Play Practitioner

Job Title:Play PractitionerLocation:UK-Norfolk-QuidenhamOverview:Play PractitionerLocation:Quidenham, Norwich, NR16 2NZActual Annual Salary for Term Time role: £24,103.92 - £27,748.99 (£13.49 - £15.53 per hour) Dependant on experience and qualificationsHours:40 hours per week, Term time only These SchoolsWe're seeking to recruit a dedicated Play Practitioner to join our multidisciplinary team in a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school. In this role, you'll use play-based approaches to support children with additional needs enhancing their learning, social development, and emotional well-being. Working collaboratively with teachers, therapists, and support staff, you'll help create an inclusive environment where children can develop through both structured and free play activities. You'll play a key role in implementing targeted interventions under the direction of our Play Therapist, supporting individual students, small groups, and classes as needed. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to children's development while working within a supportive, multidisciplinary team. You'll help create positive learning experiences that build on each child's strengths and interests.Part of the Group, these Schools in Quidenham, Norwich provides day placements for students aged 6 to 16 years primarily with communication and interaction difficulties or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Some may be on the autistic spectrum or have anxieties and difficulties that create barriers to learning.With small classes, typically 7 children and a minimum of 3 staff per class you can focus on the needs of each student. There is a full clinical team onsite to support at all times and you will have the support of an experienced and stable SLT.If you're passionate about supporting children with additional needs through play-based learning, we'd welcome your application.Key Accountabilities:Caseload Management & Service DeliveryWork under supervision of the Play Therapist to manage an assigned caseload of students within these SchoolsCollaborate with Play Therapist(s), Therapy Leads, Clinical Lead and Senior Leadership Team to ensure efficient workload management and effective service deliveryLiaise with Therapy Assistants, Therapists and Emotional Literacy Practitioners (ELSAs) to ensure appropriate caseload management and skills sharingPrioritise caseload under direction of Play Therapist to ensure equitable service deliveryAssessment & InterventionSupport the Play Therapist with student assessments and interventions as directedProvide direct and indirect play therapy interventions for individuals and groupsPlan and facilitate engaging play sessions that support learning, social interaction, and sensory needsAdapt play activities to suit children with diverse needs, including Autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech language and communication needs, and sensory needsMeasure intervention outcomes against EHCP and Annual Review targetsRecord progress and outcomes using school systems (e.g. Earwig)Maintain detailed records in line with professional codes of conduct and our policiesObserve and document children's progress, sharing insights with staff and familiesPlease note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the schools when required. Please see the link below for our full job description:Responsibilities:Qualifications - EssentialCertificate or diploma in play therapy/therapeutic play e.g. Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills; PTUK / BAPT Practitioner of Play Skills Qualification or similar. Equivalent to a Level 5 qualification. Evidence of supervision received from approved and accredited Play TherapistACCPH membership for therapeutic play coaching - DesirableKnowledge - EssentialEvidence of Continuing Professional DevelopmentUnderstanding of attachment theory and trauma-informed practiceKnowledge of SEN and working within SEN education settingsKnowledge of Autism Spectrum Conditions, ADHD, and SEMH difficultiesCommitment to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk and to upholding safe working practices, working in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of allUnderstanding of play-based learning and child development.Experience - EssentialExperience of working as a play practitioner or similarExperience of exercising clinical responsibility for clients emotional care and treatment including maintaining confidentialityExperience of multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency workingExperience working with children with SEN in an educational, therapeutic, or childcare setting.Skills - EssentialAbility to build constructive relationships with warmth, empathy, patience and tact using good communication skillsFluent in written and spoken English with the ability to communicate complex information in a clear manner to a range of audiences including students, parents, and professionalsAbility to keep legible and accurate notes in line with professional record keeping requirements under the direction and supervision of the Play Therapist and in line with local policy and proceduresGood time management and organisation skills.Ability to implement integrated intervention plans, based on identified needs and outcomes under the direction and supervision of the Play TherapistGood IT skills for administration, presentations, recording and reporting systemsAbility to support the Play Therapist, or other members from the MDT team, in training staffCommitment to always treating service users with respect and dignity, adopting a culturally sensitive approach which considers the needs of the whole personAbility to identify difficulties in practice and to seek and use supervision constructivelyDue to the rural location of the school, candidates are strongly advised to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.Qualifications:Be part of our successful team and also benefit from a generous package that includes:Life assuranceEnhanced pension schemeFree lunch when workingPerkbox - offering high street discountsEmployee assistance programmeCar lease scheme and Bike to work schemeFully funded training and qualificationsFree membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.Family SwimSuccessful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.The Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled.Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.Please contact Mathure on 0203 924 9870 if you have any further queries.JBRP1_UKTJ

Created: 2025-09-04