Psychodynamic Child and Adolescent Therapist

The Bridge Foundation is an award-winning charity based in Bristol. We make adifference to children, young people, families and adults suffering mentalhealth difficulties across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Over the past 40 years, we have helped 11,000+ individuals and established areputation for clinical excellence and effective results. We specialise insupporting the most vulnerable and at-risk children and young people acrossBristol through life-changing arts, play, and talking-based psychotherapy. Ourdelivery 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 andcommitted 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 atheather.mora@bridgefoundation.org.uk. Thank you for your interest in The Bridge Foundation, and in this role.Job pack:Child and Adolescent Therapist1Position titlePsychodynamic Child and Adolescent Therapist LocationThe Bridge Foundation, 13 Sydenham Road, Cotham,Bristol, BS6 5SHHoursA minimum of 12 clinical sessions per week subject toservice demand (3 days, with Wednesday mornings andFridays being essential)Salary Flexible PAYE: £35.51 - £44.70 per session including holidayallowance - see belowPensionWith NEST – up to 3% employer contribution  Reports toClinical Lead - Bridge Psychotherapy ServiceJob overviewTo offer assessments, brief interventions or longer termpsychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy forchildren, parents and families. Some of these cases willhave been commissioned by Social Services, theAdoption Support Fund or by other commissioners. Role summary2Roles and responsibilitiesTo carry a caseload of clients who are attending the Bridge Psychotherapy Service.  Thiscaseload will be a combination of psychodynamic/psychoanalytic psychotherapy forindividual children and young people, therapeutic parent support and work with families.All work at The Bridge Foundation is informed by a psychodynamic/psychoanalyticapproach: the structure of the session is determined largely by what the client brings intothe room (consciously or unconsciously), the therapist does not impose anagenda/structure and is paying attention to the dynamics in the room, the verbal andnon-verbal communication and (where appropriate) expression through play.To undertake complex clinical assessments both for external audiences (e.g. a report for aschool/social services) and also assessments to determine suitability for psychotherapy orto determine the most effective way of working (e.g. dyadic work, whole family work,individual psychotherapy)3To keep accurate clinical records, organise appointments and liaiseappropriately with clients and complete necessary paperwork  To participate in fortnightly team meetings and group supervision  To attend and participate in termly whole staff meetings and participate in thecontinuing professional development programmes  To attend regular mandatory Child Protection TrainingTo attend and actively participate in line management and annual appraisal withyour line manager To contribute to evaluation and monitoring requirements of The BridgeFoundation as required  To provide monitoring information, reports and clinical audits as required.  To comply with the Bridge Foundation policies, procedures and guidelinesincluding those related to equal opportunities, confidentiality of information, childprotection and record keeping.   This job description reflects the present requirements of this post and as duties andresponsibilities change and develop the job description will be reviewed and besubject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.  The post holder will be required to have an enhanced DBS disclosure. Flexible PAYE arrangementOn a flexible PAYE arrangement you will be paid at a rate of £35.51 - £44.70 (depending onband) for each client session which includes payment for attendance at fortnightly groupsupervision, monthly individual supervision and business meetings.  This fee also includes timespent on the provision of direct services, associated case notes, other administration and anycontinuing professional development undertaken at the request of the Service Lead asessential to the provision of an effective service. Attendance at staff meetings will be paid atthe non-clinical rate of £16.62 - £20.75 per hour. Annual leave32 days plus bank holidays pro rata. For a flexible PAYE arrangement, as your hours vary youwill receive a holiday allowance each session.  This is worked out as a proportion of full-timeequivalent holiday accrual and is included in the above hourly rate. 4 EssentialDesirableExperienceandqualificationsA qualification inpsychodynamictherapy/counselling, or atherapy/counsellingtraining which included apsychodynamic elementwhich has been followedby post qualificationadditionalpsychodynamic trainingand/or experience  Registration with ACP,BPC, BACP, UKCP orother appropriateprofessional body Significant postqualification experienceof working as apsychodynamic therapistwith children, youngpeople, parents andfamilies  Substantial experience ofassessment andtreatment of complexcases for psychotherapy Experience of workingeffectively as part of ateamExperience of liaison withstatutory and otherexternal organisations  Experience of personalpsychoanalysis/psychodynamicpsychotherapy Person specification5 EssentialDesirableKnowledgeandunderstandingAn excellentunderstanding of thetheory and practice ofpsychoanalyticpsychotherapyA 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 of offeringclinical supervisionExperience ofdelivering individualtherapy to adultsSkills andabilitiesExcellent interpersonalskills and ability to worksensitively with a widevariety of people at alllevels Ability to have a calmand thoughtful approachto issues of clinical riskAbility to take initiativeand work independentlyas well as the ability towork as part of a team. Ability to keep andmaintain accuraterecords and evaluationmonitoring and toproduce accuratereports 6 EssentialDesirableAbility to be self-administering in terms ofIT, including the clinicaldatabase, MicrosoftWord and email/roombooking systems. To manage a busyworkload and to workalongside theProfessional SupportTeam, including theReferrals Co-ordinator, toensure a smoothprovision ofappointmentsStrong written and verbalcommunication skillsincluding the ability tomake a substantialcontribution to clinicaldiscussion A flexible attitude to thedemands of the post andthe needs of theorganisationEquality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)The post holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard toThe Bridge Foundation EDI policy. Health and safetyAll employees are subject to the Health and Safety at Work Act. The post holder isrequired to pro-actively comply with their duties as described by The BridgeFoundation Health and Safety Policy. 7ConfidentialityAll employees are required to work in a confidential manner in all aspects of theirwork and with due regard to The Bridge Foundation Confidentiality Policy.Child protection and safeguarding The protection and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults are corevalues of The Bridge Foundation and all staff working with children andvulnerable adults are required to attend child protection and safeguardingtraining delivered in-house or by Bristol Safeguarding Board. Equal opportunities statementThe Bridge Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does notdiscriminate based on race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexualorientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin orany other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided onqualifications, merit and organisational need.The Bridge Foundation seeks to promote equity across its workforce, achieve thehighest possible level of diversity in its appointments and promotions, and foster asense of belonging for all.