Job Description

Family Action is seeking one play therapist to work with domestic violence survivors in North Somerset, using trauma-informed approaches working within a time-limited model to children and young persons affected by domestic violence.

The Play Therapist will provide developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed play and creative therapy to children from birth, children and young people, and young adults up to 25 with additional needs, who have been affected by domestic abuse. Working within a commissioned, time-limited model, the post holder will deliver individual and group interventions, undertake assessments, contribute to multi-agency working and support positive outcomes for children and families.

Qualified candidates must have an accredited MSc/MA in play therapy. They will be a member of BAPT or PTUK. Experience in domestic abuse, trauma-informed practice, and working with diverse communities is essential.

Family Action & the Role's Impact

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It's what we've done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities. We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

Family Action delivers a wide range of projects for victims/survivors of domestic abuse. This is an exciting opportunity to join the new Adult and Children counselling team specialising in counselling survivors of domestic abuse, with a trauma-informed approach. The contract is based in North Somerset working with all people within the community.

Main responsibilities

The Play Therapist will deliver trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate play and creative therapy to children from birth, children and young people, and young adults up to 25 with additional needs, referred by partner agencies for those impacted by domestic abuse. The role focuses on early intervention, attachment, emotional wellbeing, recovery and resilience, working closely with parents/carers and multi-agency professionals.

We are seeking candidates who are passionate about addressing violence against girls and women and are committed to intersectional work. Our play therapists should excel in managing clinical risks, conducting assessments, and handling confidential information with sensitivity.There will be 3 hours per month of paid clinical supervision plus line management supervision with the Clinical Service Manager.

Main Requirements

(for details check the job description and person specification on our careers website):

You will be a qualified and registered Play Therapist with experience of working with infants, children and young people, including those with additional or complex needs. You will be confident working with families affected by domestic abuse, able to build safe therapeutic relationships, manage clinical risk and contribute positively to a trauma-informed service. You will be client-centred, reflective in practice and committed to equality of access, dignity and inclusion for all service users. You will be an accredited by BAPT or PTUK. You will bring experience of managing complex interventions and service models focused on trauma and promoting resilience. The post holder should be committed to continued professional development and have an exceptional knowledge of underpinning theories of practice models and interventions and their application. You will have a strong track record in quality, performance, and safeguarding. With a client-facing approach, you will be passionate about engaging our service users in all aspects of our work including co-production. This role will be office-based in North Somerset with travel across the area and potentially include one evening and weekend shift per week. Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service - Enhanced with Children's Barred List DBS Check

What will we offer you?

We'll offer you a generous pension scheme and leave entitlements, eye care vouchers, a cycle to work scheme and other great benefits. All roles in Family Action are open to a discussion about possible flexible working options, subject to business needs, and all new starters will have the right to make a flexible working request from day one of employment. We have an excellent wellbeing offer and we will invest in your professional development with on-going quality training and career development opportunities. You will join teams of established, supportive and high-performing services and have the opportunity to thrive in an innovative organisation that values your opinion, encourages learning and has the needs of children and families at its core.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQIA+ candidates and candidates with disabilities because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants.

Benefits:

- A pro-rated annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time).
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers
- cycle to work scheme
- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:

o We are only able to accept digital applications via our careers site on Family Actions Website. Please see link here- https://careers.family-action.org.uk/FamilyAction/JobDescription/TgnFWul8cFg

Click the 'Apply' link once registered and fill out our digital application form

o Closing Date: Friday 13th February at 11.59pm

Interviews are scheduled to take place from w/c 23rd February 2026, via teams, with slots throughout the working day available.
For any queries, or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or the potential for flexible working, please email: lisa.platts@family-action.org.uk

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates. We are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action because we know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.
To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 28,884.00-31,698.00 per year

Work Location: In person