Job summary
We are looking to recruit an Assistant Psychologist/ Researcher to join our team. The successful candidate will work alongside Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and psychotherapists from varied professional backgrounds as well as other Psychology colleagues.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting post that offers opportunities for both clinical work and research. Our previous Assistant Psychologists have gone on to secure places on DClinPsych training courses.
- Support to assessment, therapy and consultation service
- Involvement in clinical assessment and therapeutic support at an appropriate level
- Upkeep of the database and continuation of our ongoing evaluation programm
- Undertaking file searches
- Participation in team supervision and training days
- Maintaining the teams awareness of relevant research
About us
Family Futures is a Voluntary Adoption Agency specialising in providing multi-disciplinary assessments and treatment to traumatised children. We were awarded an outstanding rating for our last four inspections by OFSTED including our most recent inspection in December 2022. We have a reputation for innovation and offer a high-quality service - an integrated multi-disciplinary, assessment, treatment and family-finding service for children who are traumatised or have attachment difficulties.
In March 2023, we launched our new Wellbeing Hub which offers evidence-based, one-to-one therapy for children, young people, and families to improve their mental health, relationships, physical health, and engagement at school.
Details
Date posted
22 May 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£26,000 to £32,000 a year pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
B0485-25-0000
Job locations
440a
Hornsey Road
London
N19 4EB
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsible to: Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Clinical supervision will be carried out by our external Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Additional supervision will be provided by the Assessment Services and Permanency Manager.
Purpose of the role:
The Assistant Psychologist supports Family Futures assessments of children and families and is involved in audit and research projects, including the continuation of the retesting programme (evaluation of model of intervention) at the organisation. The role will enable the Assistant Psychologist to develop their understanding and skills in developmental trauma and attachment. The Assistant Psychologist will also have the opportunity to be involved in some therapeutic work to develop their skills and experience in this area.
Key qualities:
The Assistant Psychologist must be a motivated self-starter, who will have some experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic setting, as well as being knowledgeable and confident in the area of psychological research, both quantitative and qualitative.
Main tasks:
- Therapy Team Member
- To take part in the Family Futures induction programme and the in-house service programme for professional development.
- To gain an in depth understanding of the psychological screening tools used at assessment and in the retesting programme, scoring these and supporting the therapy and i-Adopt teams in interpreting and understanding the scores. This includes attending assessment preparation meetings to share information with the team and present this alongside the childs history to support the teams formulations of the child and family and creating comparison tables for annual reviews.
- To provide support to the admin team in scoring the psychological screening tools.
- To write up specific sections of the comprehensive assessment reports (the background and psychometrics) and any other reports (sometimes formulations) as required and under clinical supervision.
- To take part in assessments where appropriate alongside a qualified Clinical Psychologist/Assessment Services & Permanency Manager
- To carry out some file searches and complete Trauma Nurture Timelines to support the therapy teams therapeutic work with families.
- To provide support to, and be involved in, providing the consultation service (such as through taking Initial Enquiries or jointly undertaking consultations).
- To be involved in a piece of clinical intervention work, when possible, as appropriate to the APs level of skill and experience, with clinical support from a qualified Clinical Psychologist and other qualified clinicians. It may be appropriate to carry out such work alongside a non-psychologist member of the therapy team, if supervision processes and parameters are clearly set.
- To be efficient in managing workload and checking telephone messages, email messages as well as post and then to respond appropriately under clinical supervision.
- To attend team meetings and supervision as and when necessary.
- To write good quality session notes
- Any other reasonable requests by Family Futures
Research
- To engage in research related tasks such as literature reviews, audits and training preparation as the needs arise and resources allow, to contribute to the organisations ongoing understanding and evolving knowledge base and help support the organisation to be informed by current research.
- To have the opportunity to be involved in new research projects being carried out by Family Futures.
Retesting programme:
- To contact families about the retesting programme as and when appropriate families are identified and eligible for this.
- Visit families or meet them on video-call to conduct semi-structured interviews.
- Facilitate families completion of retesting psychometrics.
- To maintain a database of the retesting data.
- To extract data from the retesting programme and input data into format for statistical analysis.
- As and when analysis of the data is required:
- To undertake statistical analysis using SPSS.
- To carry out the coding and analysis of qualitative data regarding parenting and parent/child interactions.
- The analysis of pre and post treatment qualitative data.
Manner of Work:
- At all times, to maintain the highest standards of professional practice and to adhere to the UK Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP) Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (2019) or equivalent professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.
- To work in a collaborative and empathetic manner with parents, children and their support networks.
- To be aware of the need for personal therapy due to the particular nature of the work undertaken at Family Futures and to be prepared to fund personal therapy should at any time it appear to be a requirement of the job.
- Family Futures provides regular supervision and consultation with our psychotherapist and access to our team of specialist consultants.
- To comply with the requirements for registration of their respective professional body and to keep their professional membership up to date.
- Adhere to Family Futures policies and procedures in respect of equal opportunities, health & safety, safeguarding children and client service satisfaction.
- Adhere to the regulations and standards for Voluntary Adoption Agencies and Independent Fostering Agencies.
- Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and Family Futures confidentiality, information and data security standards.
Supervision and Continuing Professional Development:
- Family Futures provides monthly individual supervision from a qualified Consultant Clinical Psychologist, as well as team consultation with our Child and Adolescent psychotherapist and access to our team of specialist consultants as appropriate to the role. Supervision frequency and duration will be dependent of levels of direct clinical work, the nature of clinical work and the skills and experience of the Assistant Psychologist.
- Additional monthly supervision will be provided by the Assessment Services & Permanency Manager around induction, general day to day practical issues, caseload and work management, multi-disciplinary working etc.
- There are ongoing Continued Professional Development opportunities within the role of the Assistant Psychologist who is required to attend and participate in team consultations, team training sessions, statutory training etc. When appropriate, support is provided with application to clinical training courses
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsible to: Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Clinical supervision will be carried out by our external Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Additional supervision will be provided by the Assessment Services and Permanency Manager.
Purpose of the role:
The Assistant Psychologist supports Family Futures assessments of children and families and is involved in audit and research projects, including the continuation of the retesting programme (evaluation of model of intervention) at the organisation. The role will enable the Assistant Psychologist to develop their understanding and skills in developmental trauma and attachment. The Assistant Psychologist will also have the opportunity to be involved in some therapeutic work to develop their skills and experience in this area.
Key qualities:
The Assistant Psychologist must be a motivated self-starter, who will have some experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic setting, as well as being knowledgeable and confident in the area of psychological research, both quantitative and qualitative.
Main tasks:
- Therapy Team Member
- To take part in the Family Futures induction programme and the in-house service programme for professional development.
- To gain an in depth understanding of the psychological screening tools used at assessment and in the retesting programme, scoring these and supporting the therapy and i-Adopt teams in interpreting and understanding the scores. This includes attending assessment preparation meetings to share information with the team and present this alongside the childs history to support the teams formulations of the child and family and creating comparison tables for annual reviews.
- To provide support to the admin team in scoring the psychological screening tools.
- To write up specific sections of the comprehensive assessment reports (the background and psychometrics) and any other reports (sometimes formulations) as required and under clinical supervision.
- To take part in assessments where appropriate alongside a qualified Clinical Psychologist/Assessment Services & Permanency Manager
- To carry out some file searches and complete Trauma Nurture Timelines to support the therapy teams therapeutic work with families.
- To provide support to, and be involved in, providing the consultation service (such as through taking Initial Enquiries or jointly undertaking consultations).
- To be involved in a piece of clinical intervention work, when possible, as appropriate to the APs level of skill and experience, with clinical support from a qualified Clinical Psychologist and other qualified clinicians. It may be appropriate to carry out such work alongside a non-psychologist member of the therapy team, if supervision processes and parameters are clearly set.
- To be efficient in managing workload and checking telephone messages, email messages as well as post and then to respond appropriately under clinical supervision.
- To attend team meetings and supervision as and when necessary.
- To write good quality session notes
- Any other reasonable requests by Family Futures
Research
- To engage in research related tasks such as literature reviews, audits and training preparation as the needs arise and resources allow, to contribute to the organisations ongoing understanding and evolving knowledge base and help support the organisation to be informed by current research.
- To have the opportunity to be involved in new research projects being carried out by Family Futures.
Retesting programme:
- To contact families about the retesting programme as and when appropriate families are identified and eligible for this.
- Visit families or meet them on video-call to conduct semi-structured interviews.
- Facilitate families completion of retesting psychometrics.
- To maintain a database of the retesting data.
- To extract data from the retesting programme and input data into format for statistical analysis.
- As and when analysis of the data is required:
- To undertake statistical analysis using SPSS.
- To carry out the coding and analysis of qualitative data regarding parenting and parent/child interactions.
- The analysis of pre and post treatment qualitative data.
Manner of Work:
- At all times, to maintain the highest standards of professional practice and to adhere to the UK Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP) Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (2019) or equivalent professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.
- To work in a collaborative and empathetic manner with parents, children and their support networks.
- To be aware of the need for personal therapy due to the particular nature of the work undertaken at Family Futures and to be prepared to fund personal therapy should at any time it appear to be a requirement of the job.
- Family Futures provides regular supervision and consultation with our psychotherapist and access to our team of specialist consultants.
- To comply with the requirements for registration of their respective professional body and to keep their professional membership up to date.
- Adhere to Family Futures policies and procedures in respect of equal opportunities, health & safety, safeguarding children and client service satisfaction.
- Adhere to the regulations and standards for Voluntary Adoption Agencies and Independent Fostering Agencies.
- Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and Family Futures confidentiality, information and data security standards.
Supervision and Continuing Professional Development:
- Family Futures provides monthly individual supervision from a qualified Consultant Clinical Psychologist, as well as team consultation with our Child and Adolescent psychotherapist and access to our team of specialist consultants as appropriate to the role. Supervision frequency and duration will be dependent of levels of direct clinical work, the nature of clinical work and the skills and experience of the Assistant Psychologist.
- Additional monthly supervision will be provided by the Assessment Services & Permanency Manager around induction, general day to day practical issues, caseload and work management, multi-disciplinary working etc.
- There are ongoing Continued Professional Development opportunities within the role of the Assistant Psychologist who is required to attend and participate in team consultations, team training sessions, statutory training etc. When appropriate, support is provided with application to clinical training courses
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying out independent research to a high or publication standard.
- Experience of quantitative analysis and interpretation using SPSS.
- Experience of qualitative analysis particularly coding systems and thematic analysis.
- Experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic or research setting.
Desirable
- Experience of working with children and families in the field of fostering and/or adoption is desirable.
Qualifications
Essential
- A Degree in Psychology (2 1 or higher)
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Proven research skills in data collection and qualitative analysis using thematic analysis or IPA.
- Experience of using SPSS for statistical analysis.
- Skills in writing to a standard suitable for publication.
- A good communicator.
- An ability to have an empathetic understanding of the dynamics of adoption.
- To be able to engage with children and adults in a compassionate and empathic way.
- An ability to work collaboratively as a team member.
- Good organisational skills.
- Must be able to travel.
- An ability to use computers and Microsoft Office.
- An understanding of working therapeutically with families, children and adults.
- An understanding of safeguarding children's issues as well as an understanding of Equal Opportunities policies, data protection and general good practice.
- An understanding and competence in using computers and office technology.
Desirable
- An understanding of contemporary adoption and fostering law and practice.
- An understanding of the impact of early trauma on child development and attachment formation.
- An understanding of the use of the creative arts in a therapeutic setting.
- An understanding of the concept of developmental re-parenting and the positive role of parenting strategies.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying out independent research to a high or publication standard.
- Experience of quantitative analysis and interpretation using SPSS.
- Experience of qualitative analysis particularly coding systems and thematic analysis.
- Experience of working with children and families in a therapeutic or research setting.
Desirable
- Experience of working with children and families in the field of fostering and/or adoption is desirable.
Qualifications
Essential
- A Degree in Psychology (2 1 or higher)
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Proven research skills in data collection and qualitative analysis using thematic analysis or IPA.
- Experience of using SPSS for statistical analysis.
- Skills in writing to a standard suitable for publication.
- A good communicator.
- An ability to have an empathetic understanding of the dynamics of adoption.
- To be able to engage with children and adults in a compassionate and empathic way.
- An ability to work collaboratively as a team member.
- Good organisational skills.
- Must be able to travel.
- An ability to use computers and Microsoft Office.
- An understanding of working therapeutically with families, children and adults.
- An understanding of safeguarding children's issues as well as an understanding of Equal Opportunities policies, data protection and general good practice.
- An understanding and competence in using computers and office technology.
Desirable
- An understanding of contemporary adoption and fostering law and practice.
- An understanding of the impact of early trauma on child development and attachment formation.
- An understanding of the use of the creative arts in a therapeutic setting.
- An understanding of the concept of developmental re-parenting and the positive role of parenting strategies.
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
Family Futures CIC
Address
440a
Hornsey Road
London
N19 4EB
Employer's website
Employer details
Employer name
Family Futures CIC
Address
440a
Hornsey Road
London
N19 4EB
Employer's website
Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Details
Date posted
22 May 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£26,000 to £32,000 a year pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
B0485-25-0000
Job locations
440a
Hornsey Road
London
N19 4EB