Practitioner Psychologist

Practitioner Psychologist

Work Pattern: Home based with travel to services in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire. A location within commutable distance of these areas is required.

Region - Services grouped by location and may be up to approximately 90 mins travel dependent on candidate location, Full UK Driving Licence required

Introduction

Olive Branch Recruitment is working with a leading UK provider of specialist education, care and activities - supporting thousands of children, young people, adults and families across England and Wales. They deliver care through residential homes, schools, supported living and community-based services, creating safe, nurturing and ambitious environments where everyone can thrive.

About the role

As a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist, you will share our clients view that all children and young people deserve to be fully included and supported to feel safe and experience a real sense of connection in their homes and community. You will ideally have experience and knowledge of working with care experienced children and the teams that support them (teams around the child), particularly an understanding of the difficulties and risks our children and teams encounter.

This is a flexible and varied role that will appeal to Psychologists with a keen interest in child and adolescent mental health, creating innovative, therapeutic, trauma responsive and caring environments and share the goal of enabling and inspiring our children.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological input and guidance across the region.
• Promote and apply our clients clinical model to support therapeutic practice.
• Oversee assessment, formulation, and evidence-based therapeutic planning for children and young people.
• Deliver psychological interventions.
• Offer psychological insight to inform referrals, placements, and operational decisions.
• Conduct risk assessments and advise on risk management strategies.
• Consult with carers, educators, families, and professionals to support psychological wellbeing.

Teaching/Training/Supervision/Consultation

• Deliver training on therapeutic approaches and applied psychology.
• Provide psychological consultation on assessment, intervention, and management.
• Advise on child trauma, attachment, and recovery.
• Supervise and support team members.

Policy and Service Development

• Contribute a psychological perspective to clinical service development and planning.
• Support policy and service improvements offering guidance on psychological needs.
• Maintain effective communication with Local Authorities, NHS, and other agencies.

Evaluation/Research

• Stay up to date with research to inform evidence-based practice
• Support outcome measure administration and, with approval, lead relevant research.
• Advise on research design and methodology as needed.

Professional/administrative

• Engage in supervision and CPD in line with professional guidelines (e.g. HCPC, BPS).
• Adhere to ethical codes, professional standards, and organisation policies.
• Maintain accurate records and collect relevant data.
• Travel as required to fulfil role responsibilities.

About you

• Essential: Doctorate in Clinical, Forensic, Counselling or Educational Psychology or equivalent
• Essential: Professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Essential: Knowledge of the impact of developmental trauma and adverse childhood experiences on life trajectories
• Essential: Full clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle
• Desirable: Other clinical training such as CBT; Systemic Psychotherapy; DBT; DDP; EMDR