planning, delivery, choice, and governance, including maintaining links with key groups and networks.



To contribute to the development and delivery of identified projects within the service area.



Please see the attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.