Senior Grade Psychologist
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.
Please direct any enquiries to Dr. Ronan Gibney at rgibney@ashdalecare.com
About 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.
What you will need
Required criteria
- 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 which meets the requirements of the Psychological Society of Ireland to work as a Clinical/Educational Psychologist.
- 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
- Must be a member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
- Applicants must have at least five years’ satisfactory post-graduate experience in professional psychology, no more than three years of which were 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.
- 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.
Ashdale Care Ireland
We hold a heartfelt mission to care for, protect, support, empower, inspire, and enthuse both young people and colleagues.
Ashdale Care is committed to positively transforming lives.
Ashdale Care is the leading provider of enhanced and specialised therapeutic residential care for children and young people in Ireland. We care for young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs who cannot be adequately cared for in a mainstream setting. For over 20 years our focus has always been ‘putting the child first’. Our child-centric ethos consists of compassionate and industry-leading therapeutic care. This is delivered by a skilled in-house team which includes therapists, psychologists, teachers and creative art therapists for the most comprehensive support possible. We provide a range of essential services for children and young people such as sensory integration, therapy, outdoor activities, education and so much more.
Our core goal is to allow children to create relationships, develop life skills and give them a safe place to grow. We define ourselves by the care we give to everybody at Ashdale Care. We provide an abundance of training opportunities to all those on the Ashdale Care team. You will have every opportunity to grow in your role, and we reward and recognise hard work and dedication through career progression. Our commitment to transforming lives is a mission that our team members contribute to daily and a role they are fully supported in.
Our benefits
Join Our Community As a new team member, you'll be part of an organisation that values your growth and well-being. We offer a supportive and inclusive work environment, exceptional training opportunities, progressive career pathways and a host of attractive salary packages.
Vacation, Paid time off
Paid sick days
Retirement plan and/or pension
Flexible schedule
Employee development programs
Free parking
Cycle to work
Open office
Competitive salary
Employee Assistance Scheme
Wellbeing Scheme
Work With Charities
Social Opportunities
Employee Recognition Scheme
Annual performance review
Senior Grade Psychologist
We hold a heartfelt mission to care for, protect, support, empower, inspire, and enthuse both young people and colleagues.
Ashdale Care is committed to positively transforming lives.