Creative Psychotherapist

Shorefields; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare package

Professional development funding

Gym membership discounts

Rewards and lifestyle benefits

Job summary

Octavia House Schools in South Woodham, Essex, are seeking a Creative Psychotherapist (Art/Music/Drama/Play) to join our trauma-centred therapeutic secondary school (KS3-4) and make a real difference in pupils’ lives. The role is full-time with a flexible start date.

You will deliver therapy, support in class, liaise with colleagues and external professionals, and contribute to a coherent reporting system. Competitive pay scales and private healthcare are provided.

Qualifications

• Specialist in art/music/drama/play therapy with experience in trauma-centred settings.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers and external professionals.
• Experience supporting pupils with ACEs, SEMH, SEND.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring the seamless therapeutic, relationships-first, therapy offer is maintained; collaborating with colleagues in classrooms and offering effective therapy programmes
• Readily providing therapeutic support in class, maintaining visibility and supporting learning
• Liaising with colleagues and external professional
• Being a key point of contact for families in relation to therapy, supporting and collaborating with external professionals as required.
• Ensure that a coherent, consistent internal reporting system is adhered to for all therapies

Skills

Therapy delivery

Interpersonal skills

Liaison with professionals

Family engagement

Education

Qualified Creative Psychotherapist

Job description

Position Start Date: 02/11/2026 Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 16/10/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: Interviews taking place on a rolling basis

At Octavia House Schools, we have a passionate team delivering high quality trauma-centred therapeutic education, supporting and building relationships with pupils who have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and complex social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, as well as other associated special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Octavia House schools have been leading the way in therapeutic education since 2012. Recent Independent School Inspectorate's routine and material change inspections of our London and Essex schools were successful and highlighted a rare significant strength. This is in addition to our previous outstanding Ofsted reports which demonstrate the strength of our provision across all sites and the success of our specialist therapeutic approach

We have a unique & exciting opportunity for an Creative Psychotherapist (Art/Music/Drama/Play) to make a genuine difference in our pupils' lives across in trauma-centred therapeuticsecondary school (KS3-4) in South Woodham, as soon as possible.

We are seeking an experienced specialist to join our team on a full-time basis.Contract type and start date preferences can be discussed at point of initial introduction.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensuring the seamless therapeutic, relationships-first, therapy offer is maintained; collaborating with colleagues in classrooms and offering effective therapy programmes
• Readily providing therapeutic support in class, maintaining visibility and supporting learning
• Liaising with colleagues and external professional
• Being a key point of contact for families in relation to therapy, supporting and collaborating with external professionals as required.
• Ensure that a coherent, consistent internal reporting system is adhered to for all therapies

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT OHS:

• New, highly-competitive pay scales
• An opportunity to be part of a unique, seamless therapeutic team model.
• Vitality's private healthcare package which includes health, medical and dental insurance, lifestyle benefits, heavily-discounted gym membership and various rewards.
• Opportunities for high-quality professional development and career progression, and financial support of up to 100% towards relevant professional qualifications.

We welcome candidates who are available to start as soon as possible!

Information about the School

Our teachers and therapists 'work as one'. We are specialists in education and therapy for pupils who have suffered adverse childhood experiences. Our schools provide an ambitious curriculum, designed to give pupils the knowledge and 'cultural capital' they need to succeed in modern British society. As well as getting the therapy they need, pupils study a range of national curriculum subjects.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Documents

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Lauren Walters
High Street, Great Baddow
Essex, CM2 7HH Telephone: [phone] opt 4
Email: [e-mail]