School Therapist

Join us on an exciting journey: School Therapist – Ambition Community Trust

This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to a pioneering and transformative initiative.

Ambition Community Trust is a newly established, forward-thinking multi-academy trust dedicated to embedding a truly therapeutic and relational approach across all our schools. As a Therapist within our Trust, you will play a central role in shaping and delivering a trust-wide therapeutic offer, helping to foster a nurturing, inclusive environment for pupils, staff, and families.

You will be part of a growing multi-disciplinary Therapeutic Team working across nine schools, supporting the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of children and young people from both primary and secondary settings. Your work will involve providing direct therapeutic support, creating safe and confidential spaces for pupils to explore their experiences, and collaborating closely with educators, families, and external professionals to promote holistic development.

This role goes beyond traditional therapy — it’s an opportunity to help build a new kind of school culture rooted in trauma-informed practice, emotional safety, and relational inclusion. You will contribute to the Trust’s professional development programme, supporting staff to embed therapeutic principles into everyday school life and helping to create environments where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.

If you are an experienced therapist with a passion for working in educational settings and a commitment to the well-being and potential of every young person, this is a unique and career-defining opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Location: This role forms part of the Ambition Community Trust Central Therapeutic Team. Therefore, the successful candidate will work across Ambition Community Trust schools and may be based at various school sites as required.

The advertised salary is pro rata for a full-time (5-day) equivalent and will be adjusted according to the agreed working pattern; other part-time working arrangements will also be considered.

Qualifications and Experience:

Essential:

•  Recognised post graduate qualification in Therapy, Masters level or equivalent.

•  Registration / Accreditation with a governing body

•  To meet standards laid down by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and other professional bodies.

•  Experience with Children: Proven experience working with children in a school or educational setting.

•  Knowledge of Child Development: Strong understanding of child development, mental health issues, and the emotional needs of children in a school environment.

• Safeguarding: Familiarity with safeguarding policies and practices in educational settings, with up-to-date safeguarding training.

• DBS Check: Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check required.

Desirable:

•   Clinical Supervision Qualification

•   Experience in Schools: Prior experience working in a primary or secondary school as a school therapist

•   Experience with Special Educational Needs (SEN): Experience supporting children with SEN, including autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

•   Crisis Management: Experience in dealing with crisis situations, such as self-harm, suicide ideation, bullying, or bereavement.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Clinical

1. To take sole clinical responsibility and accountability in delivering therapy to CYP, capturing key information and reporting to a therapeutic team.
2. To take referrals of CYP and manage a referrals system.
3. To manage the process of gaining written, informed consent for assessment and clinical intervention.
4. To carry out appropriate classroom observations and consult with class teams, parents, carers and other professionals as appropriate prior to assessment.
5. To prepare and carry out assessment sessions, including an assessment of risk, and to write a report and recommendations on the basis of the assessment.
6. To plan, implement, monitor and evaluate regular, weekly individual and group therapy treatment for CYP where this need has been identified.
7. To train, supervise and provide guidance to teaching staff as a group or 121.
8. To work in collaboration with the therapeutic team across the Trust, where appropriate, to deliver joint sessions.
9. To attend, as appropriate, and contribute to class and staff meetings, and parents’ evenings.
10. To provide written clinical reports for Annual and Statutory Reviews for each individual receiving therapy and where appropriate attend Annual Review meetings.
11. To maintain accurate, legible and up to date records of all clinical sessions.
12. To provide training to staff, families and carers as appropriate, including INSET days.
13. To liaise with parents and provide appropriate support and advice.

Professional

1. To ensure the welfare of the children and young people in therapy at all times, and to maintain good standards of client care and personal professionalism to provide an effective therapeutic environment.
2. To liaise and communicate on a regular and formal basis with class teachers, the therapeutic team and other professionals and promote good practice with regards to the emotional well-being of the students.
3. To liaise closely with the head teacher on the role of the therapist within the school and advise on how the role can be developed to optimum effect.
4. To meet standards as laid down by professional body you are registered with.
5. In common with all clinical therapists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional codes of practice. 
6. To keep up to date with current trends and latest information in therapy, government policy and local and national guidelines.
7. In consultation with school to periodically review service provision and make recommendations for allocation and development of the service across the Trust.
8. To attend regular Team Meetings and consultations with other members of the Therapeutic team.

 Administrative

1. To manage an appointments system/timetable.
2. To manage a budget appropriately.
3. To maintain equipment, ensuring hygienic cleansing and storage, and to order equipment essential to sessions.
4. To maintain up to date notes and ensure these are stored in a confidential manner.
5. To provide written documentation as required relating to the therapy service, this may include protocols, policies, guidelines and general information leaflets (this list is not exhaustive).
6. To provide additional reports when required and appropriate for other professionals such as doctors, solicitors etc.

Quality Assurance

1. To monitor and evaluate your own performance.
2. To effectively implement appropriate quality control systems.
3. To monitor the work of teachers and ensure evaluative reports are produced in line with the schools evaluation policy.

Ambition Community Trust

Our vision is rooted in the power of relational inclusion. We believe that schools thrive when every child, every colleague, and every family feels seen, valued, and supported. Prioritising relationships is at the heart of everything we do; we aim