HCPC registered Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling or Forensic) - Independent Expert Witness in London - Midhurst Children's Therapeutic Services

Job Description We are looking for self-employed Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychologists to join our ethical and trauma-informed Expert Witness service in Northwest London.

The court assessment process can be incredibly stressful and at times re-traumatising for families. We want to do things differently. Our trauma-informed approach to assessments centres a focus on adversity, social determinants of mental health, and cultural competence.

‘As a social enterprise, MCTS is the partner of choice for clinicians who value giving back as well as making a living.’

The role:
Your primary task will be completing complex psychological assessments of children and families and writing reports for pre-proceedings or family court.
This could include a range of complex assessments depending on your experience and expertise, e.g. cognitive, domestic violence, attachment and trauma etc
All assessments will be completed in line with our Attachment and Trauma-Informed policy and processes.
The role is based remotely at present and will require travel within a reasonable distance of Brent, Northwest London.

What we offer you:
Ongoing clinical and professional support from a highly experienced and growing team.
Free monthly group supervision/reflective practice is available to all affiliates, facilitated by our experienced Service Lead.
Variety in your workload – opportunities to maintain your recent and relevant expertise through activities such as direct therapy, group work, delivering teaching or training, participating in CPD, research activity, or publishing articles.
Extensive training and CPD opportunities at subsidised rates e.g. Therapeutic Care training, Story Stem Assessment Training, Clinical Trauma Specialist Certification.
An allocated Peer Buddy to support you as you become familiar with our service.
Robust quality assurance process to support you and ensure the highest quality and consistency.
Dedicated referrals co-ordinator to specifically match each assessment with your skills, experience and availability.
Location flexibility – remote working with travel required within a reasonable distance of Brent, Northwest London.
Flexible hours– you can complete as many or as few assessments as you choose, to suit you.
Team development days twice yearly.
Access to our clinical management software for managing appointments, keeping records and storing files.

Role requirements:
Essential: You must be an HCPC registered and accredited psychologist, e.g., Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychologist
Essential: Experience of delivering psychological assessments for children and families, including the use of specialist assessment tools.
Essential: Formulation experience following assessments, including compiling psychological assessment reports.
Desirable: Previous Expert Witness or court experience.

Don’t meet every single requirement?
Studies have shown that some people, including women and people of colour, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At MCTS we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every specification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway - you may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

About MCTS:
We are specialists in trauma, therapeutic care, and organisational culture.
First and foremost, MCTS is a social enterprise – we believe in reinvesting to improve services for children, young people, and families who have experienced trauma and adversity, in an innovative and socially conscious way.
Within the United Kingdom there is a devastating lack of effective, specialist services to meet the needs of children, young people and families impacted by trauma, abuse, and neglect.
Our mission at MCTS is to share our expertise and experience in the field to develop and deliver specialist psychological services that are ethical and trauma-informed.
Our services currently include Expert Witness Services, integrated Therapeutic Care packages for independent care providers, consultation and training.

Reasons to join us:
1. We walk the talk
As a trauma-informed employer, we apply the same values, principles and approaches to staff and organisational culture as we do with every child and family. That means a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, collaboration, connection and integration, and an open, curious and reflective ethos.

2. Support and supervision
As a member of the team, you will receive monthly clinical and case supervision, as well as participating in a monthly reflective practice space. When you join us, you will be allocated a Peer Buddy, to guide and support you through your induction and probation period, alongside your Clinical Supervisor and Case Manager. Although we are a small team, we have a strong sense of community and we work hard to maintain connection and integration across our service.

3. Socially conscious
We pride ourselves on practicing in ethical and socially conscious ways. Our aim is to reinvest into much-needed psychological services for children, young people and families impacted by adversity. We are passionate about social reinvestment and feel that this makes us unique in the independent expert assessment sector.

4. Lifelong learning
We are strengths-focused and believe in lifelong learning. Every member of our team has completed or is working toward certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist (individual and families), as well as Therapeutic Care Training and Story Stem Assessment Training. In addition, each member of the team gains access to an online training platform, which includes CPD-accredited training courses with renowned clinicians, such as Drs Bessel Van Der Kolk, Janina Fisher and Pat Ogden. We place high importance on developing our staff team and ensuring that we provide opportunities for career progression and leadership.

5. Staff wellbeing
We all need to feel ok in order to thrive, reflect and learn. Working with trauma and adversity can have an impact on any of us, at any time, regardless of how experienced we are. We are all human beings that bring our own lived experiences, strengths, learning needs, blind spots, biases, feelings, beliefs and values into the work. At MCTS, we celebrate and respect our individual, social and cultural identities and foster a culture of psychological safety.

6. Fresh thinking
We’re just beginning this journey, and now is a great time to join us! As a new business, developed by a team with considerable expertise and experience in the field, we get the unique benefits of being newly formed and full of big ideas, alongside the background of years of success and experience in developing and delivering independent health and social care services.

Closing date for applications:
Do not delay your application - the listing will be closed early if sufficient applications are received.
For more information about this role, please call us on 0808 239 1481 or email Hannah or Ruth at hello@mcts.org.uk.

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities
MCTS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate child protection screening, including employment references and DBS check.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.