Job Description

This is a unique opportunity for a therapeutic Counsellor to make a real difference to young people's mental health in local schools!

North Staffs Mind has an opportunity for you to join our school counselling team. We are looking for a fully qualified

Counsellor to work in high schools and primary schools in Stoke-on-Trent.

Benefits

Term time only, meaning annual leave during school holidays

People focused organisation with excellent staff satisfaction results

Monthly CPD workshops

Additional annual leave for your birthday

Flexible approach to working

5% employer contributory pension scheme

About Us

North Staffs Mind has been delivering a range of respected, client-focused and high-quality services for adults, children and young people in North Staffordshire since 1976. We pride ourselves on our relaxed and friendly atmosphere and our commitment to delivering high quality, client focused, professional services.

About the Service

Our well-established school team are proud to work in multiple schools and Academy Trusts across the Staffordshire and Cheshire area. New commissions are regularly acquired as we broaden our reach to provide the highest quality counselling support to children and young people within the school environment.

Quote from one of the team: '

Working as a School Counsellor is an incredibly rewarding role. Each student brings something new to the sessions and it is a privilege to hear their stories. As a practitioner, working in such a supportive and collaborative school environment has helped me to develop and grow my practice, it is a fantastic role which continues to challenge, reward and allow me to advance as a counsellor.'

We are committed to equal opportunities and work with people from different cultural backgrounds, using interpreters when necessary and the service is available for young people from age 4 to 19 years old.

About You

We are looking for a fully qualified Counsellor with a real passion for supporting young people experiencing mental health issues, often with complex needs or neurodiversity.

You should be flexible, approachable and committed to working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in order to achieve the best possible outcome for every person you work with.

You should be adaptable in approach as you will be providing goal focused and evidence informed therapeutic interventions tailored to the individual client.

Successful candidate must hold a full UK driving licence.

The Details

In return we offer a varied and rewarding role in a people-focused organisation that strives to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our local communities.

You will be based in five individual schools in Stoke-on-Trent, as well as our head office in Hanley, and may also be expected to work remotely from home.

Hours: 25.5 hours per week (term time only)

Days: Tuesday-Friday

Salary: 23,639 to 28,562 gross per annum, dependent on experience (16,232-19,684 gross per annum pro rata). Salary is paid each month and spread over the full year.

Report to: School Team Manager

This job role is subject to an enhanced DBS Check, the cost of which will be met by NS Mind.

Job Summary:

North Staffs Mind Schools Counselling team provide counselling services to numerous schools across Staffordshire and Cheshire. For this role you will work independently within primary and high school settings, delivering one to one counselling and also group work to children and young people.

Our service is delivered on school premises, although we may also deliver services remotely via the telephone and/or video, depending on client demand.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Offer a professional therapeutic service within schools to meet individual needs.

Offer flexibility in approaches to working with CYP. This may include walk and talk sessions, parental interventions, working with a small groups of children/young people and to work creativity to meet the needs of a diverse client group within multifaceted educational settings.

Work with parents, carers and other professionals in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for all.

Be able to engage appropriately with neurodiverse clients.

Work with small groups of children/young people.

Have input into staff training/ whole class activities to raise awareness of mental health and emotional well-being of children/young people.

Share information required to ensure that the individual children and young people are protected/supported in line with agreed protocols.

Maintain necessary records to ensure work is recorded appropriately and produce reports for information and statistical purposes so that the work can be effectively monitored and managed.

Make and maintain links with staff in the school in order to ensure good communication.

Liaise with key individuals in order to ensure the young person is supported appropriately, including: staff, parents and other agencies.

Work in line with North Staffs Mind policies and procedures, including confidentiality and safeguarding, and relevant school policies.

. Work in line with the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (BACP), 2018.

To be responsible for one's own safety and wellbeing.

To ensure that client and the counsellor work in a safe and appropriate way within the school environment.

Undertake required training, and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of issues which affect the mental health of children and young people through training, reading and other relevant sources.

Attend line management meetings, team meetings and a Personal and Professional Development group.

Support other team members in the provision of a quality service.

Be prepared to be involved in workshops/training/information events.

Undertake regular clinical supervision of at least 1.5 hours per month.

Other duties as required by North Staffs Mind to ensure the efficient operation of the service.

Terms and Conditions:

Working hours are term time only, plus a week at the end of the school year and a week at the start of the school year - annual leave is in line with the academic school year.

You are required to commit to the same school for an academic year.

You are required to provide a car for use at work, and to insure it appropriately, at your own expense.

You will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses that are authorised in accordance with North Staffs Mind's procedures.

Person Specification

Essential:

Diploma in Counselling or equivalent MSc.

Be BACP accredited (or similar) or eligible for BACP accreditation.

Counselling experience; some of which must be with children and young people.

Good understanding of emotional and mental health in children and young people.

Good understanding of child protection issues

Experience of working with groups of young people.

. Work in ways which help the child/young person express themselves including using creative methods.

Be a dynamic, creative person with drive and initiative, and be self motivated.

Committed to the values of North Staffs Mind, the principles and practice of Equal Opportunities and service user engagement.

Organised and efficient with paperwork and administrative tasks.

A good communicator in both written and spoken media, able to present confidently to a variety of audiences.

Hold a full current driving licence and use of an appropriately insured car.

Desirable:

Good local knowledge about North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Past experience of working within a school environment

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 23,639.00-28,562.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Bereavement leave Casual dress Company events Company pension Free flu jabs Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking Sick pay
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Language:

English (required)
Licence/Certification:

Diploma in Counselling (required) full UK driving licence (required)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 17/07/2025
Expected start date: 01/09/2025