Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative clinical team working with families with highly complex needs.
The post-holder will be responsible for overseeing the clinical needs of families through the FDAC process from the initial formulation and treatment planning, to making final recommendations with regards to the long-term placement of children.
This includes chairing multidisciplinary team formulations, multiagency review meetings with parents, direct and indirect clinical assessment and supporting the team with clinical decision making and risk evaluation.
The post would suit someone with interest and experience across both adults and children with a history of developmental and complex trauma, as well as an interest in collaborating creatively across agencies incorporating Substance Misuse Treatment, Children's Social Care, Mental Health and the Family Court.
The post-holder will receive supervision and guidance from the FDAC Clinical Lead but will hold their own caseload of families for which they will be responsible in terms of clinical oversight and decision making. FDAC is an evidence-based model that is being developed and expanded across the UK and there is scope for the post-holder to be involved in strategy, service development, consultation and training across the professional network.
Main duties of the job
To take the lead in overseeing the clinical progression of cases through the FDAC process under the supervision and guidance of the FDAC Clinical Lead. This includes providing a psychological perspective on the clinical needs of parents and children, and a continuous and iterative assessment of risk and prognosis to inform the ongoing care proceedings.
To chair clinical meetings with FDAC team members to devise an initial formulation and intervention plan for each parent, as well as reformulating cases every 6 weeks 2 and arriving at a consensus opinion regarding risk and prognosis towards the end of proceedings.
To chair Intervention Planning Meetings which follow on from formulation meetings where FDAC's clinical opinion and recommendations are shared with parents and professionals.
To chair Child's Needs Meetings with the professional and caregiving networks around children to inform the ongoing FDAC assessment.
To provide clinical oversight and quality assurance of written reports prepared by the team prior to submission to Court.
To provide psychological assessment of adults and children where a specific need has been identified that cannot be met in the local community services.
To provide clinical consultation to the team, outside professionals and the Court on emerging problems.
See job description for details.
About us
The Family Drug And Alcohol Court Team
A Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) is an innovative approach to the problem of parental substance misuse (drugs or alcohol) which is having a negative impact on parenting capacity.
The FDAC is based on a model now being widely used across the USA, which is an exciting way of trying to break the destructive cycle of substance misuse through generations. The London FDAC has been running since 2008 and now serves 14 Local Authorities across 4 Family Courts. Independent research suggest that this model is successful in getting parents to engage with and stay in substance misuse services leading to more children being able to return home. Where parents do not engage and children cannot return home, quicker decisions are made about permanent placements for them.
The model is of a specialist court operating within the framework of care proceedings. The specialist FDAC team (which includes substance misuse practitioners, children and family social workers and child and adult mental health expertise) will be attached to the 4 courts we serve in Central, South, West and East London. It will advise the court and link the parents into relevant local services. The emphasis is on working with the parent and child, not just assessing them.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the job description and person specification attached for the full detailed responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the job description and person specification attached for the full detailed responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- UK recognised Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology or BPS Statement of Equivalence or equivalent specialist psychology training and accreditation
Desirable
- Training in evidence-based risk assessment and management and structured professional judgement tools for assessing risk
- Training in the field of attachment, trauma and parenting, including in the specific assessment of the quality of parent-child interaction and relationships
- Training in therapeutic interventions for psychological trauma
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the range of psychosocial factors that impact upon an individual's ability to parent including substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse
- In depth understanding of the impact of parental functioning on child wellbeing and development, and the short and long-term sequalae of child abuse and neglect
- Specific knowledge regarding the impact of disrupted attachment and complex trauma on the developing mind and body
Desirable
- Knowledge regarding the assessment and treatment of individuals with alcohol and substance misuse difficulties
- Knowledge regarding the factors that contribute to domestic abuse and the current evidence with regards to effective intervention
Experience
Essential
- Providing specialist psychological assessment and treatment of children and adults with a range of psychological issues
- Significant experience of working in mental health and/or social care services with children and adults who have been exposed to trauma
- Specialist assessment of parental capacity for children's social care and/or the family Court
- Therapeutic intervention and risk management with families with complex needs where there are safeguarding concerns and multiagency involvement
- Clinical supervision of staff managing high risk caseloads
Desirable
- Specialist assessment and treatment of individuals with forensic histories, substance misuse difficulties and problems with domestic violence
Skills
Essential
- Complex case formulation skills integrating current evidence-informed theoretical frameworks
- Understanding and competence in working with issues of diversity
- Assessment of children's developmental progress including social, educational and emotional functioning
- Assessment of the quality of parent-child relationships
Desirable
- Competence in at least one therapeutic modality e.g. CBT, Psychodynamic or Systemic Psychotherapy
- Specific therapeutic skills pertaining to the treatment of psychological trauma e.g. EMDR, NET, CFT, Trauma-Focussed CBT
- Specific skills in structured parenting interventions, e.g. Triple P, Circle of Security
Abilities
Essential
- Independent clinical decision-making
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and an ability to convey psychological concepts in an accessible manner
- Ability to engage with parents and children in a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed manner
- Ability to work with and support professionals from a range of training backgrounds within a multiagency. This includes the ability to take the lead on issues of clinical risk whilst also taking on board the range of expertise and opinion within the team
- Ability for effective consultation and collaboration with a multiagency network
- Ability to work from a trauma-informed perspective, recognising the impact of trauma upon therapeutic relationships, issues of counter-transference and team dynamics when working with highly traumatised individuals
Other
Essential
- The candidate will need to be able to independently manage a caseload, ensuring timescales for Court proceedings are met and managing their own time effectively to prioritise deadlines
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- UK recognised Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology or BPS Statement of Equivalence or equivalent specialist psychology training and accreditation
Desirable
- Training in evidence-based risk assessment and management and structured professional judgement tools for assessing risk
- Training in the field of attachment, trauma and parenting, including in the specific assessment of the quality of parent-child interaction and relationships
- Training in therapeutic interventions for psychological trauma
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the range of psychosocial factors that impact upon an individual's ability to parent including substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse
- In depth understanding of the impact of parental functioning on child wellbeing and development, and the short and long-term sequalae of child abuse and neglect
- Specific knowledge regarding the impact of disrupted attachment and complex trauma on the developing mind and body
Desirable
- Knowledge regarding the assessment and treatment of individuals with alcohol and substance misuse difficulties
- Knowledge regarding the factors that contribute to domestic abuse and the current evidence with regards to effective intervention
Experience
Essential
- Providing specialist psychological assessment and treatment of children and adults with a range of psychological issues
- Significant experience of working in mental health and/or social care services with children and adults who have been exposed to trauma
- Specialist assessment of parental capacity for children's social care and/or the family Court
- Therapeutic intervention and risk management with families with complex needs where there are safeguarding concerns and multiagency involvement
- Clinical supervision of staff managing high risk caseloads
Desirable
- Specialist assessment and treatment of individuals with forensic histories, substance misuse difficulties and problems with domestic violence
Skills
Essential
- Complex case formulation skills integrating current evidence-informed theoretical frameworks
- Understanding and competence in working with issues of diversity
- Assessment of children's developmental progress including social, educational and emotional functioning
- Assessment of the quality of parent-child relationships
Desirable
- Competence in at least one therapeutic modality e.g. CBT, Psychodynamic or Systemic Psychotherapy
- Specific therapeutic skills pertaining to the treatment of psychological trauma e.g. EMDR, NET, CFT, Trauma-Focussed CBT
- Specific skills in structured parenting interventions, e.g. Triple P, Circle of Security
Abilities
Essential
- Independent clinical decision-making
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and an ability to convey psychological concepts in an accessible manner
- Ability to engage with parents and children in a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed manner
- Ability to work with and support professionals from a range of training backgrounds within a multiagency. This includes the ability to take the lead on issues of clinical risk whilst also taking on board the range of expertise and opinion within the team
- Ability for effective consultation and collaboration with a multiagency network
- Ability to work from a trauma-informed perspective, recognising the impact of trauma upon therapeutic relationships, issues of counter-transference and team dynamics when working with highly traumatised individuals
Other
Essential
- The candidate will need to be able to independently manage a caseload, ensuring timescales for Court proceedings are met and managing their own time effectively to prioritise deadlines
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
