Therapy and Well-Being Manager

The Therapy and Well-Being Manager will be able to draw upon their knowledge, skills, and experience of working with children who present challenging behaviour and who have significant and complex social, emotional, and learning needs often stemming from adverse childhood experiences.

They will have a good understanding of, and be able to support staff to use, effective psychological tools to help young people to prepare for difficulties, regulate their emotions and de-escalate potential situations and to repair relationships after incidents/ruptures. They will also be able to offer confidential supervision to staff as required and recommend further support that might be needed.

The purpose of the role is to work collaboratively with colleagues within Anchor Care and Education and in the placing authorities to maximise progress and personal development for each young person and support the well-being of staff.

The Therapy and Well-Being Manager may on occasion work therapeutically (though not as their personal therapist) one to one with a young person or a member of the staff team or may support a small group, depending on need. 

As the Therapy and Well-Being Manager you are expected to:

1. Take the lead on setting therapeutic goals and determining the type and level of therapeutic input needed for Individuals to support their ACPPs. Work with home managers to develop ACPPs and keep them under review.
2. Identify suitable therapists to work with young people and keep the provision under regular review. Prepare young people for therapy and monitor their engagement and views.
3. Work with the home managers to support young people through transition programmes so that when young people are accepted into Anchor Care and Education, therapy is identified and in place from the start of placement.
4. Monitor incident reports, weekly therapeutic reports and any other documentation that informs us about the young people's mental well-being and identify trends and patterns in behaviours.
5. Debrief staff and young people after any incidents, identify any concerns and make recommendations for any changes in practice that are necessary/desirable.
6. Make a monthly report to each of the Home Managers and RI critically evaluating what is happening within the homes and identifying opportunities for improvement. This should be sent to each home manager and the Head of Care and Responsible Individual and the last working day of each month.
7. Produce reports for home managers for placing authorities and LAC reviews as required.
8. Support the staff team to deliver therapeutic care through clinical supervision, training and incident debriefs.
9. Plan, lead and deliver whole-staff and individual  therapeutic training and coaching as required including induction for new staff.
10. Provide regular and ad hoc therapeutic supervision to staff , making recommendations for further action/support where necessary, and monitoring outcomes.

Safeguarding

You must ensure that:

• safeguarding underpins every aspect of your practice, and that the safety of each young person is paramount
• you immediately report any practice that may put a young person at risk to your line manager
• good safeguarding procedures and principles are always in place and applied consistently
• you understand and implement the Company’s child protection and safeguarding procedures
• you keep up to date with safeguarding training
• be DSL trained 

Professional Practice 

You must:

• provide a positive role model for the young people
• present yourself in a highly professional manner at all times and have regard for the Company’s Code of Conduct
• take part in training and take responsibility for your own personal development
• be well informed and have up-to date knowledge regarding the support needs of the young people in your care.
• ensure that you maintain high levels of confidentiality in terms of sharing information about the young people
• participate actively in team meetings, supervisions, and annual appraisals in accordance with Company policy and the standards set by the Regulatory Body, Ofsted
• undertake any other such duties as required by the Head of Care/Responsible Individual commensurate with the grade of the post. 

Clarity on Boundaries and Confidentiality

The Therapy and Well-Being Manager plays a key role in supporting staff and young people, but it is important to be clear about the limits of this role:

• The post holder is not acting as a personal therapist for staff and must make this clear in all interactions.
• Although therapeutic supervision may feel personal, the same rules of confidentiality that apply in clinical therapy do not apply here.
• Any information shared during supervision or well-being discussions may be passed on to relevant managers or leadership.

This is to ensure transparency and promote a safe, ethical, and accountable working environment.

• Outstanding communication skills.
• Strong ability to work constructively and collaboratively at all times as part of a unified team.
• Strong ability to work successfully with children with extremely challenging behaviour.
• Reflective & eager to progress professionally.
• Attention to detail, including in terms of presentation, punctuality and supporting the maintenance of an attractive environment for therapeutic provision.

• Outstanding knowledge and understanding of therapy (in own specialised field) as well as wider therapies and their applications. 
• Understanding of mental health in children, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma and the impact of abuse and mental health difficulties on child development, attachment, and behaviour. 

• Fully qualified therapist in own specialised field & associated registration with appropriate body (i.e. BACP).
• At least 5 years’ experience of delivering one to one counselling and experience of working with children & young people in challenging contexts.
• A range of experience in own specialised therapeutic field.
• High level of competence in English and mathematics.
• Full Driving licence and car.

• 4 days per week, with the expectation that the job holder will maintain their own clinical practice outside the role.
• The role will be based in the homes and the job holder will be expected to work across all sites
• Job holder will report to the RI with dotted line to Managing Director for clinical guidance.
• Job holder will be expected to have at least monthly supervision with an approved supervisor, which the company will pay for.
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends to meet the needs of our young people and staff.