Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us
We are responsible for the entire range of children’s education, health and social care services in all three boroughs. We use a Signs of Safety practice model and approach which ensures the voice of the child is at the heart of everything we do. There’s never been a better time to join AfC, we are growing our workforce, implementing new flexible working arrangements and have increased our virtual wellbeing offer.
We now have the following job opportunity available and we would be delighted to receive your application to continue our story. You can download the Job Profile which is shown within the "Documents" heading on the left hand side, above the map.
We are looking for a qualified CBT Practitioner/Systemic Therapist or Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/Counsellor/Systemic Practitioner training to join our innovative and friendly Emotional Health Service in our established schools programme team.
This is a 24 month fixed term post that is term time only (40 weeks) and will involve working in schools across Richmond with touch down office space in York Street, Twickenham.
Salary advertised will be calculated pro-rata. This role also attracts a market supplement.
The market supplement will be 15% of your basic salary; a minimum of £3898 and a maximum of £4967 per annum pro rata. The supplement will be divided equally across the year and added to your monthly salary. This amount will be reviewed on an annual basis, in line with funding.
About the role
This post will sit within CAMHS Trailblazer Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) in Richmond. This MHST has been in place since January 2023 and consists currently of four Trainee Child Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs), and a part-time Clinical Lead. We are looking to develop the team with a Mental Health Clinician role. The team this post sits in, is part of a wider MHST service which has been in operation since 2019.
The MHST works within a cluster of primary and secondary schools with a combined total population of 8,000 pupils each. MHSTs work jointly with schools and cluster leads to implement a whole school approach to mental health across the cluster, informed by the needs outlined on the cluster action plan.
The post holder will undertake a range of therapeutic tasks with both primary and secondary schools including:
- Assessment of young people in schools who present with self-harming behaviour or risk of self harm,
- Offering individual, group, parent and family interventions as appropriate within the school setting
- Support the delivery of the whole school approach across the school cluster and the development and delivery of the cluster action plan
- Working with colleagues to provide training, education and support for school staff, parents and other relevant agencies within the borough, through formal teaching, consultation and provision of active clinical skills
- Provide consultation and advice to school staff with respect to appropriate signposting of more complex cases
- Work preventatively to build resilience and coping skills
- Report to and work closely with the MHST Clinical Specialist and MHST Service Lead in order to further develop the service
- Offer some line management as required
If you would like to find out more about this exciting opportunity, please contact Lesley Murray, Clinical Lead for this Richmond MHST team: lesley.murray@achievingforchildren.org.uk for an informal discussion.
About you
To be a CAMHS practitioner at AfC, you will be passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people as well as demonstrating the following points:
- Be a qualified CBT Therapist, Creative Therapist, Clinical/Counselling Psychologist, Systemic Psychotherapist or Mental Health Nurse.
- Current UKCP, BABCP or HCPC Registration (or other equivalent professional body registration)
- Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health profession e.g CBT, clinical or counselling psychology, art psychotherapy, or systemic family psychotherapy.
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years.
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Stable and supportive leadership
- Hybrid and mobile working (between home and work) with latest technology to facilitate this
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children
Important Information
Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.
Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.