About this role
Job summary
This is a NHS role, within Mindworks led by Surrey and Borders NHS trust. It demonstrates the significant contribution Educational Psychologists (EP) can make (particularly with knowledge and skills regarding social, emotional and mental health, school systems, and consultation) in promoting child and young person emotional wellbeing and mental health.
We are a small group of EPs, linked to Mental Health Support Teams (MHST), and embedded within a School Based Need (SBN) service. We work jointly with a range of Children and Young People Services - Mental Health professionals (e.g. clinical psychologists, play therapists, CBT practitioners) in pursuit of a shared goal around CYP thriving. Our particular focus is around 'Whole School Approaches,' which involves work with school leaders on different areas of school functioning (as set out in Public Health England's Whole School Approach Framework, for example).
Our team's overall ethos is captured by a focus on outcomes (not outputs), approaches (not just activities), and the idea that if a young person is not thriving we should intervene in their environment first before looking within the individual. Our EPs get monthly supervision, and we meet half termly for a CPD focussed 'together day' (last day we looked at shared psychological frameworks and a neighbouring service facilitated a PATH for us; for our next day we're receiving training from a systemic practitioner on group dynamics relevant to school leadership teams).
Main duties of the job
Innovative work that is preventative, multi-systemic, and at the intersection of health and education.
As a specialist EP you will deliver on three types of work: (1) with schools, (2) within linked MHSTs, and (3) on whole Surrey programmes.
In your school work you will facilitate systemic change by workingwithschool leaders, and in partnership with a range of health and education colleagues. We use a consultation approach and the application of a range of psychological frameworks to understand the needs of, and affect change within, a system. You will build a shared understanding of whole school need, plan and at times deliver activities (inc. training, staff groups), and support the implementation of new practices. This is all in collaboration with health and education colleagues, in pursuit of a shared goal around improving the lived experience of everyone in a school community.
In addition to this work with schools, we provide support to Mental Health Support Teams and their varied mental health professionals. This includes consultation, joint work, training, and contribution to multi- professional meetings. This role comes with the opportunity to work with our MHST which supports Surrey Specialist Schools.
EPs working within Mindworks also collaborate with Local Authority partners on whole county training and implementation (e.g. Attachment Aware and Trauma Informed Schools), Senior Mental Health Lead supervision, and Team Around the School work.
About us
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.
We are one of the top 10 mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust to work for nationwide. Our Trust is an inclusive and supportive employer that offers a wide range of staff networks, flexible working, free parking and excellent health and wellbeing support. We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.
Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.
Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.
Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the role.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description.
The teams work as part of 3 geographical hubs (North, South and East) with clinic bases across Surrey in Chertsey, Frimley, Godalming, Guildford, Leatherhead and Redhill.
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
When your employment begins, you will need to be a member of HCPC. An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
For an informal discussion about this opportunity please contact Dr Dave Damon.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Doctorate in Clinical, Counselling or Educational Psychology qualification or equivalent Completion of an appropriate clinical supervision course to enable supervision of trainees (or completion within 12 months of commencement in post)
Experience Essential
Experience of working with people from across different developmental stages with a range of mental health issues and cognitive profiles. Experience across a range of psychological models including systemic, behavioural and individual therapeutic Demonstrable post registration/clinical experience and competency relevant to this care group Experience of contributing to clinical practice/service development / project work. Experience of supervising assistant and trainee practitioner psychologists Demonstrable interest/skill in a relevant specialist area.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address 18 Mole Business Park
Randalls Road
Leatherhead
KT22 7AD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sabp.nhs.uk/working-for-us (Opens in a new tab)