Child And Family Specialist

Description:

Anna Freud, a world-leading mental health charity for children, young people, and families, is seeking a Child and Family Specialist to join their partnership with the London Borough of Ealing. This role will focus on delivering early intervention support to children, young people, and families with moderate mental health needs.

In this role, you will apply evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including CBT, trauma-informed care, and mentalization techniques, to provide direct interventions in schools, homes, and community settings. You will collaborate closely with school staff, social workers, and multi-agency professionals to enhance the support network for young people, ensuring timely and effective mental health support.

Your primary responsibilities will include assessing mental health needs through observation, interviews, and psychological assessment tools, delivering individual and group therapeutic interventions, and working in partnership with carers, teachers, and professionals to improve mental health awareness and strategies in the community.

Additionally, you will provide training and consultation to non-mental health professionals, including school staff and social workers, enhancing their ability to support children’s mental health needs. You will also supervise Wellbeing Practitioners, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based care is consistently provided.

Key to your success will be your ability to assess, monitor, and manage risk, following all safeguarding guidelines. This requires a professional with strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, a solid foundation in child and adolescent mental health, and a passion for early intervention.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A recognised qualification in a core profession such as Clinical/Counselling Psychology, Family Therapy, or a relevant child and adolescent mental health field.
• Experience delivering therapeutic interventions to children and young people, particularly in community or school-based settings.
• Experience working with Care Experienced children and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed practice, neurodiversity-informed approaches, and safeguarding legislation.
• Proven ability to build strong working relationships in multi-agency environments and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Experience in delivering training and consultation to non-mental health professionals such as social workers, GPs, and educators.
• Commitment to inclusion, diversity, and cultural competence in practice.

Interviews:
Interviews will take place during the week commencing 1 April 2025, with shortlisted candidates notified by 28 March 2025.

About Anna Freud:
Anna Freud is a globally recognised mental health charity, committed to closing the gap in wellbeing and mental health for children, young people, and families. Their work combines scientific research, innovative practice, and knowledge sharing, ensuring the best approaches reach the people who need them most.