Child psychotherapist : Employers and vacancy sources

The majority of child and adolescent psychotherapists work for the National Health Service (see NHS Careers ) in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) , community-based clinics (like the child and family consultation service), or in hospitals.

Other work environments both within and outside the NHS include:

• specialist and residential units;
• pre-school, primary and secondary schools;
• student health services;
• looked after children teams within social services;
• youth justice services;
• voluntary sector - working with charities such as Kids Company , The Place2Be , the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)  and Open Door .

Many therapists are employed by more than one type of organisation, for example the NHS, private clinics and voluntary organisations.

A small percentage of therapists are self-employed and work wholly in private practice. Those who do must follow strict guidelines, organise their own insurance, provide practice premises, pay their own income tax and arrange clinical supervision.

A small number also work in training institutions or in universities as lecturers and clinical tutors.

Sources of vacancies

Search graduate jobs on this site.

• The Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP)  Bulletin - internal monthly bulletin of the ACP, includes vacancies for NHS and other child and adolescent psychotherapy jobs
• NHS Jobs  
• NHS Scotland Recruitment  
• individual NHS trust websites and vacancy bulletins (sometimes sent to public libraries), or see NHS Authorities and Trusts  for individual trusts’ contact details
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)  - advertises a range of psychotherapy jobs, including child and adolescent psychotherapy
• Guardian Jobs  

Recruitment agencies do not handle vacancies.

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