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- Tasks: Lead a team supporting children and young people, providing guidance and emotional support.
- Company: Join Sunderland Counselling Service, a community-focused organisation making a difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel expenses, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Empower young lives while developing your leadership skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in management and strong assessment skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working across various community settings with excellent career growth potential.
The predicted salary is between 33000 - 43000 ÂŁ per year.
Senior Children and Young People’s Link Worker
Contract Type: Fixed term for one year
Contract Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: AfC Band 6 comparable (ÂŁ38,682)
Application Deadline: 2nd March 2026
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) is seeking to appoint a senior link worker to work in our Children and Young People’s service. The service will be set within a unique independent mental health charity, which is acknowledged for its contribution to the community by mental health professionals, health practitioners and local and regional voluntary and statutory agencies.
The service responds to the unmet needs of children, young people and families in Sunderland and South Tyneside via the implementation of a social prescribing model for children, young people and their families. It connects clients into a broad range of services and interventions in their local area in a timely and effective way, led by the wants and needs of the client themselves.
This activity provides additional emotional, social and practical support to wrap around existing Primary Care and mental health services, to support young people while they are waiting for formal treatment, prevent deterioration, maximising treatment outcomes and supporting independence. It is NOT intended to operate as a crisis service or an alternative to crisis services, nor as a clinical intervention and would not take on care planning or case management functions which must be provided by clinical staff. Additional Listening Ear support will be provided for parents and carers.
Responsibilities
- Manage CYP link workers and adult Listening Ear workers, providing line management and caseload support.
- Coordinate and promote the service in collaboration with other members of the SCS senior team.
- Carry a small client caseload and perform assessments of need, providing support and guidance to referred clients.
- Deliver direct emotional, social or practical support, signposting, provide self‑help materials, a check‑in system, identify suitable support packages and make onward referrals as necessary.
- Deliver services confidentially from home as well as GP surgeries and other community venues in Sunderland and South Tyneside, using personal transport where required (travel expenses available).
Please use your application to tell us how your skills and experience align to the role. Sunderland Counselling Service may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) detection tools to identify whether an application has been completed using AI. We expect that AI may be used to enhance your application such as refining and clarifying your ideas and thoughts and checking for grammar and spelling. However, applications where AI has been used to invent or inflate your skills and experiences or create generic responses will be rejected. To verify you have written your application please add the following to the bottom of your application: \”I confirm that the content of this application is my own work and has not been generated by artificial intelligence tools beyond basic editing or proofreading\”.
If you have any questions about this role, please contact Toby Sweet (Chief Executive) on 0191 514 7007.
A copy of the job description for this role can be found at https://www.sunderlandcounselling.org.uk/vacancies/, alongside details on how to apply. Applications for this post must be submitted to office@sunderlandcounselling.org.uk by 11:59pm on 2nd March 2026 along with a completed equal opportunity and diversity form. Applications after this time will not be considered.
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Senior Children and Young Peoples Link Worker employer: VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East)
Contact Detail:
VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Children and Young Peoples Link Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the field of children and young people's services. Attend local events or workshops where you can meet professionals from Sunderland Counselling Service and other organisations. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job opportunities!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to line management and caseload support. We recommend role-playing with a friend or using online resources to get comfortable. The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel when it’s your turn to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience! When you get the chance to speak about your past roles, highlight specific examples of how you've managed teams or supported clients. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them memorable.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform. So, get your application in before the deadline on 24 October 2025!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Children and Young Peoples Link Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Children and Young People’s Link Worker role. Highlight your experience in line management and caseload management, as well as your ability to work within a social prescribing model. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your past roles, focus on experiences that demonstrate your strong assessment, guidance, and signposting skills. Use specific examples that show how you've successfully supported children, young people, and families in similar settings. This will help us see your potential impact at Sunderland Counselling Service.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your writing is easy to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, so ensure your passion for the role shines through without unnecessary fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved!
How to prepare for a job interview at VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East)
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Senior Children and Young Peoples Link Worker. Familiarise yourself with the social prescribing model and how it applies to children and young people. This will help you articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
Since the role involves managing link workers, be prepared to discuss your previous line management and caseload management experiences. Think of specific examples where you successfully supported your team or improved service delivery, as this will demonstrate your capability in leading others.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaborative Spirit
Collaboration is key in this role, so come ready to share examples of how you've worked with other services, especially in primary care and mental health. Highlight any partnerships you've built and how they benefited your clients, showing that you can work effectively within a multi-agency framework.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to provide support in various settings. Think about how you would handle different client situations, including assessments and signposting, and be ready to explain your thought process clearly.
