Location: Mansfield/Newark
Type: Permanent
Hours: 15 Hours (2 Days)
Pay: £16.08 / £12,542.40 (full-time equivalent £31,356)
Responsible To: Bereavement Service Manager
Closing Date: 31 July 2026
Children’s Bereavement Centre
Job Description – Play Therapist
Role
To deliver and develop a range of Play Therapy based interventions for children aged 3 - 12 with psychological and emotional issues as a consequence of a terminal diagnosis or bereavement and to advise the professionals who support them. In your role you could be responsible for supporting and mentoring a small group of bereavement volunteers, dependent on experience, for which full training will be given. This service will be split between Mansfield and Newark depending on client preferences on referral and demand.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Play Therapy Services
- Manage an active caseload of children and families, delivering individual and group play therapy interventions tailored to each child’s developmental and emotional needs.
- Build safe, therapeutic relationships that enable children to express themselves through play and creative activities.
- Assess children's emotional, behavioural, and developmental needs and develop appropriate therapeutic plans and interventions.
- Monitor, review, and evaluate therapeutic progress, adapting interventions as required.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of therapeutic play and group programmes as part of the Children's Bereavement Centre team.
- Carry out family assessments to gain a holistic understanding of the child's needs and family circumstances.
- Provide advice, guidance, and emotional support to parents and carers to help them understand and respond to their child's emotional needs.
- Work collaboratively with schools, nurseries, healthcare professionals, and other agencies to promote positive outcomes for children.
- Dependent on experience, provide mentoring, support, observations, and guidance to volunteers to ensure quality service delivery and volunteer retention.
- Identify, record, and report safeguarding concerns in line with organisational policies and procedures.
- Promote awareness of Play Therapy services and provide consultation and advice to professionals within the local community.
Administration
- Organise and prioritise caseload responsibilities with support and supervision from the Bereavement Team Lead.
- Liaise effectively with parents/carers, referral agencies, schools, nurseries, and professionals from health, education, and social care services.
- Maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date records, assessments, reports, and case notes.
- Update service databases and calendars to ensure all client information is current.
- Liaise with the Volunteer Coordinator and other staff to ensure effective communication regarding client support and volunteer involvement.
- Maintain clear and professional communication with all colleagues to promote positive working relationships.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary discussions and attend staff meetings as required.
- Promote and represent the service at community events, meetings, and professional forums where appropriate.
Training and Supervision
- Keep up to date with developments in play therapy, child development, attachment theory, trauma-informed practice, and safeguarding through ongoing professional development.
- Maintain membership of a relevant professional body, such as BAPT, or other recognised therapeutic organisations, and adhere to their professional standards and codes of ethics.
- Participate in internal and external training activities.
- Engage fully in clinical supervision and reflective practice to ensure effective and safe therapeutic work.
- Maintain current knowledge of organisational policies, procedures, and legislation relevant to children and families.
Personal
- Be able to work independently in community settings while adhering to lone-working procedures.
- Ensure the welfare of the child is paramount and that safeguarding procedures are followed at all times.
- Hold a current driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
- Maintain the security, confidentiality, and appropriate handling of sensitive information.
- Uphold professional standards of conduct and ethics to maintain public confidence in the Children's Bereavement Centre.
- Take responsibility for ongoing professional development to maintain competence and credibility as a practitioner.
Other Duties
This job description indicates the main areas of activity of this post. From time to time, however, other tasks/duties may be required but these will fall within the general area of responsibility and grade of post. Any changes which are of a permanent nature will, following consultation with you, be included in the job description in specific terms and will be formally issued to you.
Application Process
· CV and Covering Letter to be sent to [email protected]
· Closing Date: Friday 31st July 26
Person Specification – Play Therapist
Essential Criteria
- Qualified Play Therapist registered or accredited with British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT), Play Therapy UK (PTUK), or equivalent recognised professional body.
- Minimum of two years' experience working therapeutically with young children aged 3–12.
- Strong knowledge of child development, attachment theory, and early childhood emotional wellbeing.
- Understanding of the impact of grief, loss, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and family change on young children.
- Ability to deliver child-centred, developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions through play and creative approaches.
- Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and current safeguarding legislation.
- Strong assessment, observation, and report-writing skills.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with children, families, and professionals.
- Understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Experience of working effectively within a multidisciplinary team and independently when required.
- Experience of working with children and families from diverse backgrounds and communities.
- Competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications and digital record-keeping systems.
- Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evening or weekend work.
- Understanding of confidentiality, data protection, and professional boundaries.
- Ability to demonstrate empathy, warmth, and sensitivity when supporting children and families experiencing challenging circumstances.
- Non-judgemental and child-focused approach.
- Holder of a full, current UK driving licence with access to a vehicle.
- Commitment to continuing professional development and lifelong learning.
- Commitment to equal opportunities and inclusive practice.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of supporting children affected by bereavement, parental separation, trauma, or significant life changes.
- Experience of delivering therapeutic groups, workshops, or family-based interventions.
- Experience of supporting, mentoring, or supervising staff and/or volunteers.
- Experience of using case management or service delivery databases.
- Knowledge of local support services and referral pathways for children and families.
- Additional training in trauma-informed practice, sensory interventions, creative arts therapies, or early years mental health.
- Experience of working within schools, nurseries, community settings, or voluntary sector organisations.
Pay: £31,356.00 per year
Work Location: In person
