Clinical Psychologist
Location: Co. Laois, Ireland
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive, based on experience
Role Overview:
We are seeking a compassionate and experienced Clinical Psychologist to provide specialized psychological care to children and adolescents in residential care who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or other adverse childhood experiences. In this role, you will conduct psychological assessments, deliver therapeutic interventions, and work closely with a multidisciplinary team to develop trauma-informed care plans aimed at supporting the mental health and well-being of vulnerable children.
This role offers a clear career progression plan, providing opportunities for professional development and advancement within our client’spsychological services team.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments to identify trauma, emotional difficulties, behavioral challenges, and mental health issues in children.
- Utilize trauma-specific tools and psychometric measures to assess the impact of adverse childhood experiences on development and mental health.
- Provide diagnostic clarification of disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, attachment disorders, and behavioral issues.
- Develop and implement trauma-informed therapeutic interventions, including individual, group, and family therapy.
- Deliver evidence-based interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other trauma-focused modalities.
- Provide crisis intervention for issues such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, and emotional distress.
- Support children in developing emotional regulation, coping skills, and resilience.
- Collaborate with residential care teams, social workers, medical professionals, and educators to create holistic, child-centered care plans.
- Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss case formulations, treatment plans, and progress.
- Provide psychoeducation to caregivers, foster parents, and residential care staff on trauma, attachment, and developmental needs.
- Facilitate family interventions to strengthen family bonds and resolve attachment-related issues.
- Offer consultation to residential care staff on trauma-informed care and strategies for managing challenging behavior, emotional dysregulation, and attachment-related difficulties.
- Deliver training to residential staff and social workers on trauma, attachment theory, behavior management, and recognizing psychological distress in children.
- Contribute to the development of trauma-informed psychological services within the residential care system.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance mental health support in residential care settings.
- Engage in or contribute to research projects focused on trauma and its impact on children in residential care to inform service delivery and policy development.
- Use outcome measures to track the effectiveness of interventions and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
- Ensure safeguarding and child protection in all interactions with children, following Irish laws and regulations (Children First Act 2015).
- Maintain professional ethics, confidentiality, and boundaries in line with Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) guidelines and the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology recognized by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and full registration with the PSI.
- Minimum of 2 years of post-qualification experience working with children and adolescents, ideally in residential care or similar settings.
- Experience working with trauma, abuse, and attachment-related issues.
- Proficiency in conducting trauma-informed psychological assessments.
- Training in evidence-based therapeutic approaches for trauma (e.g., TF-CBT, EMDR).
- Proven experience in working with complex emotional and behavioral challenges in children and adolescents.
If you or someone you know is interested in this position, please send a copy of your CV to lfagan@medforce.ie
If you refer a candidate to us who is successfully hired, we can offer you a €150 thank you bonus! T&C’s apply!
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