Job Title: Clinical Psychologist
Department: Residential Child Care Services
Reports To: Head of Integrated Care
Location: Milbank House, Sandyford, Dublin
Travel required nationwide to service locations
Renumeration: €70,000 per annum
About The Role
Odyssey Social Care:
Odyssey Social Care is the leading private provider of Children’s Residential services nationwide in Ireland. We have a commitment to innovation, excellence and positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable children and young people. We strive to create supportive, safe and nurturing environments for the children and young people, our staff and management teams and ensure quality and compliance across all operations.
We are passionate about our focus on 3X10X strategy, in particular our authentic commitment to deliver our 10X Positive Impact.
Role Summary:
We are seeking a compassionate and experienced Clinical Psychologist to join our children’s residential care team. This role involves providing psychological assessment, intervention, and support to children and young people residing in our care settings. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to create a safe, therapeutic environment and promote the emotional and psychological well-being of young people in residential care to deliver placement stability and positive outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:
Psychological Assessment & Intervention
* Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments for children and adolescents with complex emotional, behavioural, and developmental needs.
* Develop, implement, and monitor individualised care plans, therapeutic interventions, and behaviour management strategies.
* Provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions tailored to the needs of each child.
Collaborative Care Planning
* Work closely with the residential care staff, social workers, healthcare professionals, and educational staff to ensure the holistic care and development of each child.
* Participate in care reviews, multidisciplinary meetings, and care planning sessions to support the continuity of care and to optimize therapeutic outcomes.
* Contribute to the successful implementation of Odyssey Social Care’s care framework and Welltree Model of care in the measurement of outcomes for young people.
Consultation & Training
* Offer consultation to residential care staff on managing challenging behaviours, trauma-informed care practices, and effective communication strategies.
* Facilitate training sessions for staff in areas such as mental health awareness, managing trauma-related behaviours, and supporting emotional regulation.
Family Support and Liaison
* Engage with families, guardians, and external agencies where appropriate, to provide support and guidance on therapeutic strategies and family reintegration when possible.
* Act as a liaison with schools and other support services to ensure continuity of care across different environments.
Monitoring and Evaluation
* Regularly evaluate and document therapeutic progress, ensuring that intervention plans are adjusted to meet evolving needs.
* Contribute to research, audits, and service evaluations to support continuous quality improvement.
Qualifications
Education: PHD in clinical psychology or equivalent, with a valid professional registration in Ireland.
Experience:
* Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience, preferably with children and adolescents.
* Experience working within residential care or trauma-informed environments is highly desirable.
Skills:
* Strong assessment, diagnostic, and intervention skills.
* Excellent communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
* Knowledge of trauma-informed care, attachment theory, and evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, or play therapy.
Key Competencies:
* Empathy and Compassion: Ability to understand and support young people in distress with patience and sensitivity.
* Adaptability: Capacity to adjust approaches and therapeutic interventions based on the unique needs of each child.
* Problem-Solving: Proactive approach to addressing and managing challenging behaviors and crisis situations effectively.
* Resilience: Capacity to manage stress and emotional challenges that may arise from working with at-risk youth.
Why Join Us?
This role offers a meaningful opportunity to make a profound impact in the lives of children and young people who need it most. We provide a supportive and collaborative work environment, ongoing professional development, and a commitment to staff well-being. Join us in creating a brighter future for young people in care.
To Apply: Please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your experience and suitability for the role.
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