By the Bridge have an exciting opportunity for a psychotherapist to join our experienced therapeutic team. This role will be working with Fostering Assessment Managers, Therapeutic Team, Applicants and Form F Assessors.
Do you have the experience, skills, and heart to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and foster families?
About Us:
By the Bridge with Cambian is an innovative, dynamic, independent fostering organisation providing high quality foster care and services to children and their foster families.
We aim to create an environment where all people feel valued and can grow, develop and achieve their goals. We work to ensure that By the Bridge with Cambian is an organisation, which thrives on the diversity of its staff, families and children, to ensure that we assist and care for those most vulnerable, and advocate with them, and on their behalf.
We work to ensure that By the Bridge with Cambian is a fun place to be, where people are treated fairly and rewarded well for the work that they do.
The Role:
As a Recruitment & Assessment Therapist, you will support applicants through the recruitment and assessment process to become foster parents. You will offer one-to-one consultations, helping applicants explore their life experiences and develop the skills needed to work therapeutically with children.
* To be successful in this role you will need to be skilful in communicating with applicants, who are people coming through the recruitment and assessment process, to become foster parents.
* The role will include working directly with the applicants coming through the recruitment and assessment process, facilitating their understanding of the complexities of supporting children who have adverse childhood experiences.
* You will provide psychoeducational therapeutic support to the Recruitment & Assessment and panel team, to enhance their understanding of therapeutic work.
* The role also includes providing psychoeducational support to Form F Assessors (social workers), Assessment Managers and Applicants by helping them to understand the therapeutic needs of children and young people who are fostered.
* The main purpose of this role will be to build relationships with the applicant so they experience the therapists as an educational expertise that helps to prepare them for the role of a therapeutic foster parent.
* You will be working with the applicants to consider any learning that is needed in order for them to continually develop and improve the quality and efficiency of therapeutic work.
* You will offer regular (weekly) 2-hour reflective workshops via Teams to begin an educational process.
* You will inform panel of any recommendations for matching and training needs, for once applicants have been approved as a foster parent.
Key Responsibilities:
* Liaising with the Assessment Managers and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team of Form F Assessor, social workers and therapists.
* Providing one day training on Therapeutic parenting.
* Supporting the Head of Therapeutic Fostering Services and the therapeutic team as requested. This may involve providing training and/or consultancy to staff and/or foster parents within Cambian. There may be a need for occasional travel to an office for meeting with staff, applicants or foster parents.
* Attendance of supervision each month with Head of Therapeutic Fostering Services. Ensuring you are meeting the UKCP code of ethics and professional practice, and code of ethics, BAPT and/or BACP ethical framework.
Person Specification:
* Strong knowledge of therapeutic parenting, attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and therapeutic interventions.
* Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust with applicants, foster parents, and colleagues.
* A compassionate, patient, and non-judgmental approach, with a genuine passion for supporting applicants, form F Assessors and colleagues.
* Experience in working within fostering, adoption, children’s services, or similar sectors. (Desirable)
* Candidates should have or be working towards a degree level therapeutic qualification.
* Accreditation and/or registration with either UKCP, BACP or BAPT.
* Philosophically aligned with By The Bridge with Cambian.
* Good communicator with ability to form strong relationships.
* Flexibility to travel to attend meetings in different regions.
* Highly literate.
* Able to prioritise.
* Good understanding and use of Microsoft applications, such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Outlook Calendar, also experience of working with Teams & Zoom.
* Committed to Continuing Professional Development.
Why Join Us?
* Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families.
* Supportive work environment with regular supervision and professional development.
* Competitive salary and benefits package.
* Opportunities for career progression within a leading, nationwide organisation.
* Flexible working arrangements and a commitment to work-life balance.
Note: Successful candidates will need to meet the person specification in order to be offered this post.
By The Bridge with Cambian is committed to safeguarding and protecting the young people and service users within our care.
All candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and reference checks.
By The Bridge with Cambian is an equal opportunities employer.
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