Lead Psychotherapist

Royal College of Psychiatrists; Hertford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's home organization is seeking a Lead Psychotherapist to support the therapeutic culture for children aged 9-17 with complex emotional needs. The role involves delivering psychodynamic therapy, clinical supervision, and promoting reflective practice. Candidates should have relevant professional qualifications and at least 5 years of experience in therapeutic interventions with children and families. This position plays a crucial role in shaping a psychologically informed environment.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years' post-qualification experience delivering therapeutic interventions with children and families.
• Experience with looked-after children in residential care.

Responsibilities

• Deliver one-to-one psychodynamic therapy for children in placement.
• Provide weekly clinical supervision to the in-house Creative Therapist.
• Attend weekly management reflective practice.

Skills

Clinical supervision

Psychodynamic therapy

High-risk behaviour management

Trauma-informed care

Reflective practice facilitation

Education

Professional qualification in Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy

Current registration with a recognised body (UKCP, HCPC, BACP, BPS)

Job description

Overview

The Lead Psychotherapist plays a pivotal role in embedding and maintaining LIFE's therapeutic and psychodynamic framework. This role supports the emotional recovery of children through direct therapeutic input, while also clinically holding the care team by delivering supervision, formulation, and reflective practice. Working closely with the Responsible Individual, Registered Manager, Clinical Supervisor, and Creative Therapist, the Lead Psychotherapist ensures the therapeutic culture remains alive, adaptive, and aligned with both PIE principles and the Enabling Environments framework. This position is central to the psychological safety of both young people and staff, providing essential clinical oversight for high-risk and relationally complex care. The Lead Psychotherapist will also work in a dyad with the Service Manager, ensuring clinical and operational cohesion in decision-making and daily practice.

Responsibilities

• Direct therapeutic work.
• Provide weekly one-to-one psychodynamic therapy for children in placement.
• Produce weekly therapeutic reports for local authorities.
• Contribute to therapeutic treatment planning, risk assessment, and reviews.
• Clinical Oversight & Case Management
• Facilitate monthly psychodynamic case formulations with the staff team.
• Review treatment plans, risk assessments, incident reports, and self-harm logs, providing reflective clinical insight.
• Attend DoLS reviews and relevant statutory/clinical meetings. Deliver workshops to staff to strengthen psychologically informed practice. Supervision & Team Support
• Provide weekly clinical supervision to the in-house Creative Therapist.
• Participate in weekly clinical-operational dyadic meetings with the Service Manager.
• Support reflective practice spaces and provide ad-hoc consultation to staff during high-risk or emotionally charged periods.
• Attend weekly management reflective practice and maintain own clinical supervision.
• Model Development.
• Lead the therapeutic contribution towards Enabling Environments accreditation.
• Support the embedding of PIE and psychodynamic thinking into everyday practice.
• Provide training and psycho-education to staff as needed.
• Contribute to the psychological holding of the team during emotionally intense or crisis periods.
• We are looking for a highly skilled, reflective Child/ Adolescent psychotherapist (or transferable experience/ relatable qualifications) who is confident in both direct clinical work and systemic leadership.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, Counselling Psychology, Child & Family Therapy, or a related clinical discipline.
• Current registration with a recognised body (UKCP, HCPC, BACP, BPS).
• At least 5 years' post-qualification experience delivering therapeutic interventions with children and families.
• Specific experience with:
  • Looked-after children in residential care.
  • Trauma, attachment disruption, and domestic abuse.
  • High-risk behaviours including self-harm and suicidal ideation.
  • Families navigating intergenerational trauma.
  • Experience providing clinical supervision and facilitating reflective practice.
  • Strong grounding in psychodynamic therapy, PIE, and Enabling Environments.
  • Confident in safeguarding and multi-agency working.
  • Commitment to ongoing supervision and CPD.

About LIFE

• At LIFE (Living Interdependent Focused Environment), we provide a psychologically informed children's home for young people aged 9-17 with complex emotional needs. Our practice is grounded in Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) and psychodynamic principles, ensuring every aspect of care is relational, reflective, and therapeutic.
• We are also actively working towards Enabling Environments accreditation with the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Lead Psychotherapist will play a central role in this process, shaping the model, leading reflective spaces, and ensuring our therapeutic culture is recognised for its depth and consistency.