Children’s Creative / Play Therapist
Wilds Lodge School – Rutland
Salary: £20,000 to £22,400 Actual Salary (FTE £25,000 to £28,000)
Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday (term time only)
Permanent and Part Time
Start Date: September 2026

We are excited to offer the opportunity to join our wonderful school and work with our exceptional learners who experience a range of needs including SEMH and ASD.

Job role
We are currently looking to appoint an inspiring and dedicated Play/Creative Therapist to provide therapeutic support to children/young people exhibiting emotional and/or behavioural problems or who are at risk of developing such problems.

The therapy service is available to all learners and is widely used. This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to help nurture and shape the lives of our learners at Wilds Lodge School.

The appointed candidate will hold and manage a caseload of learners for one to one therapy sessions and group counselling/play/creative arts therapy sessions, supporting learners where there are concerns about their emotional wellbeing. You will manage your own case load of approximately 20 hours of clinical work per week, taking referrals from the school SENCo and Multi Disciplinary Team.

Essential Requirements

• An appropriate qualification in Play Therapy such as Drama, Music, Art, Play or Dance therapy
• Experience working with children with a high level of Social, Emotional and Behavioural issues
• HCPC, UKCP or BACP registration.
• Full driving licence.

Benefits

• Free onsite parking
• Free refreshments and meals whilst on duty
• Company events
• Gym membership
• Access to an employee assistance programme
• Group life cover 2 x salary from day 1
• Excellent CPD packages, paid induction training and opportunities for part funding of further training including HLTA, Master Degrees and Teacher Training
• Excellent promotion and career progression
• Sick pay
• 3 days off paid for dependants sickness
• Pension: 3% Employer, 5% Employee
• Enhanced paid family friendly leave
• Working in our beautiful buildings and surrounding grounds
• You will also work within a welcoming and supportive environment with people who believe in working collaboratively, sharing ideas and supporting each other to achieve great things

About Wilds Lodge
Wilds Lodge School is an independent 38 week specialist boarding and day provision for boys and girls (girls are accepted as day learners only) for learners aged between 5 and 19 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, set in Empingham, Rutland. All the learners at the school have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It was established in 2007 and aims to place an equal emphasis on the educational, social and psychological development of our learners. The key to the success of the school is a strong ethos, developed by a highly experienced and capable staff, and the strength of the relationships between the staff and the learners.

We are a friendly school where staff are supportive of each other inside and outside of the classroom. We pride ourselves in ensuring all members of staff including our support staff have access to regular training. All our members of staff attend regular training on child protection; mental health and multi-agency working. All staff access a wide range of training on areas of SEN such as Autism, attachment and ADHD.

Working Hours
• Monday - Thursday
• 8.30am - 4.30pm
• Term time only

Our students are incredibly important to us; if you have the energy and enthusiasm to make a real difference to the lives of our students, we would love to hear from you. Visits to the school are welcome and encouraged.

How to apply:
For more information on how to apply and for a full application pack, please contact Mike Sherwin on the below details:

E: wildslodge@hays.com
T: 07525 889925

Closing date for applications: ASAP and by Wednesday 10th June 2026

Strong applications may be considered upon receipt.

Wilds Lodge School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo Child Protection screening, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS check)