Senior Grade Psychologist

Location

Monaghan/Cavan - Hybrid work

Full job description

Introduction

Ashdale Care has been providing Residential Care and therapeutic support across the North-East of the country for over 25 years. We provide residential support for children and young people who are unable to live at home and who present with a range of behavioural, emotional, psychological and social difficulties, often as a result of being exposed to early-life traumatic experiences.

Our team

Our service is child-centred and uses a comprehensive, evidence-based, programmatic approach (CARE/TCI) which is implemented by staff in our homes. Additional clinical support and input is provided by our skilled interdisciplinary Therapeutic Support Team (TST), which consists of Psychologists, Behaviour Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Trauma-Informed Teachers, and Art Therapists.

Role Overview

We are searching for a highly skilled and motivated Senior Grade Psychologist to join our dedicated team, bringing expertise and passion to support the children and young people in our care. This role is perfect for a clinician who is driven to make a meaningful difference and who values collaboration and innovation in practice.

As a Senior Psychologist, you will conduct specialized assessments and deliver impactful interventions, providing expert guidance not only to children and young people but also to the staff who support them within our residential care settings. Your clinical leadership will foster a nurturing and therapeutic environment, ensuring the highest standards of care and support.

This dynamic position requires strong clinical judgement, creativity, and the ability to work effectively across busy interdisciplinary teams. The role centres around both direct work with children and young people, and the provision of clinical support and advice to staff, shaping our care services through consultancy, training, and supervision.

If you are a compassionate leader with a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people, and you thrive in a busy environment that values learning and service development, we invite you to bring your expertise and enthusiasm to our team.

Responsibilities of the Role

The Senior Clinical Psychologist will work as an integral part of the interdisciplinary Therapeutic Support Team, working collaboratively to support our children and young people to achieve their potential in all areas of their lives. Working within a Model of Therapeutic Support that is informed by the literature on Attachment theory,  Developmental Trauma, and the Neurosequential Approach, the Senior Clinical Psychologist will:

• Provide specialised psychological assessments, therapeutic interventions, treatment programmes, trauma-informed positive behaviour support plans and tailored supports for a diverse caseload of young people with complex needs on both a 1:1 and group basis.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across Ashdale’s interdisciplinary Therapeutic Support Team to ensure coordinated, high quality care.
• Engage in clinical consultations and provide therapeutic guidance and support to social care staff in our homes
• Serve as the Psychology Department’s representative in both internal forums and external stakeholder meetings.
• Coordinate the clinical input and support of the Therapeutic Support Team to assigned homes
• Provide clinical supervision to staff grade psychologists, assistant psychologists, and trainees, as required.
• Offer clinical leadership in shaping service development and advancing the work of the psychology team and the wider Therapeutic Support Team.
• Assign tasks effectively and contribute to the growth and development of team members.
• Promote a strong culture of evidence informed practice, contributing to research, service evaluation, and quality improvement activities.
• Fulfil responsibilities as a mandated person under the Children First National Guidelines, maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards.
• Exercise sound clinical judgement and leadership in all aspects of the role.
• Develop, complete and maintain comprehensive trauma-informed and attachment-oriented assessments and support plans for children and young people
• Devise holistic, clinical formulations to facilitate the provision of effective support across the service
• Consult and collaborate extensively with social care teams in our homes to provide guidance and support for young people
• Engage in ongoing CPD activities to develop skills and competencies (time and budgeting is available to support these activities)
• Participate actively in general development of Ashdale Care’s service.
• Ensure that professional standards are maintained.
• Monitor and keep up-to-date with developments in Psychology and residential care, including attending training courses and participating in research and development, as appropriate.
• Maintain quality standards within the service and participate in quality development.
• Comply with policies and procedures as advised.
• Support and uphold Ashdale Care’s values and mission

The professional reporting relationship for clinical governance and regular clinical supervision will be to the Psychology Manager in the department through the professional line management structure.

Candidates must have at the latest date of application:

Essential Criteria

(A) Candidates must:

(i) Have a Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) accredited qualification (University degree or diploma) at not less than a Level 8 on the QQI qualifications framework in which: psychology was a major subject, honours was obtained in that subject

AND

(ii) Have a post-graduate professional psychology qualification accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland in Clinical, Counselling, Educational or Behavioural Psychology

OR

An equivalent qualification from another jurisdiction validated by the Department of Health

AND

(iii) Must be a member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

AND

(iv) Applicants must have at least five years’ satisfactory post-graduate experience in professional psychology, no more than three years of which was spent in gaining the post-graduate professional qualification and no less than two years full-time spent in post-qualification experience as a professional psychologist. Years in excess of the permitted three years for completion of the post-graduate training, or time not worked, or experience obtained before the completion of the post-graduate training, will not be taken into consideration when assessing the five years’ experience requirement.

AND

(B) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability and administrative ability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience in a senior psychologist post.
• Experience in providing formal supervision and facilitating groups.
• Experience in completing psychometric assessments.
• Experience with inter-disciplinary team working.
• Experience working with children (6-18 years)
• Experience in working in a therapeutic context with children
• Experience working in Residential Care
• Evidence of a commitment to continuous professional development (CPD).
• Full clean drivers’ licence and ability to drive as part of the role.
• Team player and commitment to high-quality, interdisciplinary, child-centred services
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, and an openness to change in a dynamic team-based environment.
• Ability to evaluate complex information and judge situations
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills are essential
• Excellent Leadership skills
• Excellent IT skills and database management

Benefits:

• Pension Scheme: Access to a contributory pension scheme, including income continuance and death-in-service benefits.
• Professional Development: A strong commitment to leadership development, continuous professional growth, and clinical supervision.
• Leadership Opportunity: A chance to lead, mentor, and shape services within a respected national organisation.
• Supportive Team Environment: Join a motivated, collaborative team committed to making a meaningful difference.
• Family Leave: Pay adjusted maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave to support your work-life balance.
• Sick Leave: Up to 13 weeks’ full pay and an additional 13 weeks at half pay (less social welfare offset) within a 12 month rolling period.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Confidential wellbeing and support services available to all staff.
• Bike to Work Scheme: Tax-efficient purchase of bicycles and equipment for commuting.
• TaxSaver Commuter Tickets: Save significantly on public transport costs.
• Hybrid working available for this role
• Company Pension.
• Life Assurance/Death-in-Service.
• Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave.
• Education Assistance.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Continuous Professional Development (with time and budgeting allocated)
• Excellent Career Development opportunities.
• Bike to work Scheme.
• Refer a friend bonus

 To apply or find out more click here.