Children and Young People Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

NHS Jobs; Billingham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Jobs in Billingham seeks an experienced Children and Young People Psychotherapeutic Counsellor to assess and address emotional and mental health needs in children and families. You will deliver short-term interventions and work within a CYP IAPT framework, supporting schools and carers to improve outcomes.

You will join a team committed to safeguarding, shared decision-making, and continuous professional development through supervision and reflective practice.

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification in counselling or psychotherapeutic discipline.
• Registration or accreditation with a professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP, HCPC).
• Experience working with children, young people and families with mild to moderate mental health challenges.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, child development, and neurodiversity.
• Ability to provide advice and guidance to parents, carers, and frontline professionals on children's emotional well-being.
• Confidence in delivering short-term therapeutic approaches (e.g., person-centred, CBT-informed, DDP-informed).
• Interest or experience in co-facilitating training or psychoeducation sessions, with support.
• Ability to work within a supportive team structure under the guidance of senior clinicians.

Responsibilities

• Undertake developmentally appropriate assessments of emotional and mental health needs.
• Deliver structured, time-limited therapeutic interventions for children, young people, and families.
• Participate in triage discussions under clinical leadership, contributing to decisions on interventions and referrals.
• Support the use of routine outcome monitoring tools aligned with CYP IAPT to assess progress.
• Contribute to regular multi-agency huddles, sharing observations to support decision-making and joined-up care.
• Offer trauma-informed advice and informal guidance to education staff and carers.
• Work collaboratively with families and school staff to build shared understanding of children's emotional needs.
• Contribute to the delivery of training or workshops under supervision.
• Maintain clear, accurate, confidential clinical notes; participate in supervision and CPD.

Skills

Trauma-informed practice

Attachment theory

Child development

Neurodiversity understanding

Guidance to parents and carers

Education

Qualification in counselling/psychotherapeutic discipline

Tools

IAPTUS

Job description

Children and Young People Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

Key Responsibilities

Undertake thoughtful, developmentally appropriate assessments of emotional and mental health needs, including trauma, attachment, and neurodiversity informed perspectives. Deliver structured, time-limited therapeutic interventions individual or group for children, young people, and families, using evidence-informed approaches. Participate in triage discussions under clinical leadership, contributing to decisions on appropriate interventions and referrals. Support the use of routine outcome monitoring tools aligned with CYP IAPT to assess progress and inform care planning. Contribute to regular multi-agency huddles, sharing observations to support decision-making and joined-up care. Offer trauma-informed advice and informal guidance to education staff and carers, supporting relational and developmentally sensitive environments. Work collaboratively with families and school staff to build shared understanding of children's emotional needs and strengthen support systems. Contribute to the delivery of training or workshops (under the guidance of senior clinicians) where appropriate. Maintain clear, accurate, and confidential clinical notes in line with service standards. Participate in regular clinical supervision, reflective practice, and CPD to ensure high standards of therapeutic care and professional development.

Qualifications and Experience

Recognised qualification in counselling, psychotherapeutic counselling, or a relevant mental health discipline. Registration or accreditation with a professional body e.g., BACP, UKCP, HCPC. Experience working with children, young people, and families with mild to moderate mental health challenges. Understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, child development, and neurodiversity. Ability to provide advice and guidance to parents, carers, and frontline professionals on children's emotional well-being. Confidence in delivering short-term therapeutic approaches e.g., person-centred, CBT-informed, DDP-informed. Interest or experience in co-facilitating training or psychoeducation sessions, with support. Ability to work within a supportive team structure under the guidance of senior clinicians.

Our Values in Action

Compassion: You will approach every child and family with empathy and a deep understanding of their lived experiences. Inclusion: You will adopt a safe and welcoming space where every voice is heard and respected, regardless of background or identity. Integrity: You will maintain transparency and honesty in your assessments, communications, and therapeutic work. Accountability: You will take ownership of your practice and ensure that your interventions are safe, effective, and aligned with our mission. Innovation: You will engage in reflective practice and explore creative approaches to therapy, staying responsive to emerging needs and best practices in mental health care.

Safeguarding

Responsible for safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children & young people at all times and operating within local policies and procedures. Taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children & young people at risk of significant harm. To share appropriately information with parents/carers or other agencies regarding the family's wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols. To take part in multi-agency meetings, including Early help , Child in Need, Child Protection meetings, care planning meetings with other health professionals and safeguarding reviews.

A professional and Ethical Service

To maintain appropriate clinical notes and records on IAPTUS and in line with Alliance policies and procedures To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development as required for the purposes of continued professional accreditation or registration and as identified through Alliance's professional development and Appraisal System To undertake clinical supervision as per Alliance supervision policy and in line with the appropriate professional body. To work within Data Protection Act 1998 and Alliance Information Governance policies and procedures To ensure a safe and secure working environment for self and others and to act as necessary within Health and Safety and other guidelines.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing

To take responsibility for health, safety, and wellbeing in accordance with Alliance's policies and procedures.

Equality and diversity

To promote a society that gives everyone an equal chance to work and live free from discrimination and prejudice.

Confidentiality

To work in a way that does not divulge personal and/or confidential information and follow Alliances policies and procedures in relation to data protection and security of information.

Performance Management

To promote a culture whereby performance management is ingrained, and the highest standards and performance are achieved by all. Ensure that mandatory training commitments are met and that the postholder keeps up to date with Alliance's policies and procedures. Contribute to Alliances Appraisal processes to ensure continuous learning and improvement and to increase organisational performance.

This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliances organisational objectives and priorities.