Play Therapist

Job overview

Hello applicants, my name is Ellie Varney and I am the Principal Allied Health Professional for Great Yarmouth and Waveney and a Play Therapist by profession.   I am pleased to be advertising the post of Play Therapist within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.   Play Therapy has been an integral part of the CAMHS Team for many years and the successful candidate will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing assessment and treatment to young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties.

The Team are based at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth and Meridian House in Lowestoft, with some flexibility around hybrid working.

Main duties of the job

The Team are looking for an experienced Play Therapist, preferably educated to Master's Degree level - however, we will consider applicants with a Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy who can demonstrate significant post qualifying experience working with complex young people/in mental health settings.

We would like to hear from Play Therapists who are interested in working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and are able to support the core functions of the team.

The main duties of the job will be;

• Undertaking assessments of suitability for Play Therapy
• Working individually with young people using Play Therapy
• Group work or parent child work using Play Therapy skills, CPRT or Filial therapy (if trained).
• Providing regular reviews and using an outcomes based approach in terms of progress.

Additionally, clinicians within the CAMHS team are required to;

• Offer initial assessments of young people coming into the service
• Provide engagement and psychoeducation work with young people and their families where needed.
• Liaise with external agencies, such as Children's Services and schools
• Understand and be able to manage risk whilst working with young people who are experiencing suicidal ideation or self-harm
• Be able to recognise Safeguarding issues and act on these appropriately.
• Engage in weekly case review meetings for young people

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What you can expect from the Team and Service;

• A robust induction with clear learning objectives
• A clinical supervisor within the team as well as Play Therapy supervision
• A supportive and welcoming team who meet together weekly
• Access to rooms that are suitable for Play Therapy in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.
• Opportunity to be involved in Service Development, both at team level and within the Allied Health Professional Clinical Networks.
• Support from the Lead Allied Health Professional and Principal Allied Health Professional within Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

The Team are managed by Clair Szemis who shared that "We are a compassionate and well respected team within the CAMHS service line. We have strong, shared team values and ensure that we maintain and caring and supportive work environment for our staff, maintaining a safe base, from which we can provide high quality care to our young people and their families.

We work with children, young people (0-14 years) and their families, with the principal objectives of providing mental health assessment and short-term therapeutic interventions alongside consultation and training. Our service sits within the 'Getting More Help' of the THRIVE model"

The successful candidate will work in collaboration with colleagues from health, education, social care teams and the voluntary sector as well as other Teams within the Trust - such as the Youth Mental Health Service and the Looked After and Adopted Children's CAMHS Team.

Please do contact Clair Szemis or I if you have any questions about the advert and role.

Ellie; [email protected]

Clair; [email protected]