Senior Therapeutic Practitioner

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced clinician to be Senior Therapeutic Practitioner for the Children and Young People's Gender Service (North West). The Children and Young People's Gender Service is a Phase 1 Provider of Gender Services provided in partnership by Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

The postholder will undertake clinical assessment of children and young people, providing a range of appropriate, evidence-based and high-quality clinical interventions and manage a complex caseload. The role will also include providing advice, support and consultation to families, carers and other professionals, ensuring that an integrated and coordinated care plan is developed and implemented.

Successful candidates will have a passion for delivering safe, high quality and effective care to children and young people and will be enthusiastic and approachable with strong organisational and communication skills.

Main duties of the job

The main duties for this role are provided in the attached job description

For further details please contactgsnorthwest@alderhey.nhs.uk.

About us

The base for this service is Mandarin Court, Centre Park, Warrington which includes the following benefits:

- Free parking and free EV charging

- Short walk from Warrington Bank Quay station

- Bicycle storage and on site changing facilities

We welcome applicants looking for both full time and part time contracts, with flexible working opportunities available. Some remote working will also be possible in this role.

Details

Date posted

17 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

411-GS-25-7443032

Job locations

Warrington

North West

WA1 1GG

Job description

Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities for this role are provided in the attached job description/person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities for this role are provided in the attached job description/person specification.

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

• Qualified in core profession as per BABCP criteria BABCP | British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies > Accreditation > Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation > Core Professions > Core Professions list and criteria
• Current registration with appropriate regulatory body (e.g. HCPC, NMC, BABCP, UKCP).
• OR Recognised degree level broad based health & social care qualification which will require completion of The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) Knowledge Skills and Attributes KSA Guidelines (babcp.com) as part of the application process
• Training in a relevant therapeutic modality to an accreditable level with registration (where registration is applicable)
• Post qualification study in a mental health field.

Desirable

• Certificate in supervision skills.

Experience

Essential

• Working in specialist mental health services for children and young people
• The application of specialist mental health assessment and therapeutic interventions in different cultural contexts.
• Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team AND with other agencies and professionals in a variety of settings including managing difficult conversations and differences of opinion.
• Experience of providing a variety of interventions for children and young people and their families
• Assessing clinical risk and developing and communicating appropriate risk management plans including safeguarding.
• Analysing presenting problems and able to work autonomously utilising a range of therapeutic perspectives and modalities, depending on the needs of the client.
• Providing case management and/or clinical supervision for colleagues and students as required.
• Experience of mentoring and supervision of others, including supporting the mental health and wellbeing of junior staff and trainees.
• Experience of developing and providing evidenced based assessments, formulations, and care plans and effective use of Routine Outcome Measures (ROMs).
• Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures

Desirable

• Experience of delivering training.
• Experience of audit and research.
• Experience of delivery of group work and workshops.

Knowledge

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of child mental health and relevant legislation, NICE guidance and government policies.
• An understanding of child development and psychological/psychosocial theories.
• Advanced knowledge and skills in delivery of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice.

Desirable

• Audit and research methodology

Skills

Essential

• Skilled in assessment and formulation, with the ability to manage care appropriately, ensuring discharge is timely.
• Skilled in planning, delivering and evaluating evidence-based therapeutic interventions (individuals and groups) with children and young people across the age range, and their families/carers.
• Skilled in the assessment of clinical risk and developing and communicating appropriate risk management plans.
• Skilled in case management, able to function as a part of a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other internal and external agencies, maintaining positive working relationships.
• Ability to communicate highly complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to patients, families, carers and other professional colleagues within and outside the NHS
• Ability to demonstrate strong organisational skills.
• Ability to autonomously manage own workload and act as lead practitioner
• Ability to manage and organise own time and diary; and to work flexibly and creatively in a clinical context and pressurised situations.
• Ability to work independently with the support of clinical and management supervision.
• Ability to select, use and interpret assessment tools and outcome measures / ROMs effectively and in collaboration with the child, young person, and family.
• Ability to integrate psychological theories and outcome data with clinical practice and service provision.
• The ability to work with people from a range of different backgrounds, cultures and or different ages.
• To be able to provide feedback and constructive guidance to junior members of the team and trainees to facilitate their personal and professional development.
• The ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance.
• The ability to follow policy and make proposals for change.
• The ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic.
• The ability to cope with stressful situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the case of highly emotive and distressing problems.

Desirable

• Ability to develop, provide and evaluate training and workshops.
• Advanced IT skills

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Demonstrate a commitment to personal professional development
• Commitment to work in line with Trust values
• A commitment to the inclusion of young people's and parent/carer views in service delivery, development and design.
• Willingness to contribute to team functioning, performance and the ongoing development of the service.

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

• Qualified in core profession as per BABCP criteria BABCP | British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies > Accreditation > Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Accreditation > Core Professions > Core Professions list and criteria
• Current registration with appropriate regulatory body (e.g. HCPC, NMC, BABCP, UKCP).
• OR Recognised degree level broad based health & social care qualification which will require completion of The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) Knowledge Skills and Attributes KSA Guidelines (babcp.com) as part of the application process
• Training in a relevant therapeutic modality to an accreditable level with registration (where registration is applicable)
• Post qualification study in a mental health field.

Desirable

• Certificate in supervision skills.

Experience

Essential

• Working in specialist mental health services for children and young people
• The application of specialist mental health assessment and therapeutic interventions in different cultural contexts.
• Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team AND with other agencies and professionals in a variety of settings including managing difficult conversations and differences of opinion.
• Experience of providing a variety of interventions for children and young people and their families
• Assessing clinical risk and developing and communicating appropriate risk management plans including safeguarding.
• Analysing presenting problems and able to work autonomously utilising a range of therapeutic perspectives and modalities, depending on the needs of the client.
• Providing case management and/or clinical supervision for colleagues and students as required.
• Experience of mentoring and supervision of others, including supporting the mental health and wellbeing of junior staff and trainees.
• Experience of developing and providing evidenced based assessments, formulations, and care plans and effective use of Routine Outcome Measures (ROMs).
• Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures

Desirable

• Experience of delivering training.
• Experience of audit and research.
• Experience of delivery of group work and workshops.

Knowledge

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of child mental health and relevant legislation, NICE guidance and government policies.
• An understanding of child development and psychological/psychosocial theories.
• Advanced knowledge and skills in delivery of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice.

Desirable

• Audit and research methodology

Skills

Essential

• Skilled in assessment and formulation, with the ability to manage care appropriately, ensuring discharge is timely.
• Skilled in planning, delivering and evaluating evidence-based therapeutic interventions (individuals and groups) with children and young people across the age range, and their families/carers.
• Skilled in the assessment of clinical risk and developing and communicating appropriate risk management plans.
• Skilled in case management, able to function as a part of a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other internal and external agencies, maintaining positive working relationships.
• Ability to communicate highly complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to patients, families, carers and other professional colleagues within and outside the NHS
• Ability to demonstrate strong organisational skills.
• Ability to autonomously manage own workload and act as lead practitioner
• Ability to manage and organise own time and diary; and to work flexibly and creatively in a clinical context and pressurised situations.
• Ability to work independently with the support of clinical and management supervision.
• Ability to select, use and interpret assessment tools and outcome measures / ROMs effectively and in collaboration with the child, young person, and family.
• Ability to integrate psychological theories and outcome data with clinical practice and service provision.
• The ability to work with people from a range of different backgrounds, cultures and or different ages.
• To be able to provide feedback and constructive guidance to junior members of the team and trainees to facilitate their personal and professional development.
• The ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance.
• The ability to follow policy and make proposals for change.
• The ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic.
• The ability to cope with stressful situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the case of highly emotive and distressing problems.

Desirable

• Ability to develop, provide and evaluate training and workshops.
• Advanced IT skills

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Demonstrate a commitment to personal professional development
• Commitment to work in line with Trust values
• A commitment to the inclusion of young people's and parent/carer views in service delivery, development and design.
• Willingness to contribute to team functioning, performance and the ongoing development of the service.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Warrington

North West

WA1 1GG

Employer's website

https://alderhey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Warrington

North West

WA1 1GG

Employer's website

https://alderhey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)