Therapist

To join a multi-disciplinary Therapy Team
Salary Range – £28,500 – £50,000 per annum – (salary is dependent on Discipline, Qualifications and Experience)

We welcome applicants from across disciplines i.e. play therapist, music therapist, art therapy, drama therapist, children’s counsellors or systemic practitioners

Full Time (37.5 hours) and Part Time hours would be considered – This is a permanent position based across our Therapeutic Community in East Kent – Head Office – Dover

These are exciting times as Channels & Choices continues to expand and develop its Residential service, Fostering Service and Sallygate School.  We currently have some opportunities for experienced, innovative and enthusiastic candidates to join our multi-disciplinary Therapy Team within Channels & Choices Therapeutic Community. We welcome applicants from all therapy disciplines.

Channels & Choices is a centre of excellence in therapeutic child care.  Our community, based in East Kent, is made up of 7 therapeutic residential children’s homes, a school and a therapeutic fostering service.  As a member of our community you would play a key part in transforming children’s lives and helping them reach their full potential.  Your role would involve working across all aspects of the community, with a specific focus in working alongside and supporting foster carers.

We provide a unique and innovative ‘stepping stones’ placements to children.  The stepping stones model offers children therapeutic residential care, which aims to support them to transition to fostering and be able to enjoy living as part of a foster family.

We have a strong commitment to staff development and there will be considerable opportunities for internal and external training and for sharing good practice within the community.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Responsibilities

• Work as part of a therapeutic community, working within a multi-disciplinary therapy team, to continue to develop the therapeutic provision within the organisation;
• Work in partnership with colleagues from across the community to develop a therapeutic understanding by providing direct advice and support to children, residential staff and foster carers;
• To provide therapeutic interventions, which may include family work, individual work with children, and group work.
• To offer training and workshops to support foster carers, residential teams and school staff
• Support professionals within the community on how to communicate and develop strategies with traumatised children in order to reduce challenging behaviours and help build adult/child attachments.
• Supervision and line management of other therapists (dependent on your discipline and experience)
• Working closely with the community to produce professional, comprehensive, therapeutic multi-disciplinary assessments /recommendations for children and their carers
• Provide clear and regular update reports and reviews of therapeutic work for internal and external colleagues;
• Support placement stability within fostering;
• Making effective use of supervision, support, training and guidance;
• Provide therapeutic interventions giving due regard and consideration to issues of racial, religious, cultural and sexual orientation
• Knowledge of the latest research, theory and literature to support evidence based practice
• To be part of regular discussions and reviews of children’s care and support with other members of the community
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of the latest research and theories alongside relevant legislation and safeguarding policies and procedures

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• Training and relevant qualifications in any of the following disciplines: art therapy, play therapy, systemic practice, child counselling, music therapy or therapist with a child & adolescent mental health specialism
• Registered with a professional body

Experience (Essential)

• Experience of working with children and families
• Experience of facilitating groups of adults and children
• Experience of delivering therapeutic interventions to children, young people and adults
• Experience  in providing consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups

Experience (Desirable)

• Working with children who are in the care system, their families and/or foster carers
• Experience of writing therapeutic assessments
• Experience of working with foster carers
• A minimum of 2 years post qualification experience

Skills & Abilities (Essential)

• Excellent verbal  communication and interpersonal skills in order to communicate effectively with carers, children, families and colleagues
• Ability to work effectively on own initiative as well as within a team
• Ability to build relationships and promote change
• Computer literate for report and assessment writing
• Ability to effectively use clinical and group supervision to process and reflect on the therapeutic support provided and group dynamics
• Ability to identify and provide appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and challenging behaviour

Skills & Abilities (Desirable)

• Ability to develop or facilitate training courses

Knowledge (Essential)

• Good understanding of child development and attachment theory
• Knowledge and skills of theories, practice and research in the field of psychotherapy
• Understanding of Child Protection & Safeguarding
• Knowledge of the mental health needs of children and adolescents

Personal Qualities (Essential)

• Commitment to continued professional and personal development
• Professional credibility
• Commitment to equal opportunities and valuing diversity
• Demonstrate a commitment to supervision and reflective practice
• Warm, engaging and problem solving approach

Additional (Essential)

• Driver with use of own car

Channels and Choices are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the young people in our care.  Staff are all required to adhere to the organisation’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.  This post will be subject to a clear Enhanced DBS Disclosure, an employment background check, satisfactory references & verification of a right to work in the UK.