Wellbeing Play Therapist

15 hours per week / Permanent / £32,800 per annum, pro rata / Working pattern can be discussed at interview, (expectation of one evening shift per week, working until 8pm).

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

YMCA DownsLink Group Dialogue Therapeutic & Family Services offers counselling services for children and young people with physical disabilities, behavioural, social, and emotional difficulties, autism and learning difficulties. The team delivers a multi-modality therapeutic service working with children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. We work closely with CAMHs, the local authority and a range of voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver effective short-term therapeutic interventions.

We are looking for a Wellbeing Play Therapist to provide 1-1 and group play therapy sessions, triage and assessments, counselling treatment and group work support for children and young people aged 4 - 12. The role is integrated within the Children and Young People Wellbeing Service and the post holder will be required to work with the Counselling Leads, Team Manager, and triage team to support children/young people accessing provision within the emotional well-being and mental health pathways.

Some key responsibilities of the role include assessing Children and Young People (CYP) for suitability for treatment (training will be provided), making decisions on the suitability of new referrals to the service with support from triage teams and the ability to formulate, deliver and evaluate therapy programmes for CYP clients. 

ABOUT YOU: We know that there are great candidates who will not fit everything described, or who have important skills we have not mentioned. If that is you, please do not hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

Qualifications and Training

• Graduate or Post Graduate level Counselling Diploma (of 2 years minimum duration including personal counselling or psychotherapy)
• BACP Accreditation/eligibility for accreditation or BACP Registration or accredited with other relevant professional bodies (UKCP/HCP)

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience individual counselling with young people (aged 4 – 16)  
• Experience in working with children with communication difficulties, including ASC and LD
• Working knowledge of mental health issues affecting children and young people 
• Knowledge of up to date Child Protection and Safeguarding issues and procedures

Skills and Abilities Experience 

• Professional, flexible attitude with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage your time well
• Confident in identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns and have experience of working with children and young people
• Excellent communication skills, verbal, interpersonal and written on all levels and according to need