Job Description

About the role

Job title:

Sessional Counsellor

Responsible to:

Counselling Service Clinical Manager

Hours:

Sessional (depending on waiting lists and service requirements)

Based at:

Gateshead / Newcastle

Salary:

Sessional rate to be discussed

Purpose of job

You will provide individual counselling (Tyneside and Northumberland Mind Counselling Services) aimed at adults experiencing transient emotional and mental health problems.

Working on our counselling services in Gateshead and/or Newcastle, on a sessional basis, you will provide brief therapy counselling of up to 6 sessions. You will carry out face to face counselling sessions, telephone counselling and telephone assessments.

You will contribute to the support and development of the Counselling team and be responsible for your own continuous personal development. You will need to have regular monthly supervision with an external supervisor.

You will contribute to data collection and outcome measures for the service by completing tracking on our CRM system. You will be an ambassador for Tyneside and Northumberland Mind and the Counselling Service.

Key Responsibilities

1. Working with clients who have been referred by GP's, our corporate clients, or self-referrals, on a sessional basis.

2. Carry out client telephone assessments.

3. To be proficient at using IT, especially Microsoft Office

4. Refer / signpost clients onto other services at the end of their sessions if necessary.

5. Assist in the evaluation of the service by contributing to data collection and analysis and to participate in research as required.

6. To be aware of and comply with the policies, procedures and service standards of the Counselling Service and Tyneside and Northumberland Mind.

7. Maintain training and continue professional development.

8. Fulfil professional clinical supervision requirements.

Job Specification

Essential Criteria

1. A recognised professional qualification to at least a Diploma/Foundation level 5 or equivalent for example, BACP recognised course or equivalent.

2. Qualified in Person-Centred Experiential Counselling (CFD) or willing to work towards.

3. Post-qualification supervised clinical practice experience of a minimum of 1 year.

4. Primary Care counselling experience.

5. Registered with a professional body (e.g. BACP/UKCP)

6. Ability to make use of clinical supervision (evidenced by a counselling supervisor's statement).

7. Ability to participate in peer and individual supervision groups.

8. Record of appropriate continual professional development.

9. Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.

10. Competency in working within a recognised theoretical framework and knowledge of other ways of working.

11. Understand the need for risk assessment and safeguarding procedures.

12. Ability to work within a time limit.

13. Ability to work effectively with colleagues from other disciplines.

14. Ability to work autonomously and as a team member.

15. Excellent communication skills both orally and in writing and the ability to work with people at all levels.

16. Competent in the use of Microsoft Office.

17. Good organisational skills.

18. Understanding/overview of current professional issues.

19. An understanding of and commitment to equality and diversity.

20. Commitment to Tyneside and Northumberland Mind's aims and objectives.

Desirable criteria

1. Qualified in Person-Centred Experiential Counselling (CFD)

2. Experience of contributing to service evaluation.

3. Holding BACP/UKCP accreditation

4. Ability to offer specific professional expertise dependent on experience.

5. Knowledge of primary care health services.

6. Experience of working with or within the voluntary sector (particularly mental health).

7. Experience of working within mental health service.

Conditions of employment

In the light of legislation [Section 8 Asylum and Immigration Act, January 1997], as a condition of being able to commence employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide documentation to prove that they are able to work in the UK. Such documents will include one or more of the following, as appropriate:

National Insurance number. Birth certificate or British passport. Certificate of registration, or naturalisation as a British citizen. Passport or documentation evidencing citizenship of an EEA country.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS check)

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Insurance

Job offers are subject to the applicant holding and maintaining Professional Indemnity and Public liability insurance throughout the contract, with proof of cover to be provided on request.

Interested in joining us?

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Tyneside and Northumberland Mind embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We are committed to being an anti-discriminatory organisation and positively welcome and encourage applications from diverse and marginalised groups.

Tyneside & Northumberland Mind recognises that there are systemic and individual barriers which people face in maintaining good mental health, accessing support and treatment when they need it, and being accepted for who they are in terms of their mental health. We pledge to do all we can to recognise and tackle these barriers, and to monitor our progress.

We strive to be diverse and inclusive in our workforce, our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion runs through our employee experience. We promote an inclusive workplace where our staff can bring their full selves to work and strive to ensure that everyone is offered equality of opportunity to achieve their full potential. In recruiting our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender, age, religion, disability and sexual orientation and beliefs.

Here is how to apply.

1. Answer to all screening questions.
2. Submit 1x electronic copy of your CV

Tyneside and Northumberland Mind is an Equal Opportunities employer and will apply objective criteria to assess merit. It aims to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age or disability or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Selection criteria and procedures are always reviewed to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted, and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. All employees will be given equal opportunity and where appropriate and possible, special training to enable them to progress both within and outside the organisation. Tyneside and Northumberland Mind is committed to a programme of action to make this policy fully effective. Candidates who consider that they have not been fairly treated should write to the Chief Executive Officer, Tyneside and Northumberland Mind, 3rd Floor Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6UF within seven days of an interview, after which the matter will be investigated.

Closing Date for applications will be 12 noon 31st October 2025

Interviews anticipated on 11th November 2025

Any questions about the post please email Counselling Service Clinical Manager, Jill at jill.bittle@tynesidemind.org.uk

Job Type: Freelance

Work Location: In person