Job Description

Job title:

Practitioner Psychologist

Location:

Milton Keynes (hybrid working)

Contract:

Full-time, Permanent (12-month fixed term contract)

Salary:

Up to 63,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Service context:

Children's residential homes

About us

Our organisation provides high-quality therapeutic residential care for children and young people with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs. We are committed to providing trauma-informed, psychologically enriched environments that support positive outcomes.

Role overview

You will work as a Practitioner Psychologist within our children's residential service, delivering psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and consultancy across our residential homes in the region. This hybrid role combines on-site presence in Milton Keynes and surrounding homes with remote/office-based working.

Key responsibilities

Provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based intervention (individual, group, family) for children in residential care. Offer consultation, supervision and training to residential staff, fostering psychologically aware practice across homes. Collaborate closely with care staff, social workers, education providers, clinical teams and external partners to ensure integrated support. Conduct risk assessment and management related to the emotional, behavioural and developmental needs of looked-after children. Contribute to service development, audit, evaluation and the embedding of trauma-informed, attachment-aware and/or forensic-informed models. Travel between homes/residential sites as required. Work to a 12-month fixed-term contract (with potential to extend or convert to permanent based on business need/performance).

Person specification - Essential

HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling or Forensic) or equivalent specialist practitioner qualification. Strong experience in working with children and young people in residential care, looked-after settings or other high-complexity environments (forensic, SEMH, etc). Skilled in psychological assessment, formulation and intervention with complex presentations (trauma/attachment, behavioural, education, forensic). Ability to provide reflective supervision/consultation to non-psychologist staff and contribute to multidisciplinary teams. Excellent communication (verbal & written), with ability to influence and work across organisational boundaries (education, social care, clinical). Willingness to be flexible: travel between sites, hybrid working (office/home/residential site), work out-of-hours as required in line with service need.

Person specification - Desirable

Experience of forensic or specialist residential children's services. Familiarity with educational psychology or educational settings supporting looked-after children. Additional therapeutic training (e.g., DBT, MBT, Schema Therapy) or supervision accreditation. Experience of service design, evaluation, audit or research in children's residential care.

What we offer

Competitive salary up to 63k (depending on experience) Hybrid working: a blend of on-site residential work and remote working. Supportive environment with professional development, supervision and opportunities to shape psychological practice across a residential service. Access to training, peer support, and the chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children in residential care.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria and why you are interested in this role. Shortlisting will be based on your supporting statement and demonstrated experience. References and an enhanced DBS check will be required.