About this role
Job summary
Secondment ending 30-Nov-2027
Together, we can change lives. Our new service is built on partnership, working hand in hand with children, young people, families, and professionals to provide tailored support for those in the most complex situations. This is your opportunity to join a team that values collaboration, compassion, and creativity, ensuring every young person has the chance to thrive.
What makes this service unique, it brings together a multidisciplinary, with representation from Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent local authorities working alongside health professionals to deliver an enhanced support package for those who need it most. As the first service of its kind locally, and a regionally funded innovation, it represents a bold step forward in integrated care.
Central to our MDT approach is to embed shareddecision-making. This involves contributing to regular MDT meetings that provide a structured space for reflective discussion, riskformulationand integrated care planning, ensuringtimely,coordinatedand proportionate support is in place for the young person,parentsand carers.
The service will provide support for children and families in the most complex of circumstances.
If you're experienced in this field of work and are ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of young people within the Bridge and Beyond Team.
The postholder will work within the Children & Young People's (CYP) Bridge and Beyond Team, providing a coordinated, trauma-informed, multiagency response for CYP aged 13-18 who are experiencing escalating emotional distress, behavioural difficulties, relational challenges, placement instability or emerging crisis.
They will contribute to a rapid multiagency triage within 48-72 hours, and support the development of shared formulations, stabilisation plans and collective risk assessments and management across agencies.
Working collaboratively with CAMHS, social care, education, primary care, crisis services and the voluntary sector, the practitioner ensures that CYP and families receive consistent, compassionate and timely support that prevents crisis escalation and reduces fragmented care.
To provide psychological assessment, formulation and brief psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with the qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
About us
As a Trust we remain bold and ambitious with plans for both service and system collaborative transformation over the coming years to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people through high quality care.
We pride ourselves onensuring our team has their wellbeing put first and as such provide a range of wellness opportunities including flexible working.
We are committed to the Greener NHS national ambition to becoming the world's first 'carbon net zero' national health system by 2045 (Greener NHS (england.nhs.uk). As part of this, sustainability is embedded in our strategy as one of our four key enablers. In order to deliver on this commitment, we recognise that we need a workforce that is as passionate as we are about achieving these goals, for the benefit of our service users, workforce, local communities and the planet alike.
The Trust is committed to ensuring that a diverse workforce is representative and inclusive at all levels. We would very much welcome applications from all under-represented groups including women, people with disabilities, people from global majority backgrounds, and those from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities.
The Trust is committed to the Step into Health scheme and actively encourages applicants from the Armed Forces Communities to apply.
Job description Job responsibilities
Assists qualified psychologist in the design, implementation and evaluation of service development projects within the service as required.
In conjunction with, or as appropriate on behalf of, the professional psychologist or line manager, attends meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed, contributing information as appropriate and agreed with line manager and reporting back where necessary.
Assists, as required and directed by psychology manager, in co-ordination of work of undergraduates and non-graduate volunteers attached to service.
Is responsible for use, transport and storage of material resources as allocated (test materials and equipment, books, stationery and IT equipment).
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology.
Experience Essential
Experience of work with people with mental health problems or disabilities, or other relevant problems or disabilities (e.g. learning disabilities, organic impairment).
Knowledge Essential
High level of interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to work and effectively communicate complex or sensitive information in highly emotive and emotionally charged settings involving conflict and significant personal distress.
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.
Employer details Employer name North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust
Address Harplands Hospital
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 6TH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.combined.nhs.uk/working-together/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)