South Tyneside Child & Young People Mental Health Service Counsellor in Jarrow

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Sunderland Counselling Service for 3 energetic individuals with 2 years post qualifying experience of working as a counsellor / therapist with children and young people from 5-18 years old. This post will be full time - 37 1/2 hours. Sunderland Counselling Service Head Office is based in John Street in Sunderland city centre; however, we expect the successful post holders will work from a community base(s) across the South Tyneside area.

The post holder will hold a counselling qualification to Degree, MSc, MA, or Diploma level and will be working in a South Tyneside Community Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (STCCAYPMHS) locality base within South Tyneside as part of a team of counsellors. The post holder will be engaged in the delivery and development of the counselling and training components of the service, and will work with children and young people whose lives are, or have been, affected by events to such a level that it impacts upon their emotional and mental well-being.

In this role you will assess the needs of children and young people, in relation to their emotional and mental well-being, offering counselling to help them to address these issues when appropriate. You will participate in team development, training, regular supervision sessions as well as attending all team meetings and will help to contribute to the further development and sustainability of the service. You will also be accountable for personal conduct and professional practice in relation to all relevant legislation and according to South Tyneside Community Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (STCCAYPMHS) policies and procedures. You will keep accurate and appropriate records of the work carried out including contributing to the provision of accurate statistical information using the relevant outcome measures used by the service. The post requires effective and creative work, and may involve some evening and weekend work. You may also be asked to undertake any other duties as required within the spirit of the post.

You will be line managed through Sunderland Counselling Service, an independent local charity that has been established for over 40 years. It has a strong person-centred ethic and has grown into one of the leading IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) providers for mental health across the North East of England. Although you will be line managed through Sunderland Counselling Service, you will be working as part of a South Tyneside Community Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (STCCAYPMHS) team, following all of their policies and procedures. This supportive team of people from different professional backgrounds works together to ensure that children and young people from 0-18 receive the support they need.

South Tyneside Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service (STCCYPMHS) Counsellor employed by Sunderland Counselling Service. Reporting to: Senior Practitioner for Children and Young People in South Tyneside. Location: A STCCYPMHS locality base within South Tyneside. Hours: 1.0 FTE (full time 37.5 hours a week). The post holder will be entitled to 30 days annual leave at normal salary rate or pro rata for part time. In addition, entitlement to statutory public holidays will be given at normal salary rate on a pro rata basis. £38,682 per annum with BACP (or equivalent) accreditation; £40,823 per annum with recognised Clinical Supervision qualification and BACP (or equivalent) accreditation.

The post holder will be employed on a fixed term 12 months contract which will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months. All employees' terms and conditions of employment are provided by Sunderland Counselling Service. This includes 30 days annual leave per year, pension scheme, access to a free and confidential employee assistance programme. The salary for this post is dependent upon qualifications held by the successful candidate(s). We will offer £40,823 (the equivalent of a mid-point of Band 6 Agenda for Change salary), to post holders who are BACP accredited (or equivalent) and counselling supervisor qualified. Successful candidates who are BACP accredited (or equivalent) only would be paid £38,682 (the equivalent of a Band 6 Agenda for Change entry salary). We will also welcome applications from those working towards accreditation; in this instance staff will be paid £31,049. We will support all staff in achieving their accreditation status by paying accreditation fees, providing clinical supervision, additional line management support, etc. where required.

The post holder will be working in a South Tyneside Community Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service (STCCYPMHS) locality base within South Tyneside and in an outreach counselling role as part of a team of STCCYPMHS counsellors. The post holder will be engaged in the delivery and development of the counselling, supervision and training components of the service, and will work with children and young people whose lives are, or have been, affected by events to such a level that it impacts upon their emotional and mental well-being. The post holder will be called upon to use a personal means of transport while engaged in the work of the service for which travel expenses will be available.

• A minimum of two years experience of working with children and young people in a counselling setting.
• Willingness to contribute to and assist in the development of strategies that will make the service provision accessible to all children and young people through centre-based and outreach work.
• Experience of working in a school or educational setting.
• Experience of working in an NHS setting.
• Experience of working with multi-agency partnerships.
• Experience of providing counselling supervision.

• Qualified to Degree, MSc, MA, or Diploma level in Counselling.
• Possession of a recognised Qualification in working therapeutically with children and young people.
• Registration with BACP or other relevant professional body.
• Possession of or showing evidence of working towards BACP accreditation or equivalent.
• General education to A Level Standard or equivalent.
• Counselling supervision qualification or eligibility and willingness to work towards the same.

• Competence in and possession of a recognised model of counselling based on a recognised theoretical orientation.
• Sound knowledge of the legislative frameworks in relation to mental health and child protection.
• The ability to engage and work with children and young people individually and in groups.
• Ability to make good use of the supervisory process.
• Ability to engage and work with children and young people, affording them the opportunity to influence and shape all aspects of the service and the way in which the service provision will be delivered.
• Sound knowledge of children and young peoples mental health issues.
• Familiarity with child and family support agencies.
• Knowledge of child attachment and child development.

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.

£31,049 to £40,823 a year. This is dependant upon qualifications.