Job pack: Child and Adolescent Therapist

The Bridge Foundation is an award-winning charity based in Bristol. We make a difference to children, young people, families and adults suffering mental health difficulties across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Over the past 40 years, we have helped 11,000+ individuals and established a reputation for clinical excellence and effective results. We specialise in supporting the most vulnerable and at-risk children and young people across Bristol through life-changing arts, play, and talking-based psychotherapy. Our delivery model combines schools-based outreach, commissioned services, and fee-paying services. Children have spoken of their therapy as essential: “like breathing”.

We are looking for a Child and Adolescent Therapist to join our passionate and committed team.

This is a rolling recruitment based on organisational need.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Heather Mora, Clinical Lead for Bridge Psychotherapy Service at heather.mora@bridgefoundation.org.uk.

Thank you for your interest in The Bridge Foundation, and in this role.

Role summary

Position title	Psychodynamic Child and Adolescent Therapist
Location	The Bridge Foundation, 13 Sydenham Road, Cotham,Bristol, BS6 5SH
Hours	A minimum of 12 clinical sessions per week subject to service demand (3 days, with Wednesday mornings andFridays being essential)
Salary	Flexible PAYE: £35.51 - £44.70 per session including holidayallowance - see below
Pension	With NEsT- up to 3% employer contribution
Reports to	Clinical Lead - Bridge Psychotherapy Service
Job overview	To offer assessments, brief interventions or longer termpsychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy forchildren, parents and famiies. Some of these cases willhave been commissioned by Social Services, theAdoption Support Fund or by other commissioners.

Roles and responsibilities

To carry a caseload of clients who are attending the Bridge Psychotherapy Service. This caseload will be a combination of psychodynamic/psychoanalytic psychotherapy for individual children and young people, therapeutic parent support and work with families. All work at The Bridge Foundation is informed by a psychodynamic/psychoanalytic approach: the structure of the session is determined largely by what the client brings into the room (consciously or unconsciously), the therapist does not impose an agenda/structure and is paying attention to the dynamics in the room, the verbal and non-verbal communication and (where appropriate) expression through play. Some sessions might be conducted online where appropriate.

To undertake complex clinical assessments both for external audiences (e.g. a report for a school/social services) and also assessments to determine suitability for psychotherapy or to determine the most effective way of working (e.g. dyadic work, whole family work, individual psychotherapy)

To keep accurate clinical records, organise appointments and liaise appropriately with clients and complete necessary paperwork

To participate in fortnightly team meetings, monthly individual supervision and group supervision (approximately every 6 weeks)

To attend and participate in termly whole staff meetings and participate in the continuing professional development programmes

To attend regular mandatory Child Protection Training

To attend and actively participate in line management and annual appraisal with your line manager

To contribute to evaluation and monitoring requirements of The Bridge Foundation as required

To provide monitoring information, reports and clinical audits as required.

To comply with the Bridge Foundation policies, procedures and guidelines including those related to equal opportunities, confidentiality of information, child protection and record keeping.

This job description reflects the present requirements of this post and as duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

The post holder will be required to have an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Flexible PAYE arrangement

On a flexible PAYE arrangement you will be paid at a rate of £35.51 - £44.70 (depending on band) for each client session which includes payment for attendance at fortnightly group supervision, monthly individual supervision and business meetings. This fee also includes time spent on the provision of direct services, associated case notes, other administration and any continuing professional development undertaken at the request of the Service Lead as essential to the provision of an effective service. Attendance at staff meetings will be paid at the non-clinical rate of £16.62 - £20.75 per hour.

Annual leave

32 days plus bank holidays pro rata. For a flexible PAYE arrangement, as your hours vary you will receive a holiday allowance each session. This is worked out as a proportion of full-time equivalent holiday accrual and is included in the above hourly rate.

Person specification

	Essential			Desirable
Experienceandqualifications	• A qualification inpsychodynamictherapy/counselling, or atherapy/counsellingtraining which included apsychodynamic elementwhich has been followedby post qualificationadditionalpsychodynamic trainingand/or experienceRegistration with ACP,BPC, BACP, UKCP or otherappropriate professionalbodySignificant postqualification experienceof working as apsychodynamic therapistwith children, youngpeople, parents andfamilies• Substantial experience ofassessment andtreatment of complexcases for psychotherapyExperience of deliveringonline sessionsExperience of deliveringopen-ended and shortterm psychodynamic /psychoanalytic therapyto children and youngpeopleExperience of workingeffectively as part of ateam
					ami

	• Experience of liaison withstatutory and otherexternal organisations• Experience of personalpsychoanalysis/psychodynamicpsychotherapy
Knowledgeandunderstanding	• An excellentunderstanding of thetheory and practice ofpsychoanalyticpsychotherapy· A thoroughunderstanding of childdevelopment and child/young person mentalhealth.• Understanding of mentalhealth, social andprimary care services.• A psychodynamicunderstanding of workingwith individuals and withfamilies/relationships• Understanding andcommitment to the aims,objectives and ethos ofThe Bridge Foundation.	• Experience ofdelivering individualtherapy to adults
Skills andabilities	• Excellent interpersonalskills and ability to worksensitively with a widevariety of people at alllevels• Ability to have a calmand thoughtful approachto issues of clinical risk• Ability to take initiativeand work independentlyas well as the ability towork as part of a team.
	Essential	Desirable
	• Ability to keep and maintain accurate records and evaluation monitoring and to produce accurate reports Ability to be self- administering in terms of IT, including the clinical database, Microsoft Word and email/room booking systems. To manage a busy workload and to work alongside the Professional Support Team, including the Referrals Co-ordinator, to ensure a smooth provision of appointments Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to make a substantial contribution to clinical discussion A flexible attitude to the demands of the post and the needs of the organisation

Equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB)

The post holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to The Bridge Foundation EDIB policy.

Health and safety

All employees are subject to the Health and Safety at Work Act. The post holder is required to pro-actively comply with their duties as described by The Bridge Foundation Health and Safety Policy.

Confidentiality

All employees are required to work in a confidential manner in all aspects of their work and with due regard to The Bridge Foundation Confidentiality Policy.

Child protection and safeguarding

The protection and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults are core values of The Bridge Foundation and all staff working with children and vulnerable adults are required to attend child protection and safeguarding training delivered in-house or by Bristol Safeguarding Board.

Equal opportunities statement

The Bridge Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on qualifications, merit and organisational need.

The Bridge Foundation seeks to promote equity across its workforce, achieve the highest possible level of diversity in its appointments and promotions, and foster a sense of belonging for all.