Emotional Health Practitioner | SCAYT team | Burnley | Part Time

Salary £36,363 - £40,777 per annum. Permanent, Part Time, 18.5 hours per week (Pro Rata). Based in Burnley, Lancashire (with home/remote working too!). We are currently recruiting an Emotional Health Practitioner to work within the SCAYT+ team (Supporting Carers and Young People Together) at Lancashire County Council.

Are you an enthusiastic individual with a wealth of experience working with children looked after and adopted, and experience of working therapeutically? We are excited to welcome an Emotional Health Practitioner for 18.5 hours per week (salary shown will be pro rata) to complement our service and the children and families we serve. Our SCAYT+ service provides therapeutic interventions to contribute to the emotional health and wellbeing of children looked after and adopted, including the parents/carers and professionals who support them. A small part of the work will be working directly with children, while the majority of SCAYT+'s work is completed with the child's main caregiver, social workers and other professionals who are involved in the child's care planning. The job role also entails delivering training to carers, adopters and professionals.

We are looking for a practitioner who is self-aware, reflective and able to demonstrate great interpersonal skills. We're searching for a therapeutic professional who wants to make a positive impact in the lives of others. In this significant role you will be joining a valued team of professionals who place children and families at the heart of everything we do. So, if you’re experienced in attachment theory, systemic practice, and therapeutic principles then we’d really love you to apply to join us! We have one part time post based at The Fold, Venice Avenue, Burnley, BB11 5JX. Please note, the post requires travel across Lancashire.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver bespoke training on attachment, developmental trauma, therapeutic parenting and other subject matters to carers, adopters and professionals.
• Deliver direct interventions with children and families.
• Employ a multi-agency approach, working with Social Workers, NHS, carers and other professionals.
• Apply and maintain knowledge of Dyadic Developmental Practice and PACE to assist children and families who have experienced trauma.
• Assess each unique situation and provide therapeutic support to manage challenging behaviour and foster attachment.

Key Skills and Experience

• Experience working with children looked after and adopted, and therapeutically.
• Strong knowledge of attachment theory, systemic practice and therapeutic principles.
• Knowledge of Dyadic Developmental Practice, PACE and other trauma-informed approaches.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to adapt language for children, carers and professionals.
• Self-aware, reflective practitioner with compassion and empathy.

Reasons to Join Us

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on the LCC Vacancies website. Benefits include up to 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays, 2 additional days at Christmas, a generous local authority pension with shared AVCs, discounts on dog care, day care, holidays, long service awards, Medicash, support groups, cycle to work schemes and 24/7 employee assistance.

Development

Support and development will be provided along the journey – time for supportive reflection and supervision, opportunities for personal growth, multidisciplinary initiatives, mentoring, apprenticeships and training in therapeutic approaches.

Inclusivity

We embrace diversity and support flexible working opportunities. We are keen to hear from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities.

How to Apply

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence. Contact us for an initial informal and confidential chat: Louise Pearson – louise.pearson1@lancashire.gov.uk (01772 535846) Sam Ambler – samantha.ambler@lancashire.gov.uk (01524 585973)

Closing Date: Friday 6th February 2026 at 23:59 Provisional interview date: Tuesday 24th February 2026. The post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a ‘disclosure’. Further information can be found on the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ tab. You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability. We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.