Invitation to Tender: Children’s Play Therapy Provision

Bray Children’s Wellbeing Hub invites applications from interested parties for the provision of a Play Therapy Service to children and families in our services.

About us:

This is a collaborative initiative between three community-based projects, the Bray Family Resource and Development Project, The Marian Centre and Bray Traveller Community Development Group.

The Wellbeing Hub will target vulnerable, at risk, and disadvantaged children and families and aims to provide responsive, prevention-focused and client-lead support that will develop a framework for addressing Mental Health service gaps within the community. By being located at community level, and embedded in community structures, the project aims to reach those children and families that otherwise do not engage with or come to the attention of mainstream supports with the ultimate aim of enabling children to achieve their full potential.

Details of the service:

The Bray Children’s Wellbeing Hub is seeking a qualified and experienced Play Therapist to join a pioneering project designed to support vulnerable children under 12 and their families. The play therapy element will involve planning, implementing, delivering and evaluating weekly play therapy interventions on a 1:1/ group basis with children ranging in ages from 4 – 12 years, who are referred into the service through an agreed framework.

Key Responsibilities:

Play Therapy Delivery:

• To provide early intervention, community based individual and where suitable group play therapy sessions to children referred to the service.
• Carry our initial assessment to ensure suitability to the service.
• Assess the needs of the children and develop tailored therapeutic plans.
• To utilise a variety of play therapy techniques to address emotional, psychological, and behavioural issues.

Case Management:

• To work in partnership with the Family Engagement worker, Senior Childcare staff and the Steering Group to ensure efficient and timely delivery of play therapy service.
• To maintain accurate and confidential records of all therapy sessions and client interactions.
• To develop and implement treatment plans based on initial assessments and ongoing evaluations.
• To monitor and evaluate the progress of each child, adjusting therapeutic approaches as needed.

Collaboration:

• To work closely with families, caregivers, and other professionals to support the child’s therapeutic goals
• To work collaboratively with the Family Engagement Worker, other key staff and external agencies to ensure timely referrals to other suitable supports, as needed, for children.
• To provide guidance and support to parents and caregivers to help them understand and engage with the therapeutic process.

Teamwork and partnership

• Contribute to the values, ethos and vision of the Children’s Wellbeing Hub by participating in events, collaborating with colleagues across the collaborative partners programmes and services and sharing your skills, knowledge and experience in enriching the initiative.

Professional Development:

• To stay current with developments in play therapy and related fields through continuous professional development.
• To attend regular supervision sessions and team meetings to discuss cases and receive feedback.
• Participate in regular clinical supervision
• Maintain full accreditation with a recognised counselling/psychotherapy association body which is governed by a recognised code of ethics and disciplinary process

Reporting and Evaluation:

• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of programmes and initiatives.
• To take an active role in the external evaluation of the initiative
• To record data required to prepare regular reports for internal CRM systems and external stakeholders, highlighting progress and impact
• To work in direct partnership with each child’s family via regular review sessions
• To document assessments and interventions in line with professional guidelines

Essential Requirements:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate both the relevance of their skills and experience. They will demonstrate a genuine commitment to the ethos and vision of the Children’s Wellbeing hub ethos and vision. The successful candidate will ideally have the following skills and attributes.

Qualifications

Essential:

• A recognised qualification in Play Therapy NQF Level 9 or qualified therapist with specialism in play therapy (e.g., postgraduate diploma or master's degree in psychotherapy, counselling etc.).
• Registration with an appropriate professional body (e.g., IAPTP, PTIRL).
• Minimum of 1 years of experience working as a Play Therapist, preferably with children at various levels of need.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience in maintaining client confidentiality and managing sensitive information
• Experience working with children and families who have experienced trauma, disadvantage and poverty

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience delivering dyadic child and family therapy (eg; Theraplay or Filial Therapy)
• Experience carrying out dyadic assessments (eg: Marschak Interaction Method, SDQ’s etc)

Terms and Conditions:

The successful contractor will be initially contracted on a 6-month basis for services performing 15-20 hours weekly of contact and non-contact hours and will be subject to review on an on-going basis.
The successful contractor will be expected to participate in monitoring and reviewing the play therapy programme in accordance with the required service outlined above and provision for this will be included in the Contract.
The service will be based in Ard Chulann, Bray, working within a dynamic and supportive environment that values the well-being and development of both the children and their families
The role requires flexibility in the delivery of the service between Monday to Friday.
Evening work may be required to accommodate the needs of the children and their families.
Reference checks, Garda Vetting and police clearance is required for this role if successful in recruiting

How to apply:

Interested applicants should send their CV and Cover Letter by email to braycwh@gmail.com

The closing date for applications is 1st November 2024.
Interviews will be held the week of 11th November 2024.

All queries relating to the tender can be directed to the email address above.