About Essential
Essential Therapeutic Care & Education provides therapeutic residential care for children and young people with complex emotional, behavioural and psychological needs.
Our model is built around the understanding that meaningful change happens through safe, consistent, and trusting relationships. We bring together residential care, psychology and therapeutic practice to help young people understand their experiences, develop emotional resilience and make sustainable progress.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and thoughtful Assistant Psychologist to join our clinical team and support the delivery of psychologically informed care across our children's homes.
The Role
This is a varied role where you will have the opportunity to work directly with young people while also helping the adults around them develop a deeper understanding of their needs.
Working under the supervision of qualified clinical professionals, you will support psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation across our services.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Supporting psychological assessments and formulations for children and young people.
- Undertaking structured observations and gathering relevant clinical information.
- Supporting the delivery of individual and group-based therapeutic interventions.
- Developing psychologically informed resources and direct-work materials.
- Supporting young people to understand emotions, relationships, experiences and patterns of behaviour.
- Contributing to care planning and clinical reviews.
- Attending multidisciplinary and professional meetings where appropriate.
- Supporting the development and review of therapeutic support plans.
- Working alongside residential teams to help translate psychological thinking into everyday practice.
- Contributing to reflective practice sessions and clinical discussions.
- Supporting the collection, analysis and presentation of clinical outcome data.
- Undertaking literature reviews, audits and service-development projects.
- Maintaining accurate and confidential clinical records.
- Liaising appropriately with CAMHS, social workers, education professionals and other agencies.
- Supporting training and workshops for residential team members.
- Contributing to the continued development of Essential's therapeutic model.
About You
We are looking for someone who is curious, reflective and genuinely interested in understanding the experiences behind behaviour.
You will need:
- A BPS-accredited undergraduate degree in Psychology providing eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).
- A strong understanding of psychological theory and its application.
- An interest in trauma, attachment, developmental psychology and children's mental health.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to build appropriate and meaningful relationships with children and young people.
- The confidence to work alongside residential care teams and other professionals.
- Strong organisational and record-keeping skills.
- The ability to work independently while recognising the boundaries of the Assistant Psychologist role.
- A commitment to reflective practice and professional development.
Experience working with children and young people, mental health services, residential care, learning disabilities, neurodiversity, trauma or complex emotional needs would be particularly beneficial.
What We Offer
This role offers significant exposure to applied psychological practice within a specialist residential setting.
You can expect:
- Regular clinical supervision.
- Direct experience of psychological assessment and formulation.
- Opportunities to contribute to therapeutic interventions.
- Experience of multidisciplinary and multi-agency working.
- Regular reflective practice and clinical development.
- Opportunities to participate in audits, research and service-development projects.
- Ongoing CPD and professional development.
- The opportunity to work closely with experienced clinical and residential professionals.
- A supportive environment for someone looking to develop their career within psychology.
Why Join Essential?
An Assistant Psychologist at Essential is not simply an administrative support role within a clinical department.
You will be actively involved in helping us understand our young people, developing meaningful psychological formulations and ensuring that psychological thinking translates into what happens every day within their home.
That means working closely with the people who know our young people best, helping teams think beyond behaviour and understand what may be happening underneath it.
For someone considering future training in Clinical, Counselling, Educational or Forensic Psychology, the role provides valuable experience of direct clinical work, complex presentations, multidisciplinary working and psychologically informed residential care.
If you are passionate about psychology and want an opportunity to see psychological theory translated into meaningful everyday practice with children and young people, we would like to hear from you.
Apply via Indeed with your CV and a short supporting statement explaining why you are interested in the role and what you could bring to Essential Therapeutic Care & Education.
Essential Therapeutic Care & Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful applicants will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
Pay: £30,000.00-£34,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Licence/Certification:
- driving licence (required)
- psychology degree (required)
Work Location: In person
