Job summary
Fixed Term/ Secondment for 12 months (Maternity Cover) | 22.5 hours per week

We are looking for a compassionate and experienced Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist to join our Multi-Agency Psychological Support (MAPS) team for Children Looked After in Sheffield. You will provide specialist mental health support, including Attachment and Trauma therapeutic work, to children in care. You will work with Social Care and other professionals to deliver interventions at multiple levels. This is primarily a clinical role.

Experience of offering direct therapeutic intervention to children and adolescents is essential, however, you'll have the opportunity to learn through joint working, peer guidance, and training.

Join us to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children!

Main duties of the job
Reporting into the Service Lead some of your responsibilities will include:

• Provide highly specialist psychoanalytic psychotherapy assessment and treatment for children, young people and families with complex mental health needs.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments, including risk assessment and identification of appropriate care pathways.
• Offer specialist consultation and supervision to multidisciplinary teams and partner agencies.
• Contribute to audit, research, service evaluation and the ongoing development of child psychotherapy services.
• Work autonomously within CAMHS and Trust policies, procedures and professional standards.

About us
At Sheffield Children's, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children's Health.

We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.

We're proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children's as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England -- and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire -- in the latest NHS Staff Survey.

Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values -- Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence -- to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.

As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.

We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts -- helping you thrive at work and beyond.

Job responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage all applicants to review their right to work eligibility before submitting an application to help avoid any disappointment during the recruitment process.

This role has been assigned occupation code 2225 using the CASCOT coding tool. Under current Home Office guidance.

For further information on occupation codes, sponsorship eligibility and right-to-work requirements, please visit: Skilled Worker visa: Your Job GOV.UK. Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes - GOV.UK

Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Children's, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone's success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.

Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at scn-tr.recruitment.team@nhs.net. Together, we're building a workplace where everyone belongs.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Accredited postgraduate training in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy (or equivalent experience)
• Eligibility for full membership of Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP)

Experience
Essential

• Experience of delivering specialist psychoanalytic psychotherapy, maintaining a high degree of professionalism
• Knowledge of guidance and legislation relevant to children and mental health
• Experience of conducting formal research, audit or service evaluation

Desirable

• Experience of teaching training and supervision within a demanding organisational context

Knowledge and skills
Essential

• Ability to establish, maintain and conclude appropriate therapeutic relationships with clients
• Well-developed capacity to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, appropriately to different audiences
• Ability to work autonomously within a MD

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Ability to maintain concentration and thinking, manage competing work demands, deal with emotional circumstances and take care of own well-being

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Address
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH
United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Principal Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
Dr Michelle Littlewood
michelle.littlewood@nhs.net
01142260876

Details
Date posted
17 September 2026

Pay scheme
Agenda for change

Band
Band 7

Salary
£49,387 to £56,515 a year
per annum, pro rata

Contract
Fixed term

Duration
12 months

Working pattern
Part-time

Reference number
425-26-8187438

Job locations
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH
United Kingdom

Supporting documents
Privacy notice
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)

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