Family Play Therapy Worker

Our refuge in Central Bedfordshire provides a safe haven for women and their children fleeing domestic abuse. We can accommodate up to 10 women, with or without dependent children. We are now looking for a Play Therapist 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. Undertaking a therapeutic assessment of the needs of the child/young person, determining their suitability for play therapy, you will 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. You will use 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. You will 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. The ideal candidate will: * 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 * Have demonstrable experience of providing outcomes focused therapy to children, young people and their families. * Have a good understanding of theories of child development and attachment. * Have experience of organising and providing appropriate play and other activities. * Have an in-depth understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people. * Be able to work in a non-judgmental way, recognising different and individual needs children may have. * Understand and be committed to compliance in Safeguarding and Child Protection. * Be able to build and develop supportive relationships with women and their children whilst maintaining professional boundaries. * Have proven experience of caseload management. * Be able to demonstrate partnership working with specialist agencies such as mental health teams, offending services or other relevant services. Female applicants only under an exemption from the Equality Act 2010 - Section 9 - Part 1 (A) as a genuine occupational requirement. Due to the nature of the role, you will be flexible in your approach, working hours on a five day rota, which may include very occasional evenings and weekends when required. Discover Stonewater: Stonewater have 20+ years’ experience delivering refuge, safe accommodation and community based domestic abuse services. Our services include Women and Children’s Refuges, LGBTQ+ Safe Space, a South Asian Women’s Refuge and dispersed accommodation to support those that are unable to access traditional Refuges such as male survivors, those with pets and those facing multiple and complex disadvantage. Our dispersed model of safe accommodation ensures equal access for all. Stonewater is also a leading housing provider. We manage around 39,000 homes, serving 82,000 customers across our portfolio and our mission is to provide quality homes and services for people whose needs are not met by the open market. We’re looking for like-minded people to join our team of over 800 talented colleagues who embody our values of being ethical, ambitious, passionate, agile and commercial, as well as people who want to make a difference and transform people’s lives. Stonewater supports equality of opportunities and are dedicated to being a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace. We are a Disability Confident employer. Are you ready to #DiscoverStonewater? Stonewater reserve the right to bring the closing date forward should enough quality applications be received prior to the current closing date