Clinical or Forensic Psychologist - The William Henry Smith School

Kirklees Council are advertising this role on behalf of The William Henry Smith School.

Due to the growth and expansion of the organisation, we are looking to appoint an experienced Clinical or Forensic Psychologist, preferably with experience of working within a school.

We are looking to appoint an experienced and passionate practitioner to support the established multi-disciplinary therapy service at the William Henry Smith school and the new 4 bed specialist care provision created under the Smith Foundation Trust.

The successful candidate will be an excellent practitioner, skilled at engaging children and young people, as well as supporting wider systemic, clinical thinking, consulting with the therapy team and the wider team around the child. They will have at least 10 years’ experience of working with children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma. Excellent working knowledge of child development, complex trauma, attachment, systemic thinking and experience of supporting those in care is vital. The successful candidate will need to be adaptable and creative in their practice, with good team-working and communication skills.

The WHSS therapy team has been established for 16 years with a focus on child-centred practice and rehabilitation. Supporting the school ethos of, ‘Becoming the best you can be’, the team supports those with social, emotional and mental health difficulties to develop greater self-awareness, resilience, emotional regulation and more successful engagement with everyday life. With theoretical foundations in sensory integration, attachment, child development, interpersonal neurobiology and trauma, the team create bespoke interventions around each individual’s need.

Our care provision will provide 52-week support for four young people. The home is led by a very experienced and passionate manager, with a holistic, child-centred and pro-active approach. Pillars of Parenting, with roots in attachment informed and trauma responsive theory, forms the basis of practice, care plans and supporting intervention. Training in the Pillars of Parenting approach can be provided.

The role will include one day per week in each service, with some flexibility around need. The services are approximately a 10 minute drive apart.

Our offer:

• An attractive salary 
• A Quality of Life and Well-being programme of activity and experiences
• A competitive defined contribution pension scheme
• An employee assistance healthcare cashback plan
• A full induction programme, including an outstanding network of support 
• A learning and development programme and CPD
• Assistance with childcare savings and cycle to work scheme
• Subscription to Head Space and Perks at Work online apps which offers hundreds of discounts and benefits
• 50% towards the cost of branded work wear
• Personal health and fitness training, and a financial advisory service 

The Smith Foundation is a registered charity that operates our outstanding special school, a bespoke education, support and tuition service, and a children’s home, all for children and young adults experiencing social, emotional and mental health challenges (SEMH).

The William Henry Smith is a non-maintained residential special school for boys aged 5-19. Our students have a breadth of special educational needs, including learning difficulty and disability. We are a not for profit charitable organisation providing ‘Ofsted Outstanding’ education, health, therapy and care. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Opportunities for success are provided through a diverse programme of bespoke individual learning pathways and life skills across the 24 hour curriculum, which serve to develop resilience, skills and accreditation for life-long learning, happiness, and an improved quality of life. The school has a strong ethos and culture, built upon firm foundations that underpins all our work on improving quality of life outcomes for all our students and their families, through our strong focus on key working, developing relationships with students, and partnerships with parents and carers.

The school operates across 2 sites, ‘the main school site’ and from our satellite provision in Elland. This provision – BEST (Bespoke Education, Support and Tuition) is an extension to the school, providing much needed ‘specialised’ support to children and young adults who are struggling to flourish as a consequence of complex needs, and/or significant time out of any school or education provision.

The school has a wealth and breadth of professionals which form an integrated team around students, including Creative Arts Psychotherapists, Speech and Language and Occupational Therapists, School Nurses, a Social Worker and a Family team. Residential Care and Teaching and Learning staff play a vital part in children’s lives, progress and quality of life.

Our recruitment process is further embedded, ensuring our commitment to Safeguarding and our alignment with the Safer Recruitment procedure. The process aims to create and maintain a safe workforce and contains robust vetting procedures. The successful applicant will be appointed subject to references and enhanced DBS check (this is a position working in regulated activity). The successful candidate will be subject to a rigorous safer recruitment process and must adhere to a strict code of conduct regarding behaviour at all times.

The school values equality and diversity across its workforce and aims to ensure our staff community is reflective of the diversity of the children and young people within our care. We are also committed to promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of both students and staff that reflects life in Modern Britain.

As part of the recruitment process, visits to the school are essential. For further information or to arrange a visit please contact our Head of Therapy, Lucy Everitt lucy.everritt@whsschool.org.uk

To obtain an application pack please visit the school website.

Please note we do not accept CVs.

Closing date for applications: 12 noon, Monday, 20th February 2023

Successful candidates will be contacted 27th February 2023

Proposed interview date: w.c. 6th March 2023