Children & Young People (CYP) Clinical Lead

Rape Crisis South London (RCSL); Croydon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization in Croydon is seeking a highly experienced Children and Young People Clinical Lead to oversee specialist therapeutic services for survivors of sexual violence. The role requires leading counselling and play therapy, ensuring high-quality delivery, and managing budgets. Applicants must have an accredited counselling qualification, significant clinical leadership experience, and an understanding of trauma-informed practice. This position is open to women only.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Life Assurance

Healthcare Plan

Cycle-to-Work Scheme

Supportive feminist working culture

Qualifications

• Experience with children and young people affected by sexual violence.
• 600+ supervised hours post-qualification experience required.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead CYP counselling, play therapy, and trauma-informed services.
• Oversee strategic development and clinical delivery.
• Manage CYP budgets and reporting.

Skills

Counselling / psychotherapy qualification

Clinical leadership

Safeguarding expertise

Trauma-informed practice

Team development

Education

Accredited counselling / psychotherapy qualification

Job description

Join Rape Crisis South London at a time of significant change and growth with an ambitious vision for the future, and a new leadership team. We are seeking a highly experienced Children and Young People (CYP) Clinical Lead to oversee and develop our specialist therapeutic services for children and young people aged 4–24.

We support survivors of sexual violence across twelve South London boroughs through counselling, advocacy, group work, education, and professional training.

About the Role

You will lead and manage our CYP counselling, play therapy, and trauma-informed services, ensuring high-quality clinical delivery and strategic development. This role includes strategic development of CYP, clinical leadership of all delivery, supervision oversight, safeguarding responsibility, service improvement, and management of CYP budgets and reporting.

About You

You will bring :

• A counselling / psychotherapy qualification (accredited or equivalent experience).
• Significant post-qualification experience, including 600+ supervised hours.
• At least 3 years’ clinical work with children and young people affected by sexual violence.
• Strong experience in clinical leadership and team development.
• In-depth safeguarding knowledge and experience working within the violence against women and girls sector.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice and a commitment to feminist principles.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to have a DBS check.

What We Offer

• 27 days’ annual leave + bank holidays (pro rata)
• 3 gifted days (pro rata) between 27–31 December
• Pension scheme (3% employer / 5% employee)
• Life Assurance, Healthcare Plan, EAP, Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• Supportive feminist working culture

Our Feminist Commitment

Rape Crisis South London is a proudly feminist organisation. Our work is rooted in the belief that sexual violence is both a cause and consequence of gender inequality. We recognise that women and girls experience disproportionate levels of sexual violence, and we are committed to challenging the structures, attitudes, and behaviours that enable this harm.

We centre the voices, rights, and experiences of survivors in everything we do. Our approach is grounded in empowerment, intersectionality, and inclusivity, recognising that women’s experiences are shaped by factors such as race, class, sexuality, disability, migration status, and identity.

By joining our team, you will be part of a movement working to end sexual violence and to create a society where all women and girls live free from oppression, fear, and harm.

EDI Statement

RCSL is an equal opportunities employer, and we are particularly keen to receive applications from women underrepresented in leadership roles in the violence against women and girls movement and those with experience of providing services in a diverse context.

Safeguarding and Confidentiality

RCSL is committed to creating and maintaining a safe, respectful, and trauma-informed environment for all survivors who use our services. We recognise our responsibility to protect adults and young people at risk from harm, abuse, and exploitation, and we understand that safer recruitment is a vital part of safeguarding. We welcome candidates in particular who have experience understanding of issues affecting women and girls.

Mission Statement

Providing specialist support to women and girls who have experienced rape and / or childhood sexual violence and abuse.

Vision

A world free from sexual violence, where survivors are believed, respected, and supported.

Learning and Development

As a charity currently going through an exciting period of transformation, we welcome people who are enthusiastic about continuous learning and development.

While we endeavour to contact all applicants, and we thank everyone who takes the time to apply, we have limited resources. Therefore if you do not hear from us within 1 month of applying, please presume you have been unsuccessful but we welcome future applications.

This post is open to women only (Schedule 9, Paragraph 1, Equality Act 2010).

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a cover letter (up to 1,000 words) outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.