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TESS Therapeutic Senior Social Worker
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TESS Therapeutic Senior Social Worker
Therapeutic & Emotional Support Service (TESS) – Therapeutic Senior Social Worker (Grade D)
About the Role
Birmingham Children’s Trust is seeking a skilled, compassionate Therapeutic Social Worker to join the Early Support pathway within their Emotional Wellbeing and Therapeutic Service (TESS).
Targets:
- Children and young people in care, care experienced (up to age 25), unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people
- Their parents and carers
Key Focus Areas
- Providing short-term, targeted therapeutic interventions
- Supporting early relational development to strengthen placements
- Stabilising care responses for children and young people at the earliest opportunity
- Supporting children under 12 transitioning from residential care to family-based placements
This is a creative, relational, and dynamic role that combines direct therapeutic work with consultation, advice, and support to care networks. The service prioritises trauma-informed, attachment-focused, and evidence-based practices.
Responsibilities
The role involves:
- Delivering high-quality, trauma-informed, attachment-based therapeutic interventions
- Providing early relational support to children, young people, parents, carers, and residential staff
- Offering consultation, advice, and emotional support to the broader care network
- Contributing to therapeutic assessments, early formulations, and care planning
- Utilising creative engagement strategies, including play-based, relational, and non-traditional methods
- Focusing on emotional regulation, resilience, and stabilisation within placements
- Collaborating across multi-agency networks (social care, health, education, residential services)
The role supports early intervention and preventive work, ensuring emotional needs are met before issues escalate—promoting stability and positive long-term outcomes.
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Requirements
Experience & Skills Needed:
- Extensive experience supporting children and young people in care
- Strong therapeutic skills, particularly in trauma-informed, attachment-based approaches
- Ability to work with complex emotional needs, risk, and uncertainty
- Commitment to creative, collaborative, and reflective practice
- Ability to build strong, trusting relationships with young people, carers, and professionals
- Passion for early help, short-term intervention, and consultative practice
- Commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous learning
Ideal Qualities:
- Curiosity, compassion, and reflective capacity
- A personal investment in trauma-aware, emotionally responsive care
- Open to building expertise in areas such as DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy), CBT, DBT, or Foundations for Attachment
Ideal applicants want to grow their therapeutic practice while maintaining a strong connection to frontline care.
Support & Opportunities
- Protected time for clinical therapeutic work
- Access to ongoing training and CPD across established models
- Regular individual and group supervision
- Strong emphasis on staff wellbeing and reflective practice
- Team led by leadership that values innovation and practitioner development
- Multidisciplinary collaborative ethos, combining clinical psychology, systemic family therapy, art/play therapy, and social work approaches
Applicants will join a friendly, interdisciplinary team, making a meaningful difference in early help and trauma-informed support.
Why Join Birmingham Children’s Trust?
Impactful Work
- Make a real difference in the lives of Birmingham’s most vulnerable children and young people.
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Supportive Environment
- Collaborative, values-driven culture where contributions are valued and respected.
Career Development
- Tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and varied learning opportunities.
Generous Benefits
- Competitive reward package, including:
- Generous leave allowance
- Local Government pension scheme
- Additional employee benefits
Our Values:
- Empowerment and engagement: Actively listening to children’s and young people’s voices.
- Efficiency and collaboration: Working with schools, health, and police to build a supportive network.
- Unified approach: Strong interagency partnership to ensure the best possible outcomes for young people.
Safeguarding & DBS Check
This role is subject to DBS clearance. Depending on the responsibilities, the level of check may vary (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List). Birmingham Children’s Trust follows fair recruitment practices, and criminal records will be considered case-by-case.
Next Steps
To apply, submit:
- A supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the competency requirements outlined in the attached person specification.
For more information, contact:
- Sherril Duffy, TESS Team Manager: Sherril.Duffy@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk
- Lee Vince, TESS Head of Service: Lee.Vince@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk
Note: Applications may be reviewed early—submit promptly to avoid missing the opportunity!
At Birmingham Children’s Trust, your role matters. Together, we can create lasting changes in the lives of children and young people.
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