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Lifecentre
Play Therapist Job Description
Summary:
To provide play therapy services to children who have experienced sexual abuse and/or rape in accordance with the aims, policies and procedures of Lifecentre and British Association of Play Therapists Ethical Basis for Good Practice in Play Therapy.
Experience/skills:
The ideal candidate will have:
· First degree.
· Post-graduate qualification in play therapy.
· Further specialised courses relevant to working with sexual abuse and rape.
· Excellent communication skills and understanding of complex difficulties when working with traumatised children.
· Relevant play therapy experience (at least two years).
· Excellent listening skills and the use of insight to work with the metaphor the child brings.
· Experience of working with trauma
· Up to date knowledge of Safeguarding Children procedures.
· Experience of multi-agency partnership working.
· Knowledge of the criminal justice system/court process.
· Demonstrable knowledge of safe trauma therapy.
Responsibilities:
1. Providing weekly one-to-one play therapy sessions of one hour’s duration, for up to 9 client sessions a week, with an acceptable minimum of 5 client sessions a week. In such circumstances whereby therapists wish their services to be contracted for more than 9 client sessions a week, this should be negotiated and agreed with Lifecentre Management who may agree up to a maximum of 12 client sessions a week depending on the Therapist’s level of experience and personal capacity. This should be reviewed every 6 months. Therapists must be willing to take clients of any age within the age range they have been trained to work with.
2. Completing case notes after each session; and collating feed-back forms completed with the child at the beginning, middle and end of therapy.
3. Conducting Initial Assessments with both parent/carer and child, liaising as needed with other agencies involved in the child’s care to create a safe care package for every child.
4. Conducting formal feedback sessions with parents/carers as appropriate.
5. In the event of a subpoena being issued by a court, preparing notes for court cases.
6. Completing Evaluation Outcome forms on all clients, providing the statistical information required by Lifecentre to monitor service delivery and effectiveness.
7. Working strictly within Lifecentre’s Pre Trial Therapy Policy (adapted from the Home Office, Crime Prosecution Services and Department of Health guidelines) and supporting the family to prepare for court proceedings.
8. Any other tasks relevant to delivery of a professional standard of play therapy services to Lifecentre child clients. This may include multi-agency liaison with Children and Young People’s Services (CYPS), Police, Primary or Secondary Health/ Mental Health professionals, other agencies or charities as necessary.
9. Play therapists are expected as part of their personal responsibility for delivering their services to undertake Personal Supervision specific to their Lifecentre clients to the levels approved by the BAPT.
10. Play therapists are required, as an integral part of their ability to deliver play therapy services for Lifecentre clients, to attend a minimum of 9 monthly Lifecentre Team meetings annually, ideally more.
11. Work with the Lifecentre team to continue to develop best practise in the delivery of this service to Lifecentre’s clients.
The play therapist may be requested to undertake the following non-compulsory duties;
12. Working alongside the Service Director or Clinical Lead to raise awareness of sexual abuse in the community and amongst other key agencies, highlighting issues surrounding sexual violation and raising awareness of the work of the charity. This might include delivering talks, and training sessions, visiting team meetings of other agencies, developing partner working.
13. Leading or assisting in the delivery of Therapeutic Groups on behalf of Lifecentre.
Terms and conditions of service
· The play therapist should be fully cognisant with and agree to abide by the Ethical Basis for Good Practice published by the BAPT.
· It is required that the play therapist keeps Lifecentre informed of his/her contact details for seven years after termination of this Contract. This is in case the Police require reports on any Lifecentre clients seen by the play therapist, for court proceedings.
· The appointee will be expected to observe all Lifecentre's agreed policies and procedures. They will be required to re-read these annually to ensure up-to-date knowledge. Specifically, they will work within the Sussex Child Protection and Adults at Risk Safeguarding Procedures in close liaison with CYPS and the Police.
· Appointees must respect and uphold Lifecentre’s Equal Opportunities Policy. Appointees are required to demonstrate active equality and respect for diversity to all clients.
· Appointees are required to work in a way that is actively sympathetic, respectful of and supportive towards the Christian values and work of the Charity and the role of prayer within the organisation. They should be comfortable and congruent with being able to participate in Christian prayer for client and other team members’ needs, seeking to be inclusive to all styles of church background represented, as this is part of the ethos of the charity.
· All appointees must provide an up to date enhanced check for regulated activity from the Disclosure and Barring Service (previously Criminal Records Bureau).
· Under the provision of the Data Protection Act 1984, it is the responsibility of this post to ensure that all computerised and written personal information relating to Life Centre's clients, staff or volunteers to which h/she has access, is regarded as strictly confidential. Life Centre maintains confidentiality within its service, subject to its Confidentiality Policy which all counsellors must adhere to.
· The Play Therapist must have their own professional liability insurance.
Line Manager:
Clinical Lead with support from designated Senior Counsellor.
Hours:
Up to 12 client sessions a week, with a minimum of 5 client sessions a week, including necessary surrounding administration and liaison with carers and other agencies to provide a safe and wrap around service to CYP and their families.
Place of Work:
Chichester, Worthing or Crawley – all designated Lifecentre venues.
Rate of Pay:
To be paid on a self employed basis:
£27.00 per client counselling session – this represents 1.5hrs pay to include an hour with the client and half an hour administration and follow up.
£11.50 per hour admin rate for any additional non client contact time.
There is a commitment from Lifecentre Trustees for rates of pay to be reviewed annually.
Budget responsibility:
Responsible for accurate and timely submission of own invoices/expenses on a self-employed basis.
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