Self Employed Therapist

Polaris; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading therapeutic fostering agency in the UK is seeking therapists on a self-employed basis to provide psychotherapy to children and young people. Opportunities range from placement for trainees to newly qualified psychotherapists, offering competitive pay and in-house group supervision. This role allows therapists to build long-term relationships, attend professional development sessions, and benefit from a supportive multidisciplinary team.

Benefits

In-house supervision

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Postgraduate psychotherapy placement trainees (50-100hrs) required.
• Newly qualified psychotherapists needed with UKCP or BACP accreditation.
• Experience with children and young people in therapeutic settings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct therapy sessions with children and young people.
• Attend case management and consultation meetings.
• Participate in administrative tasks related to therapy.

Skills

Therapeutic approach

Trauma-informed practice

Collaboration with foster parents

Education

Postgraduate training in psychotherapy

Job description

Location: Centres in Kent, Hampshire, Sussex (Battle, Burgess Hill, South London, Enfield), Chesham, Milton Keynes, Bromsgrove, and Wisbech
Contract Type: Self-employed
Salary:

• Trainee (0-100hrs): Placement opportunity (insurance and in-house group supervision provided)

• 100-450hrs (working towards accreditation): £25 per hour (includes in-house group supervision)

• 450hrs+ with UKCP or BACP accreditation: £55 per hour

About Us

Set up in 1987 by a small but passionate group of foster parents, we became the UK's first independent foster care agency. That gives us the benefit of over 30 years' of fostering experience and we're still going strong!

The founder members recognised that looked after children - especially those who'd had very difficult starts in life - needed specialist support. So right from the beginning they put the child at the centre of their thinking and surrounded them with an integrated range of support services. In fact, that's what ISP means: Integrated Service Programme.

Over time, this circle of support has increased to include a whole range of professionals that children and foster parents can tap into, whenever they need to. This includes social workers, fostering advisors, teachers and therapists, who all work with our foster parents and the children they look after, helping them understand and manage even the most challenging situations. This is what's known as a 'therapeutic approach' to fostering and it's something that we pioneered.

We are excited to be looking for new therapists to join our wonderful team on a self-employed- contract per case basis - delivering psychotherapy sessions to our children and young people across our centres in across our Kent, Hampshire, Sussex - Battle, Burgess Hill, South London, Enfield, and Chesham, Milton Keynes, Bromsgrove, Chesham, Wisbeach.

Cases allocated comprise of up to 8hrs a month per case during term time, to include weekly therapy sessions with child or young person referred, a monthly consultation with the carer, participation in case management and group supervision, and other meetings and administrative matters as required.

There will also be opportunities to contribute to training and service development projects.

We are a pluralistic trauma-informed service, aiming to offer therapies and therapeutic interventions that are as diverse and individual as our children, young people are carers are.

What We Offer

This is a rare opportunity to practise therapy in a setting where depth, continuity and collaboration are genuinely valued. Unlike much of the sector, we offer work that extends well beyond brief 6-8 session models - allowing you to build meaningful therapeutic relationships over time.

You won't be expected to provide your own space or materials - all therapy rooms and resources are provided on site.

You'll be part of the UK's longest-established therapeutic fostering agency, joining a well-established, supportive and skilled multidisciplinary team.

Our model is rooted in relational practice and therapeutic diversity - we welcome a range of modalities and perspectives.

You'll have the chance to work closely with therapeutically trained foster parents, contribute to training and development, and take part in case discussions that value the therapist's voice.

We provide access to specialists with experienced professionals in areas such as trauma, neurodiversity and safeguarding. These opportunities are designed to deepen your clinical thinking and support your work with complex presentations.

We also recognise your need for self and professional development - so we prioritise connection and community. There will be regular opportunities for peer supervision, online quarterly CPD sessions offered by and for our therapist group, and informal social gatherings to help us stay connected, reflective and well supported.

You'll also be invited to attend The Therapeutic Pathway Training - Assured by City & Guilds, our industry-leading training providing foster parents and ISP staff with the key skills and knowledge they need to provide extraordinary therapeutic foster care. These sessions are part of our commitment to being a reflective and learning-oriented organisation.

Recognising the hidden labour that often comes with freelance therapeutic work, we offer paid time to cover key administrative responsibilities - including report writing, clinical notes and necessary documentation.

We currently have vacancies for

• Postgraduate psychotherapy placement trainees (50-100hrs)
• Newly qualified psychotherapists (working towards accreditation and towards 450hrs)

There are also opportunities for those trainees studying for a MA/MSc in psychotherapy by research to conduct their studies alongside clinical work.

Different rates of pay apply depending on existing supervised clinical hours and accreditation status.

• 0-100hrs - placements for trainees in the second year of postgraduate training - insurance and in house group supervision will be provided
• 100-450hrs - accreditation pathway - £25ph & in house group supervision will be provided
• 450hrs+accreditation with UKCP or BACP - £55ph

Successful candidates will:

• Be responsible for carrying out core therapy activities with children and young people, and run one to one therapy both brief and long-term, contributing to assessments, foster care consultations and attend network meetings as required.
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