Qualified Therapeutic Practitioner (Band 5)

Groundwork London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading community organisation in Southwark is looking for two Qualified Therapeutic Practitioners to join their Educational Wellbeing Team. The roles involve delivering therapeutic interventions to young people in schools, supporting teachers, and collaborating with parents to improve mental health and wellbeing. Candidates must have a recognised qualification and experience in delivering therapies. This full-time role offers a competitive salary and benefits, with a focus on creating a positive environment for children. The position is a fixed term contract until March 2027. Please apply by 12th January 2026.

Benefits

BUPA health benefits

Regular CPD opportunities

Wellbeing Days

Qualifications

• Qualified as a Therapeutic Practitioner with experience in mental health interventions.
• Knowledge in CYP-IAPT principles and evidence-based interventions.
• Able to provide 1:1 sessions and group work for young people.

Responsibilities

• Deliver short-term therapeutic sessions to students in schools.
• Support the development of a positive, wellbeing-focused school culture.
• Collaborate with parents, teachers, and the Youth Forum.

Skills

Experience working with children and young people

Delivering one-to-one and group therapies

Understanding barriers to accessing support

Safeguarding training

Knowledge of local community of Southwark

Education

Recognised qualification in therapeutic practice

One year experience in delivering therapies

Job description

Qualified Therapeutic Practitioner (Band 5) x2, Educational Wellbeing Team (EWT)

Location: Schools across the borough of Southwark

Salary: £32,000

Vacancy Type: Fixed term contract until March 2027

Hours: 37 hours per week

Groundwork London is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all members of the community. We are particularly seeking applicants from under-represented backgrounds including but not exclusive to, males, transgender people and those from a Black and/or Asian background.

Groundwork's Educational Wellbeing Team

Join our passionate team which provides a range of vital therapeutic interventions across primary and secondary schools across the diverse borough of Southwark. The Educational Wellbeing Team (EWT) works to improve children, young people and their families' mental health and wellbeing through a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, including working with school Mental Health Leads to support their wellbeing action plans across their school community.

We are currently seeking 2 dedicated practitioners with a recognised qualification, and at least one year's experience in delivering therapies, and we are particularly seeking candidates with one of the following qualifications:

• Children's Wellbeing Practitioner / Educational Mental Health Practitioner
• CBT Therapist
• Integrative or Person-Centred Counsellor
• Art, Music, Dance, Drama or Play Therapists

The practitioners will be responsible for delivering short‑term 1:1 sessions and group work to young people in primary and secondary schools across Southwark. The successful candidate will also be expected to work collaboratively with parents and carers, and provide training to school staff. This role will involve the widening of the EWT offer to suit both the candidates' skills and experience, and the needs of young people who require support with their mental wellbeing.

The practitioner will actively contribute to whole‑school approach activities, supporting the development of a positive, inclusive, responsive wellbeing‑focused school culture. They will provide signposting to appropriate services and resources and offer ongoing consultation to school staff and leadership teams to strengthen early intervention, promote best practice, and ensure cohesive, school‑wide support for pupils.

At Groundwork, we believe young people should have a voice in shaping the services offered to them. To ensure co‑production within the EWT, you'll collaborate with the Youth Forum, ensuring young people's values and interests remain central to our work, enabling us to support positive change in ways that matter most to them.

Groundwork Benefits

• Employees receive BUPA health benefits that allow staff to claim money back for a wide variety of wellbeing services, including dental work and optician's appointments.
• Staff are given the opportunity to participate in regular CPD opportunities to support professional growth. Groundwork's Youth Team also provide whole team Wellbeing Days allowing colleagues to take the day off from their regular workday to socialise and participate in a range of activities to support positive wellbeing and team cohesion.

A Greener London

Groundwork London works with communities across the capital to transform their lives and the places they live. We have been at the forefront of social and environmental regeneration in London for over 25 years, and today we have a simple mission: to create better places, improve people's prospects, and promote greener living and working. We are passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny, and no‑one is held back by their background or circumstance.

Applicants to this post must have successfully completed training as a Therapeutic practitioner and be able to evidence their use of the necessary knowledge and capabilities in CYP‑IAPT principles, evidence‑based interventions and routine outcome measures.

Key Requirements

• Experience of and passion for working with children and young people.
• Experience delivering one‑to‑one and group therapies for young people.
• Knowledge and understanding of the barriers children and families face when accessing support.
• An awareness of working to safeguard children, including relevant training.
• An understanding of the local community of Southwark.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Groundwork London, please do not hesitate to apply.

Closing date for applications: 12th January 2026

Interviews will take place on 19th January 2026