Counselling jobs in Botley

We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent, full-time Therapeutic Practitioner to join an evolving therapeutic team at Southampton City Council (Children’s Services and Learning).

About the team:

This is an opportunity to join a newly established, forward-thinking therapeutic multidisciplinary team within Children’s Services, working to strengthen psychological thinking, neuro-affirmative, trauma-informed, relationship-based and systemic practice. The team will consist of two therapeutic practitioners, a specialist clinical psychologist and two clinicians who are employed by the NHS (sharing their time between SCC Children’s Services and NHS Public Health). You will work alongside professionals, families, children and young people to strengthen the therapeutic understanding and access available across Children’s Services

About the role:

As a Therapeutic Practitioner, you will provide therapeutic support, consultation and where appropriate, short-term, targeted intervention for children, young people, families and carers receiving support from Southampton Children’s Services. You will play a key role in supporting the development of our therapeutic offer for children, young people, families and their wider networks; and work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to help improve outcomes for children with the aim of strengthening therapeutic practice across the wider workforce.

You will:

• Provide consultation and contribute to psychological and systemic formulations, helping professionals to understand the experiences and needs of our children, young people and families.
• Undertake therapeutic assessments and deliver formulation-led interventions to support emotional wellbeing, attachment, trauma recovery, stability and resilience where appropriate.
• Work alongside social workers and other professionals to develop therapeutic support that contributes to wider plans for children and families.
• Contribute to training, workshops, reflective discussions and group supervision to develop trauma-informed, systemic and strengths-based practice across Children’s Services.
• Work collaboratively with health, education, community and other partner services, whilst contributing to service evaluation and the development of our therapeutic offer.

For further information about this role please view the job description.

About you:

We welcome applicants from a range of relevant professional backgrounds who can demonstrate appropriate therapeutic knowledge, skills and experience.

You will have:

• A degree-level qualification in a relevant field or profession (e.g., social work, psychology, family therapy / systemic practice, counselling).
• Experience of working directly with vulnerable children, young people and families, using therapeutic, systemic, relational or trauma-informed approaches.
• Experience working within a statutory or non-statutory local authority setting.
• Knowledge of child development, attachment, trauma and resilience, with experience of assessment, formulation and contributing to intervention planning.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to facilitate difficult conversations sensitively and work collaboratively with children, families and professionals.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with strong analytical, reflexive and professional practice skills.
• The ability to recognise systemic inequalities and demonstrate a commitment to anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed and neuro-affirmative practice.

If you feel you have the necessary background, experience, and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.

What we can offer you:

The salary band for this role is Grade 9 (£43,150 - £47,664). The starting salary is £43,150 with annual progression through the salary bands.

As part of our new therapeutic team, you will have opportunities to develop your therapeutic practice and contribute to shaping a brand-new therapeutic service. Alongside Southampton City Council’s wider employee benefits listed further in this section, our therapeutic practitioners will also access:

• Regular clinical supervision and reflective practice.
• Opportunities for continuing professional development and therapeutic training.
• Opportunities to develop skills in trauma-informed, relationship-based and systemic practice.
• Experience in therapeutic assessment, formulation, consultation and direct intervention.
• Opportunities to contribute to training, group work, workforce and community development.
• The opportunity to help shape and evaluate a new multidisciplinary therapeutic service.

Southampton City Council offers employees a range of different benefits, such as:

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Generous holiday 25-31 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)

Contact details for informal discussion:

For further information and details regarding the role, please contact:

Dr Alexandra (Lex) Bray, Specialist Clinical Psychologist & Therapeutic Service Lead

Email: alexandra.bray@southampton.gov.uk

Interview Information:

Please note that interviews for this post are provisionally scheduled for 11th and 12th November 2026.

Recruitment contact details:

Email: recruitment@southampton.gov.uk
Tel: 023 8083 4033

For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council
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