Red Snapper Recruitment are recruiting for a Family Play Therapy Worker based in the Central Bedfordshire area. The purpose of this position is to deliver person-centred, age appropriate, strengths-based support, and offer therapeutic play activities, to children and young people who are affected by domestic abuse and living in Central Bedfordshire. This is a full-time, permanent position paying £31,612 per annum.
The role requires the successful applicant to be flexible in their approach, working hours on a five-day rota which may include, evenings and days on a rota basis. Due to the nature of this service this post is ring fenced to female applicants. You will be required to undertake on call duties on a rota basis this is usually for a week at a time. The role involves working with vulnerable people and, as such, it is required that appropriate background checks via the Disclosure and Barring Service and at least two references that are deemed satisfactory by the company.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Manage a caseload of children and young people through their journey with Stonewater's domestic abuse service, ensuring a strengths-based approach that enables them to realise their potential.
- To offer support, advocacy and information to all children and young people and produce individual support plans for each child and young person that include actions identified and required from the above assessments, working closely alongside the team to offer awareness and co-delivery of support.
- Undertake a therapeutic assessment of the needs of the child/young person to determine their suitability for play therapy.
- Plan and provide direct and indirect play therapy opportunities that encourage children and young people to develop and express themselves through activities and play on a one to one and group basis using a variety of interventions such as storytelling, malleable materials, drama, art, puppets, sand play, games, music, movement, creative visualisation and role play, measuring progress and effectiveness of techniques throughout.
- Encourage co-production with children and young people, using a range of engagement techniques to seek the views of those on the service and explore any ideas / improvements for future service provision.
- To build good working relationships with parents and develop effective partnership working to achieve best outcomes, value and quality in delivery of the service. Providing parents with relevant information and supporting access to local services for them and their children such as support and therapeutic groups, children and young people's services, health teams, local schools and nurseries.
- To take part in multi-agency meetings, including Child in Need and Child Protection meetings, care planning meetings with other health professionals and safeguarding reviews.
- To maintain confidentiality and to ensure that professional boundaries are observed when working with customers, staff and external bodies.
Person Specification
- A recognised professional qualification in psychotherapy or counselling at a minimum of Dip /PGDip level or above. Educated to degree level and registered with an appropriate professional organisation relevant to therapy modality (e.g. UKCP, AFT, ACP, BACP, BAAT, HCPC, BADth, BAPT etc
- Demonstrable experience of providing outcomes focused therapy to children, young people and their families.
- A good understanding of theories of child development and attachment
- Experience of organising and providing appropriate play and other activities.
- An in-depth understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people.
- The ability to work in a non-judgemental way and to recognise different and individual needs children may have.
- An understanding of health and safety requirements in providing services for children.
- Understanding of and a commitment to compliance in Safeguarding and Child Protection.
- Evidence of the ability to build and develop supportive relationships with women and their children maintaining professional boundaries.
- Proven experience of caseload management, with a clear focus on outcomes for customers and their wider community.
- Ability to demonstrate partnership working with specialist agencies such as mental health teams, offending services or other relevant services.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work in a professional manner with a number of different agencies, including representation at multi-disciplinary meetings.
- Ability to work under pressure and using your own initiative.
- Ability to work positively and creatively with support needs.
- Numerate and literate to GCSE standard, IT literate and able to use all Microsoft packages.
- Experience of using a Housing Management System, or similar software
Due to the high volume of applications received, if you do not hear from us within 7 working days, I am afraid your application has been unsuccessful.
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