Job Overview
The Psychotherapist provides therapeutic support to children and young people living in residential care, many of whom have experienced trauma, neglect, or disrupted attachments. The role focuses on helping young people understand and process their experiences, develop emotional regulation, and improve overall mental wellbeing.
Working within a multidisciplinary team, the Psychotherapist plays a key role in creating and maintaining a therapeutic environment that supports recovery, resilience, and positive developmental outcomes.
Responsibilities
- Provide regular one-to-one psychotherapy sessions tailored to the individual needs of children and young people.
- Deliver evidence-based therapeutic approaches (e.g., integrative, person-centred, psychodynamic, trauma-informed approaches).
- Facilitate group therapy sessions where appropriate.
- Support young people in exploring emotions, relationships, identity, and trauma.
- Conduct initial and ongoing therapeutic assessments.
- Develop psychological formulations to inform care planning.
- Monitor progress and adapt interventions based on therapeutic need.
- Work closely with residential staff to support consistent, therapeutic care approaches.
- Contribute to individual care plans, reviews, and multidisciplinary meetings.
- Provide guidance to staff on understanding behaviours through a therapeutic lens.
- Offer reflective practice sessions for residential teams.
- Provide informal consultation to support staff in managing challenging behaviours.
- Promote trauma-informed and relationship-based care practices.
- Maintain a strong awareness of safeguarding responsibilities.
- Identify and respond to risks such as self-harm, exploitation, or emotional distress.
- Follow all safeguarding procedures and maintain accurate documentation.
- Maintain confidential and accurate case notes.
- Produce reports for internal reviews, external agencies, and court purposes if required.
- Ensure compliance with professional and organisational standards.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
- Recognised qualification in psychotherapy (e.g., UKCP, BACP, or equivalent accreditation).
- Registration with a relevant professional body.
- Experience working with children and young people, particularly those with trauma or complex needs.
- Knowledge of attachment theory and trauma-informed practice.
Desirable
- Experience within residential child care or looked-after children services.
- Additional training in trauma-focused therapies or creative therapies (e.g., play/art therapy).
- Experience working within multi-agency or safeguarding frameworks.
A full job description is availble upon request.
Pay: £38,510.19-£68,027.34 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Licence/Certification:
- Registration with relevant professional body (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
