Job summaryAre you a psychologist, family therapist, psychotherapist or mental health nurse that wants to make a meaningful impact in the lives of babies and their families? Can you bring your clinical skills to support early development and nurture strong parent-infant bonds? Are you excited by the idea of working in a creative, community-focused team? If yes, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!
Southwark Council is seeking a dedicated Clinical Practitioner to join our Healthy Minds Thrive Team, an early intervention therapeutic service focused on strengthening parent-infant relationships and improving parental and infant mental health and wellbeing.
Main duties of the jobWorking within our supportive and friendly clinical services team, youll deliver assessments, therapeutic interventions and clinical consultations to families with children aged 0-2.
Embedded across Best Start Family Hubs and Early Help services, this role offers the chance to provide impactful mental health support where its needed most. Key responsibilities include: You'll be part of an ambitious and forward-thinking team that places families at the centre of everything we do. This is a great opportunity to influence the future of early intervention in Southwark and ensure every child gets the best start in life.
About usOur Clinical Services Team is committed to providing early intervention and mental health support to babies, young children, and their families, helping to give every child the best possible start in life. We foster a supportive, collaborative, and compassionate culture where staff work closely with colleagues across Family Hubs, Early Help, and partner agencies to deliver high-quality, family-centred care. This role offers excellent opportunities for professional development through clinical supervision, specialist training, multi-disciplinary working, and the chance to build expertise in infant and early years mental health.
DetailsDate posted: 10 July 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £50,175 to £57,495 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 2 years
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: F0006-26-0001
Job locations: 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2TZ
Job descriptionJob responsibilities- 1. Lead on the provision of therapeutic consultation and support to children and families within assigned teams and offer advice and support to other professionals in understanding and developing skills in the methods used.
- 2. Contribute to the assessment of risk and protective factors in cases where there are issues of risk of harm to children.
- 3. Develop and implement non-judgmental and creative ways of working to meet the emotional and mental health needs of vulnerable children and their families.
- 4. Provide training in clinical theories, assessment and therapeutic methods to social work colleagues
- 5. Undertake assessment of therapeutic need and analyse, evaluate the most appropriate therapeutic interventions based on need. Southwark Council values: Treating residents as if they were a valued member of your own family | Being open, honest and accountable | Spending money as if it was your own | Working for everyone to realise their own potential | Making Southwark a place to be proud of | Always work to make Southwark more equal and just | Stand against all forms of discrimination and racism
- 6. Provide evidence based assessment and therapeutic work with vulnerable children and families, including provision of direct therapeutic work to adults (parents/carers)
- 7. Establish rapport and build and maintain a professional, respectful and honest relationship with children and their families, to develop trust and assist in safeguarding children and promoting positive and timely outcomes.
- 8. Help evaluate and monitor the service delivered, with a commitment to children and family involvement, including the analysis of complex data and reporting to senior management as required.
- 9. Organise complex information and produce comprehensive, analytic, high quality reports which make cogent arguments based on the evidence and present information in writing and in person in a range of settings, including with families, foster carers, police, colleagues and to the family and criminal courts.
- 10. Develop links with and support access to local NHS services provided via the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- 11. Respond to child protection concerns that arise in the course of the interventions, in line with child protection procedures and guidance.
- 12. Deliver services flexibly across different parts the service (as dictated by service need) and within homes, schools or community settings where required.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Therapeutic qualification providing registration with one of the following registering bodies: - United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) - British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists (BACP) - British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP) - Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) as a mental health nurse - Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a practitioner psychologist or art/occupational therapists
ExperienceEssential- Experience of delivering evidence based therapeutic services to children and within a relevant setting ideally with experience of working within a childrens social care setting and providing formal reports to the family or youth justice courts. Experience of assessment and therapeutic work with adults. Experience of successfully working in an anti-discriminatory way including addressing issues of racism, inequality and injustice
Knowledge, Aptitudes, Skills & CompetenciesEssential- Must be able to provide evidence of continuing professional development. Knowledge of therapeutic services that offer support to children and their families Knowledge and understanding of child development, parenting capacity, environmental factors and risk and protective factors Knowledge and understanding of current issues and best practice in relation to children's social work and therapeutic interventions Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of key children's agencies Knowledge and understanding of a range of psychological interventions and methodologies and commitment to the systemic approach Knowledge of adult mental health disorders and relevant services. Ability to collate and analyse complex information, and produce and present quality reports in a variety of different settings, including courts and review meetings. Understanding of "Social Work Matters" and commitment to the principles of openness, transparency, leadership and accountability Ability to evaluate the quality of services provided and produce recommendations for improvements. Ability to build professional relationships with children and their families that promote positive outcomes. Computer literacy skills at a level to maintain case records within information management systems. Ability to work closely and support other practitioners, and maintain effective working relationships.
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional informationDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Southwark Council
Address: 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2TZ
Employer's website: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
