Play Therapy & Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Manager (Practising Role)

Play Therapy & Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Manager (Practising Role)

Job Title: Play Therapy & Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Manager (Practising Role)Reports To: CEODirect Reports: Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Team (currently 1 Play Therapist)

Locations: This role is open to applicants who can practise from any of our following Child Development Centres:

• Clonakilty, West Cork
• Clones, Co. Monaghan

Hybrid working options are available, including flexibility to work from home where appropriate.

Role Type: PermanentHours: Applications are welcome from candidates seeking either full-time or part-time opportunities.

About Sensational Kids

Sensational Kids is an award-winning social enterprise and registered charity dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families by making high-quality therapeutic services accessible to those who need them most.

As Ireland’s leading national non-profit provider of children’s therapeutic services, Sensational Kids operates Child Development Centres in Kildare, Mayo, Monaghan and West Cork, providing a range of specialist supports for children and young people with neurodevelopmental and additional needs.

At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to delivering child-centred, family-focused care that is accessible, compassionate and evidence-based. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and we work in partnership with families, schools and communities to achieve meaningful and lasting outcomes.

Our values of compassion, excellence, innovation, inclusion, collaboration and play guide our work and shape our culture. We recognise the power of play as a vital part of childhood and an essential foundation for learning, development, communication and wellbeing. We are committed to creating a positive, supportive environment where children, families and staff feel valued, respected and empowered.

As a social enterprise, all income generated through our services is reinvested directly into expanding supports for children and families. Fundraising also plays a vital role in our mission, enabling us to subsidise therapy services, develop innovative programmes, invest in specialist facilities and ensure that families can access the supports they need regardless of financial circumstances.

Through a combination of clinical excellence, playful and engaging therapeutic approaches, community support and fundraising initiatives, Sensational Kids continues to grow its impact and provide life-changing services to thousands of children and families across Ireland.

Position Overview

The Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Manager at Sensational Kids is a newly established role, created as part of the organisation’s continued growth and commitment to clinical excellence. As Sensational Kids expands its Clinical Management Team and introduces a discipline-specific clinical leadership structure, this position will provide professional leadership for our Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy services while maintaining a substantial direct clinical caseload.

Approximately 70–80% of the role will involve direct clinical practice, including assessment, intervention and support for children and young people, with the remaining time dedicated to leadership, supervision, governance, service development and quality assurance activities.

Alongside direct service delivery, the postholder will provide professional leadership, operational oversight and clinical governance support for the Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy service.

The role combines clinical excellence with staff support, service development, quality assurance and multidisciplinary collaboration. As a practising manager, the successful candidate will remain closely connected to frontline service delivery while contributing to the strategic development and continuous improvement of Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy services throughout the organisation.

The Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Manager will be a member of both the Clinical Management Team and the Senior Management Team, contributing to organisational decision-making, service innovation and the ongoing development of high-quality, family-centred services.

The postholder will work closely with the CEO, Clinical Governance Committee and multidisciplinary clinical managers to ensure safe, effective and evidence-informed service delivery across all locations.

This role plays a key part in advancing Sensational Kids’ mission to provide accessible, life-changing supports for children and young people with additional needs, combining excellent clinical practice with effective leadership to drive quality, innovation and positive outcomes across services.

Key Responsibilities

• Clinical Leadership & Service Delivery
• Provide non-directive Play Therapy and/or Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy assessment and intervention for children and young people within the family system through individualised treatment sessions.
• Lead and support the Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy team in delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions.
• Promote clinical excellence, professional standards and evidence-based practice across all locations.
• Provide clinical supervision (where appropriately qualified), mentoring and reflective practice opportunities.
• Support clinical decision-making, caseload management and risk management processes to ensure safe, effective and timely service delivery.
• Foster multidisciplinary collaboration and integrated, family-centred care.
• Participate in Clinical Governance Committee meetings, contributing expertise relating to Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy practice, quality assurance and risk management.
• Represent the discipline as a member of the Senior Management Team.
• Lead by example in embedding the values and culture of Sensational Kids, creating an environment where staff feel supported, empowered, accountable and engaged in achieving the organisation’s mission.
• Service Development & Quality Assurance
• Contribute to service planning, programme development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor service activity, clinical outcomes and quality indicators to identify opportunities for innovation and enhancement.
• Develop, review and implement Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy policies, procedures and clinical guidelines.
• Collaborate with the wider Clinical Management Team to support organisational clinical standards and governance frameworks.
• Support the ongoing development and expansion of Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy services in response to emerging needs.
• Oversee the management, safety and maintenance of therapy environments, resources and clinical materials.
• Contribute to promotional activities, service development initiatives and media communications where appropriate.
• Training, Education & Professional Development
• Design and deliver training workshops for parents, schools, professionals and community organisations.
• Provide internal CPD sessions for multidisciplinary colleagues and contribute to cross-disciplinary learning across the organisation.
• Develop educational resources and practical tools to support children’s emotional wellbeing, mental health, self-regulation and stakeholder understanding.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, reflective practice and clinical excellence across the Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy team.
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge through ongoing CPD and engagement with current evidence and best practice.
• Promotion & Advocacy
• Promote and develop Sensational Kids’ Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy services through outreach, relationship-building and engagement with external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications Team on awareness campaigns, information sessions and events.
• Represent Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy services at meetings, professional networks, conferences and community events.
• Advocate for timely therapeutic intervention, emotional wellbeing, mental health supports and family-centred practice.
• Act as an ambassador for Sensational Kids, promoting the organisation’s mission, values and services.
• Operational & Team Management
• Provide leadership and operational management to the Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Therapy team members.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, induction and professional development activities.
• Conduct regular supervision, performance reviews and development planning with team members.
• Monitor workforce capacity, resource allocation and service scheduling to support efficient service delivery.
• Contribute to budgeting and resource planning processes.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and secure clinical documentation in accordance with organisational and professional requirements.
• Foster a positive, supportive and collaborative team culture aligned with organisational values.
• Ensure compliance with relevant professional body standards, and guidelines, safeguarding requirements and organisational policies.
• Provide local operational oversight for the centre in which you are based, supporting the effective day-to-day running of services in collaboration with the Senior Management Team.
• Manage the centre, in which you are based, effectively, ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the facility while acting in a supervisory and leadership role on-site. Demonstrate a supportive, and proactive approach in overseeing the center, addressing on-site challenges and situations as they arise with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Provide leadership and operational support to ensure clinicians have the resources, environment, and assistance they need to carry out their roles to the fullest extent of their duties. Respond promptly to operational issues, resolve concerns efficiently, and maintain a safe, welcoming, and well-organised environment for clinicians, and clients alike.
• Act as a role model, promoting professionalism, accountability and clinical excellence.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required as part of the role.

Qualifications

• Applicants must hold a recognised postgraduate qualification in Play Therapy and/or Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy.
• Applicants must possess a recognised third-level qualification in Counselling, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Social Care, Social Work, Psychotherapy, Teaching or another relevant discipline.
• A minimum of five years’ post-qualification clinical experience is required, including experience working therapeutically with children and young people with additional needs.
• The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of completed personal therapy hours in accordance with the requirements of their professional training and accrediting body.
• Applicants must be fully accredited members of their relevant professional association
• Full clean driving licence and access to own transport.
• Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management, clinical supervision, service development or another relevant area.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience of clinical leadership, supervision, service management or team coordination within a therapeutic, mental health or child-focused setting.
• Experience managing a complex clinical caseload within a multidisciplinary environment.
• Experience providing clinical supervision, mentoring or professional support to therapists.
• Experience in a senior Play Therapist and/or Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist lead or management role.
• Experience supporting, supervising or managing Play Therapists and/or Child & Adolescent Psychotherapists within a healthcare, disability or child development setting.
• Experience supporting service development, quality improvement initiatives or clinical governance activities.
• Experience collaborating effectively with families, schools, healthcare professionals and external agencies.
• Experience contributing to multidisciplinary planning and decision-making.
• Experience maintaining high standards of documentation, reporting and professional compliance.
• Experience contributing to organisational planning, governance, strategic decision-making or service development at senior level.
• Experience of safeguarding, clinical governance and multidisciplinary working.
• Experience coordinating staff across multiple locations.
• Experience participating in recruitment, onboarding and performance management processes.
• Experience delivering training, presentations or professional development programmes.
• Experience contributing to strategic planning, service expansion or organisational development initiatives.

Knowledge & Skills

Clinical Expertise

• Excellent assessment, formulation and intervention skills.
• Strong knowledge of evidence-based practice and current developments in Play Therapy and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy.
• Ability to manage clinical complexity and support therapists working with challenging cases.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding, child protection, professional ethics and clinical governance requirements.

Benefits & Professional Development

At Sensational Kids, we are committed to supporting our team members to thrive both professionally and personally.

• Competitive permanent salaried position with regular salary reviews
• Free onsite parking
• Birthday Bonus Day Off
• Investment in annual CPD
• Health Cash Plan, including reimbursement of a wide range of healthcare expenses for employees and eligible family members
• GP Advice Line
• Virtual Doctor Service
• Private Prescription Service
• Counselling Service
• Medical Information and Legal Advice Line
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Confidential counselling and wellbeing support for employees and eligible family members
• Digital fitness programmes
• Nutrition guides and healthy recipes
• Guided meditation programme (BeCalm)
• Wellbeing podcasts (SoundSpace)

Professional Development

• Access to personal CPD budget
• Clinical mentoring and support
• Regular clinical supervision
• Support from the Clinical Governance Committee
• Free access to internal training workshops

Remuneration

A competitive salary will be offered, commensurate with qualifications and experience, and reflective of the dual nature of this role, combining a substantial clinical caseload with leadership, management and service oversight responsibilities.

How to Apply

Closing Date for Applications:

Closing Date for Applications: 31st July 2026

Sensational Kids is an equal opportunities employer