Independent Child and Adolescent Counsellor/Psychotherapist

Contract type: Self Employed, contracted work

Rate of Pay: £82.50 per 1.5 clinical hours (50 minutes one-to-one contact & 40 minutes admin time)

Locations: Cheam, Sutton for face-to-face therapy sessions

About Us

Set up in 1987 by a small but passionate group of foster parents, we became the UK's first independent foster care agency. That gives us the benefit of over 30 years of fostering experience and we're still going strong!

The founder members recognised that looked after children - especially those who'd had very difficult starts in life - needed specialist support. So right from the beginning they put the child at the centre of their thinking and surrounded them with an integrated range of support services. In fact, that's what ISP means: Integrated Service Programme.

Over time, this circle of support has increased to include a whole range of professionals that children and foster parents can tap into, whenever they need to. This includes social workers, fostering advisors, teachers and therapists, who all work with our foster parents and the children they look after, helping them understand and manage even the most challenging situations. This is what's known as a 'therapeutic approach' to fostering and it's something that we pioneered.

We are currently seeking qualified, highly skilled, and compassionate Therapists on a self-employed basis who have experience of working with Looked after Children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. You will be able to work independently; assessing, making recommendations and providing ongoing therapy or support for our carers. You will work as part of the professional network around each young person to ensure good communication and joined-up care. There may be an opportunity to contribute to other aspects of the organisation e.g. training, support groups, consultation to other professionals, attending team and clinical meetings

Requirements

• A professional qualification in a relevant field e.g. child/adolescent/family or creative arts therapies, psychotherapy, psychology or social work
• A counselling diploma
• Registration with a relevant professional body i.e. UKCP, BACP, BPS, UKCP or HCPC
• Extensive knowledge of trauma-informed care and attachment theory
• Strong understanding of the unique challenges faced by foster children from diverse ethnic backgrounds
• Experience in working sensitively with confidential material
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills
• Working proficiently in Microsoft Suite, in particular, Word
• Experience in electronic record keeping and data base use

Responsibilities

Clinical:

• Conduct assessments of children and young people and develop individualised treatment plans.
• Deliver evidenced-based therapeutic interventions
• Support foster children in their emotional, behavioural, and psychological well-being
• To participate in Local Authority Reviews where possible and, as a minimum, provide a written therapy update in time for Local Authority Review. Also, offer professional meetings concerning individual children/young people as the focus as requested.
• To ensure the appropriate integration of therapy with other fields of knowledge and expertise within ISP.
• To participate in the delivery of training as requested.
• To maintain a sound professional knowledge of current trends in therapy through updating skills and awareness with ongoing training.
• To arrange and fund your own clinical supervision which meets the requirements of your professional registering body.
• To adhere to an ethical framework for clinical practice as prescribed by the professional registering body.
• To maintain and keep HR informed of relevant up-to-date safeguarding training, professional liability, indemnity insurance and DBS clearance.

Administrative

• Maintain records consistent with confidentiality and professional practice and in accordance with ISP procedures and relevant legislation. Session notes are to be stored at ISP using Charms and other systems as required.
• Attendance at Therapists' Meetings held six times a year and other meetings or Away Days as required.
• To maintain membership in a Professional Association and keep HR informed of your registration status.

Click 'Apply' for a full list of duties and responsibilites.

As an equal opportunities employer, ISP is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join ISP.

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by ISP.

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.