Elevate Therapeutic Practitioner

The Young Black Men’s Mental Health project is a pioneering and innovative programme designed to improve mental health outcomes for young Black men and improve their life chances. Islington Council and the NHSE/ VRU/Vanguard project have invested funds equating to £1.6 million into the programme with the aim of creating a better future for young Black men and boys whilst tackling mental health inequalities.

The three-year programme will take a holistic approach, addressing mental health issues, as well as raise aspirations and improving life opportunities through the provision of support and advocacy in relation to employment, health, education, training, housing, finances and positive activities.

The Elevate Innovation Hub is an integral part of this pioneering mental health programme designed to meet the needs of young Black men and boys. It will comprise a small multidisciplinary team of Clinical Psychologists and Elevate Therapeutic Practitioners and is designed to provide a suite of holistic psychological therapies and youth work interventions for young people aged between 11-25 who are at risk of poor health outcomes, serious youth violence, involvement in the criminal justice system, and exclusions from schools. It will provide a trauma informed outreach support offer through Elevate key workers to build trust and support young black men in the local community by bridging mental health services to the front door of communities.

As a Elevate Therapeutic Practitioner you will provide a combination of youth work and psychological interventions. Each Elevate Practitioner will support up to 10 -15 young people between the ages of 11-25; Provide direct 1-1 support and co-creating bespoke interventions. The Elevate Innovation Hub will be clinically managed and supervised by a clinical lead psychologist from the Camden and Islington NHS trust. 

As an Elevate Therapeutic Practitioner you will have the unique opportunity to contribute to the development of important and innovative new project. You will be given excellent support in the form of a robust training programme delivered by highly experienced clinical psychologists and regular individual and group clinical supervision. You will also be given opportunities for further professional development through delivering training and consultation to partner agencies. Furthermore, there will be opportunities to work and collaborate with the other strands of the broader Young Black Men and boys Mental Health Programme, including the Becoming A Man (BAM) and Barber’s Project.

Closing date: Tuesday 28th March 2023 at 23:59

Interview date: to be confirmed 

For further information regarding this vacancy please contact Julia Jenkinson | Senior Clinical Lead | Email: Julia.Jenkinson@islington.gov.uk

Islington is a borough with a clear vision, we are determined to make Islington fairer and to create a place where everyone, whatever their background, has the same opportunity to reach their potential and enjoy a good quality of life.  

As a Member of the Elevate Innovation Hub, you will:

• You will work with a case load of between 10-15 boys and young men who are experiencing mental health difficulties, and who may also need support with a range of practical issues including employment, health, education, training, housing, finances and negotiating the criminal justice system.
• You will develop working relationships with existing organisations within the borough to develop and support early intervention and preventative work with this cohort of young people.
• Ideally you will hold a therapeutic qualification with experience of working with young Black men and boys, however we will consider applications from individuals who can demonstrate excellent skills and experience and may hold youth work and who may hold youth work or mentoring qualifications.
• You will have significant experience and skills in working with young people who have experienced trauma, gang related issues, sexual abuse and exploitation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, Domestic Abuse, substance misuse, bereavement and Criminal Exploitation/ county lines.

• You will be able to work creatively and flexibly with individuals, their families and the wider systems that affect them.
• You will be able to work flexibly with young people, meeting them where they feel safe and comfortable, allowing them to set the pace of the intervention whilst maintaining a respectful and non-judgemental stance.
• You will have experience of multi-agency working including Children’s Social Care, Police, Youth Justice Service, Schools, CAMHs and will be confident in advocating for young people and ensuring that their voices are heard.
• You will have experience and training in safeguarding young people.
• You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• To provide therapeutic and practical support to young people (12 to 21 years).

• To undertake a collaborative and inclusive assessments with young people to support them identify their concerns and needs, as well as setting goals.

• To manage appropriate professional boundaries within the relationship.

• To attend individual and group clinical supervision and participate in training.

• To attend team meetings and group formulations/reflective practice.

• To maintain confidentiality and other policies and procedures, in accordance with the organisation.

• To maintain records for monitoring, evaluation and tracking purpose including date for Key Performance Indicators as required by NHSE.

• To adhere to Islington Council’s policies and procedures.

• To demonstrate a clear knowledge of the importance of equal opportunities, and to be able to work with differences such as class, race, sexual orientation, physical ability, and an awareness of the issues for individuals who experience discrimination.

• To be able to manage you own practice in terms of keeping to scheduled timetables, record keeping, data input, receiving clients in an open and efficient manner and maintaining order in a shared workspace.

• To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post.