JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION
Blue Sky + TLC
Job Title: Clinical Practitioner – Blue Sky +Plus - TLC
Salary Range: £30 - £35k
Responsible to: Director of Therapeutic Services
Office Base: Home Based – with travel throughout south of
England and attendance at office in Hampshire
BACKGROUND
Blue Sky +Plus - Therapeutically Led Care (TLC) Service provides therapeutic foster placements to children and young people
across the South of England. The service is currently working with 2 models –
1)
a psychodynamic model for children (usually aged under 12 but this is flexible) in need of a long term placement,
an alternative to residential care. These children are likely to have suffered previous placement breakdowns and
needing an enhanced placement to manage the child’s trauma and challenging behaviour. The work is based around
Trauma Recovery Theory. The Service is provided by a specialist team – Clinical lead, Clinical Practitioner,
Supervising Social Worker and Support Worker. The Therapeutic Care Plans for each child are overseen by our
resident Psychologist who also provides clinical supervision to the team. Education Specialist and Family Therapist
can also be involved as required.
2)
a specific ‘behaviour management’ programme for children aged 10+. The programme either runs a short term
focussed programme of between 9-12 months, to help stabilise a young person’s behaviour to stop a cycle of
absconding, drugs, child sexual exploitation, criminal activity. The aim is for the young person to graduate from the
programme and either return home, or move to alternative carers on a less intensive support placement.
Alternatively this programme can be adapted for a child as a long term placement, working intensively with the
young person to stabilise the behaviour but working on the long term relationship with the carers. The programme
uses an evidence-based approach (based on MTFC) implementing social learning and systemic theory and uses a
skills based behavioural approach. This is a team approach, which offers “wrap around” care to the young person
and aims to support them in all areas of their life and help them develop better relationships and life skills. The
team includes an Individual Worker, Social Worker, Family Therapist and Education Support. Psychologist Support
can also be utilised as required.
JOB PURPOSE
Clinical Practitioner – TLC (Trauma Recovery for children)
The role of the Clinical Practitioner is to provide clinical supervision to the foster carers, and develop and promote the
Therapeutic Care Plan for the child. The aims of the supervision and relationship with the carers is to provide the ‘therapy’
to the child through the care, love and management of the child by the carers. It is not for the Clinical Practitioner to
provide therapy direct to the child, but to deliver it through the responses from the foster carers.
Clinical supervision will involve guiding, supporting and helping the carers understand the behaviours, to deliver appropriate
responses to the child’s behaviour, and helping the child recover from their past traumas and abuse.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Work Management
1. To provide weekly clinical supervision and consultations to foster carers who are caring for child/ren
under the Therapeutic Led Care Service Programme. Maintain the clinical supervision of a caseload.
2. To support, guide and impart knowledge to foster carers, and the team to develop behaviour
management strategies, care planning, and stabilising placements for children, - theoretically informed
by Trauma Recovery and Psychodynamic Theory of Childhood Trauma.
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JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION
Blue Sky + TLC
3. To work flexibly with foster carers, which may include working outside of the hours 9-5 on occasions.
4. In conjunction with the Clinical Lead to develop and progress the Therapeutic Treatment Plans for each
child.
5. Work alongside the Supervising Social Worker to support the foster carers, providing ‘therapeutic’
support.
6. Working alongside the placement team to ensure appropriate matches between young people and foster
carers are made.
7. Ensure children’s care and development needs are met within placements.
8. To provide training to foster carers, and facilitate Carer Clinical Support Meetings on a monthly basis.
9. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with local Commissioning and Social Work Teams
which further the agency’s partnership arrangements.
10. Deputising for the Clinical Lead, making key decisions to ensure the best outcomes for young people and
attending practice review / complaints meetings where appropriate.
11. Undertake research projects to further enhance the practice of clinical practitioners, social work staff
and the agency.
12. Keep compliance with the National Minimum Standards, Fostering Regulations, Fostering Statutory
Guidance and have a good working knowledge of key child care legislation.
13. Participate in the 'out of office hours' duty system providing telephone support to Foster Carers.
14. Complete required reports – weekly consultation meeting notes, Therapeutic Treatment Plans, Monthly
progress reports and make these available to the TLC team and Placing Authority.
Communication
1. Promote open and regular communication with all internal and external customers and stakeholders to
further the aims, objectives and purpose of the agency.
2. Ensure all documentation is completed to the required standard, including paperless recording, IT diary
and notifications.
3. Maintain communication and workload planning systems, ensuring that key information is updated and
communicated regularly to the appropriate individuals.
Management Information and Reporting
1. Undertake regular self-audits of record keeping and report as necessary.
2. Report all safeguarding and notifiable events.
3. Undertake performance and target reviews with the Clinical Lead / Therapeutic Director on a regular
basis. Contribute to regional development plans.
4. Provide regular updates, including outcome monitoring, to the senior management team.
Additional Duties
It is the nature of Blue Sky Fostering that tasks and responsibilities are, in many circumstances, unpredictable and
varied. All staff, therefore, are expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises where tasks are not
specifically covered in the Job Description have to be undertaken. Any other duties will be dependent upon the
post holder’s areas of expertise, knowledge and skills and with regard to the level of responsibility afforded to
the post.
The Post Holder will be expected to undertake training and development deemed necessary for the pursuance of
the post, including the Practice Educator programme.
ced03/jobdes/planoff.doc
JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION
Blue Sky + TLC
The Post Holder will be expected to ensure that Health and Safety is observed in the course of employment.
The Post Holder will be expected to ensure to comply with Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure in all
employment practices.
The Post Holder will be expected to comply with the no smoking policy.
ced03/jobdes/planoff.doc
JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION
Blue Sky + TLC
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications/Education/Training:
A qualification in a related field – (eg psychotherapy, psychology, therapeutic child care, social work with additional
therapeutic training, play therapist)
Knowledge and Experience:

Experience of working therapeutically with children and families – understanding the impact on a child of
childhood trauma and abuse.

Good communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which
the atmosphere may be highly emotive.

Experience of working with challenging young people in a range of settings

Ability to work with adults and young people to enable them to overcome psychological resistance to potentially
threatening information.

Excellent organisational skills, and problem solving.

Ability and experience in writing comprehensive assessments and treatment plans.

Excellent IT, using a range of different IT programmes (excel, word, power point)

Liaison with range of agencies and professionals

Working with different theoretical methods

Competent trainer and speaker

Multi-agency working – working within a team of different professionals and disciplines

Awareness of Child Protection issues
WORK RELATED PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS
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Confident and flexible
Good organisational and time management skills
Ability to travel as required to a range of appointments
Willingness to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the programme
Current driving licence
Daily use of a car
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