Job Title: Children & Young Persons Therapist
Accountable To: Senior Counsellor
Base: Post based in Preston and surrounding areas - commuting will be required.
Salary: Under 12's £37.50 per hour and over 12's £35 per hour
Hours: Freelance - Minimum of 5 Clients
About The Role:
We are looking for an experienced Children & Young Person's Therapist to provide specialist therapeutic support to children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, sexualised violence, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences.
Working within a trauma-informed framework, you will deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions to support children and young people in understanding their experiences, developing emotional regulation skills, increasing resilience, improving wellbeing, and achieving agreed therapeutic goals. Therapeutic interventions may include play therapy, creative therapies, talking therapies and other age-appropriate approaches tailored to individual needs and developmental stages.
As part of a Children and Families service, you will recognise the importance of working collaboratively with parents, carers and wider support networks to promote and sustain positive outcomes. You will support families to better understand the impact of trauma and empower them to contribute positively to the child or young person's recovery journey.
The role requires the delivery of brief, goal-orientated interventions where appropriate. You will be confident in establishing, monitoring and reviewing therapeutic goals and outcomes with children, young people and their families, ensuring interventions are purposeful, measurable and responsive to need.
The postholder will work collaboratively with a range of professionals including schools, colleges, educational staff, Children's Social Care, CAMHS, health professionals and other partner agencies. You maybe required represent the service within multi-agency meetings, contribute to safeguarding and support planning processes, and ensure children, young people and families receive coordinated and holistic support, for which an appropriate rate of reimbursement will be agreed in advance.
ABOUT YOU
Working within the ethical framework and code of conduct of a recognised professional body, you will have experience of delivering therapeutic interventions to children and young people affected by trauma.
You will have strong understanding of child development, attachment, the impact of trauma and adverse experiences, and the ways these can affect emotional wellbeing, behaviour, relationships and engagement.
You will be skilled in utilising a range of therapeutic tools and approaches, including play therapy, creative interventions, brief therapeutic approaches and outcome-focused practice. You will have experience of helping children and young people develop emotional regulation skills, build resilience and strengthen coping strategies through safe, trusting therapeutic relationships.
You will be confident in working collaboratively with children, young people and families to identify therapeutic goals and measure progress. You will understand the importance of balancing child-centred practice with a structured, goal-orientated approach that evidences positive outcomes.
You will have experience of engaging parents and carers as partners in the therapeutic process and be committed to working within a whole-family framework where appropriate. You will recognise the importance of supporting families to understand trauma and strengthening the protective factors around children and young people.
You will possess strong communication and partnership-working skills and be able to work effectively with schools, Children's Social Care, health services and other agencies. You will be comfortable contributing to multi-agency meetings and advocating for the needs of children, young people and families.
You will have a good understanding of safeguarding, risk management and safety planning and be able to work confidently with complex and sensitive issues.
You will be able to manage a caseload effectively, maintain accurate records and ensure the safe handling of confidential information in accordance with organisational policies and professional standards.
Job Type: Freelance
Pay: £35.00-£37.50 per hour
Application question(s):
- Are you able to commute between bases in East Lancashire?
- Do you drive?
- Do you have recognised professional qualification in Counselling, Psychotherapy, Play Therapy or a related therapeutic discipline (HE Diploma, Degree or Master's level)?
- Do you have a minimum of two year's post-qualification experience working therapeutically with children and young people?
Work Location: In person
