Psychotherapist

Compass Community; Rustington; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Community is seeking a psychotherapist to support children and young people who have experienced trauma. You will deliver bespoke therapy using AHCT, work systemically with carers and professionals, and contribute to a collaborative, inclusion‑driven healing process.

You will join a therapeutic team focused on safety, belonging and trust, with regular supervision and CPD to maintain high practice standards across Compass Community.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree and professional qualification required.
• Minimum 3 years post‑qualification experience with children in care.
• Excellent understanding of complex trauma and attachment.
• Sound knowledge of childcare legislation and safeguarding frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Deliver individual therapy and bespoke interventions for a caseload of around 16 children and young people.
• Build attuned therapeutic relationships to support attachment and emotional regulation.
• Produce clear therapeutic reports (initial 12‑week assessment and 6 monthly reviews).
• Work with foster carers, residential staff, education teams, families and professionals as part of a multi‑agency Team Around the Child.
• Attend and contribute to MDT and TAC meetings.
• Facilitate Reflective Practice groups for residential and education staff.
• Support staff training aligned with your specialisms and contribute to GRACE Inclusion ethos.
• Maintain safeguarding and professional standards, ensure registration with relevant body.

Skills

Therapy with children in care

Attachment theory

Complex trauma understanding

CPD / reflective practice

Education

Relevant degree

Professional qualification

Job description

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child?

Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach. Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fix what needs fixing, together.

This is the work. And we’d like you to be part of it.

Are you a Life changer? Do you believe in the power of relationships to heal and transform the life of a child?

At Compass Community, children come first - always. Our work is shaped by Integrity, Courage and Care, and driven by a shared belief that relationships heal and systems matter. We listen deeply, challenge thoughtfully and work together to fix what needs fixing.

This role is for therapists who want more than a caseload; it is for those seeking meaningful and emotionally intelligent work and who understand the significance of working as a team.

Why this role matters

As a Compass Psychotherapist, you will help change life trajectories for children and young people who have experienced trauma, loss and disruption. Using our Assessing and Healing Complex Trauma (AHCT) approach, you will deliver bespoke needs‑led therapy as every child’s healing journey is different.

In recognition that the invisible and visible effects of trauma manifest in differing ways, therapy is creative, responsive and inclusive where needed. Working collaboratively with the adults who care for our children is a vital and dynamic part of the healing process.

This is a relational role at heart - working not only with children, but with the system around them to create safety, security, belonging and trust.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Deliver individual therapy, assessments and bespoke interventions for a caseload of around 16 children and young people.
• Build strong, attuned therapeutic relationships that support attachment, emotional regulation and recovery from trauma.
• Produce clear, insightful therapeutic reports (initial 12-week assessment and 6 monthly reviews).
• Work collaboratively with foster carers, residential staff, education teams, families and professionals as part of a Team Around the Child.
• Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary and TAC meetings.
• Facilitate Reflective Practice / Reflective Process Groups for residential and education staff.
• Offer up to three individual support sessions to foster carers during periods of stress (e.g. allegations, bereavement, placement instability).
• Contribute to staff and carer training aligned with your specialisms.
• Champion and actively contribute to our GRACE Inclusion ethos.

Being part of the wider Therapeutic Team

• Support the collaborative working with Independent Therapists.
• Contribute to Practice & Process meetings, including safeguarding, communication and case discussion.
• Support quality assurance of therapist reports and assessments.
• Share knowledge and curiosity - helping embed therapeutic and inclusion-led thinking across Compass.
• Actively participate in at least one GRACE group.
• Guide and encourage the professional development of colleagues with sensitivity and respect.

How We Work Therapeutically

• Therapy is bespoke, creative, and child-led, informed by AHCT, attachment theory and complex trauma.
• Interventions may include verbal therapy, play, art, sensory and relational approaches.
• We work systemically - adapting the therapy space where needed to support safety, trust and engagement.
• Sessions are weekly (45-50 minutes plus recording), with concise, meaningful case notes uploaded promptly.

Safeguarding & professionalism

• Safeguarding children is paramount and underpins everything we do.
• Concerns must be shared promptly and appropriately in line with Compass and Local Authority procedures.
• You will receive regular clinical and operational supervision and are expected to remain reflective and engaged in CPD.
• You must maintain registration with your relevant professional body.

Essential

• Relevant degree and professional qualification.
• Registration with an appropriate professional body.
• Minimum 3 years post‑qualification experience, with strong experience of children in care.
• Excellent understanding of complex trauma and attachment.
• Sound knowledge of childcare legislation and safeguarding frameworks.
• A warm, reflective, resilient approach and confidence working systemically.

Desirable

• Experience contributing to services striving for Good/Outstanding Ofsted.
• Experience delivering reflective practice, training or supervision.

This job description is not exhaustive and may evolve in line with service needs. Flexibility and travel across Compass Community sites are required.