The Children s Trust Job escription Job Title: Specialist ducational Psychologist Level: Specialist Area worked in: Children s and Family Services: Residential Rehabilitation with Children and Young People with an acquired brain injury. Job Profile 1. Main Purpose of Job: To ensure successful re-integration into school/college with appropriate support for children, young people and their families prior to, during and post discharge from the Residential Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation programme. This involves providing advice and advocacy for children and young people and their families and on-going consultation with internal and external agencies e.g. the multidisciplinary team at The Children s Trust, Local Authority SN departments and schools. 2. Position in Organisation Psychological Rehabilitation Team Head of Psychology Clinical Psychologists x 3 ducational Psychologists x 3 Systemic Psychotherapist Play/Creative Arts Therapist 3. Scope of Job 2.1 Gather information on child/young person s prior to admission 2.2 Play a key role in identifying child and young person s SN and level of support required on transition to school/college 2.3 Co-ordinate support/provision for child/young person post discharge 2.4 Provide a professional ducational Psychology service 2.5 Contribute to the Psychological Rehabilitation Team 3. Limits of authority and Problem Solving
Provide expertise in the development and delivery of a professional ducational Psychology service. To discuss any recommendations about service delivery with Head of Psychology Team. To receive regular monthly line management 4. Qualifications, relevant specialist knowledge and skills required Professional post graduate qualification in educational psychology MSc or Md in ducational Psychology prior to 2006, octorate in ducational Psychology from 2006 Minimum 3 years experience of working in a Local Authority post qualification Understanding and knowledge of neuropsychology and SN legislation HCPC registered Signature of Job Holder ate Signature of Immediate Superior ate
uties and Key Responsibilities 3.1 Gather information on child/young person s prior to admission Read pre-admission information and make contact with school/college and Local Authority if appropriate Contribute to Psychological Rehabilitation Team initial discussions about level of child/young person s special educational needs 3.2 Play a key role in identifying child and young person s SN and level of support required on transition to school/college Negotiate with and provide advice and guidance to schools and to Local Authority Special ducation Needs epartments (LA SN) about the educational impact of an acquired brain injury on the child emonstrate clear commitment to and advocacy for individual children, when liaising with Local Authorities and schools including those experiencing resource and/or policy constraints Liaise with the child / young person s LA ducational Psychologist in ensuring that s/he has sufficient information to support the child by: providing detailed advice about the child s changed circumstances (e.g. cognitive, social, academic, self-awareness), highlighting potential difficulties when the child returns to school, and the need for close monitoring, frequent reviews and preparation for short and longer term transitions. Supporting and facilitating the ducational Psychologist s visits to The Children s Trust. Support the family during the statutory SN assessment and its outcome by discussion with families about their child s newly acquired special educational needs and guiding them through the processes associated with the identification and assessment of special educational needs. Co-ordinate the advice prepared by all practitioners at The Children s Trust involved in the SN assessment. Support the child/young person and parents with school/college visits and consulting with school staff. Consult with parents about the HC plans and if necessary assist them to advocate for any changes which are considered to provide more effectively for the child. Support the parents if they make an appeal to Tribunal. 3.3 Co-ordinate support/provision for child/young person post discharge
Liaise with local schools and Therapy team about suitable date for further visit/consultation with staff and who should attend Contribute to the TCT outreach programme in assisting schools and Local Authorities in making appropriate provision for child/young person returning to school/college. This includes consultation/training on the impact of ABI in the classroom and the dissemination of neuropsychology reports. Maintain the link with the LA ducational Psychologist and /or education support services following transition to full-time education Provide a telephone consultation service to families, particularly in connection with statutory SN assessment 3.4 Providing a professional ducational Psychology service Carry out classroom observations, neuropsychological assessments and other attainment assessments with children as appropriate, in liaison with the Psychological Rehabilitation Team Carry out individual work with children and young people to enable them to communicate their views and feelings e g through the use of In My Shoes or Narrative work with a particular emphasis on their views about school / education. Provide consultation/advice to the residential rehabilitation team staff and Teaching Centre staff based on psychological theories e.g. help with devising or implementing behaviour support plans for children, meeting the child/young person s special educational needs Provide emotional support to families. 3.5 Contributing to the Psychological Rehabilitation Team Contribute to joint initial introductory and assessment sessions with families when their child / young person comes to The Children s Trust Contribute to the development and service delivery of the Psychological Rehabilitation Team e.g. by contributing to outcome measures, training packages, resources and conference/poster presentations
Safeguarding The Children s Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. To achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. All staff are expected to be aware of national, organisational and departmental policies and procedures on safeguarding and promotion of the wellbeing of children and young people and should be able to communicate this to others. Applicants for this post will be subject to an nhanced isclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. The Children s Trust operates within the Criminal Records Bureau isclosure Code of Practice. The Children s Trust has a policy on the recruitment of exoffenders, a copy of which is available on request. A criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position at The Children s Trust. This post is, however, exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (xemptions) Order 1975. Applicants are, not therefore, entitled to withhold information about convictions, however long ago these occurred, including those which for other purposes are spent under the provisions of the Act. In any event of employment, any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Trust. Health and Safety Values Value We are Caring and Supportive We think Can o We are child and familyfocused We are Professional Behaviour (We): demonstrate empathy and show compassion respect and value staff, children and families appreciate and celebrate diversity in staff, children and families are genuinely interested act positively about what we re able to do react to change and new challenges in a quick and positive manner work in an organised yet flexible way openly share ideas with each other put the child at the centre of decision making demonstrate an understanding of the needs of children and families take pride in what we do and deliver high standards respect confidentiality demonstrate our commitment to the mission and our passion in the Children s Trust vision act with integrity and honesty at all times work with external partners to ensure that we are delivering the best service take ownership
review the way we do things We have fun We are Collaborative remember that we work with children who like to laugh have fun and add humour when it s appropriate to do so build relationships within teams and across the site interact and communicate effectively across the trust share best practice embrace the benefits of working in a team of diverse skills and talents celebrate together when things go well balance our own needs with those of the team we work in and others across the Trust quality and iversity The Children s Trust recognises the value of diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity. We expect staff to be treated with dignity and respect and solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, political beliefs and affiliations, family circumstances or other irrelevant distinction. We expect all staff to share this commitment Flexibility and Change This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder will be expected to adopt a flexible attitude towards these duties which may, after discussion, have to be varied subject to the needs of the Trust and in keeping with the general profile of the post.
PRSON SPCIFICATION UCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST Criteria ssential () or esirable () How Assessed: (App / Int) Knowledge, Skills & Aptitudes Thorough knowledge and understanding of UK legislation and statutory processes relating to children s services, education and SN, and current trends in local authority management of SN. Up to date knowledge of developments in: - ducational Psychology and - Paediatric Neuropsychology Be responsible for own professional development undertaking training as appropriate Knowledge and experience of using a range of neuropsychological assessment tools Understanding of models of grief and of trauma Sound knowledge of child development Personal Qualities Good interpersonal skills, ability to communicate across professions and agencies Self-motivated Ability to work independently and within a team Good organisational skills The ability to support families through the return to full-time education and to provide emotional support ducation, Training & Qualifications BPS recognised professional post-graduate training in ducational Psychology HCPC registered ligible for, or working towards, Full Practitioner Membership of the BPS ivision of Neuropsychology xperience xperience working as an ducational Psychologist in local authorities
xtensive experience of providing specialist advice and support to schools and local authorities, and SN decision making xperience of working within a multi-disciplinary team xperience of contributing to planning of multi-agency services xperience of providing training to a range of professionals xperience of working with parents in an emotionally supportive way () ssential () esirable SN Special ducational Needs June 2014