Counsellor

NHS Jobs; Swindon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

ABL Health is seeking an experienced mental health practitioner to deliver outcome-focused, evidence-based therapy interventions for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health issues. You will work across Be U Swindon Community Team, using both virtual and face-to-face formats, including group work and peer support.

You will undertake initial assessments, provide counselling, and develop kitted group/peer interventions while maintaining confidential case notes and liaising

Qualifications

• Post-qualification counselling/psychotherapy experience.
• Registration with a recognised national body (e.g. BACP/UKCP/HCPC) preferred.
• Ability to work across Be U Swindon and community venues.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based therapy interventions for CYP with mild/moderate MH difficulties.
• Provide individual, group, and peer support interventions.
• Undertake initial assessments and provide counselling sessions (ongoing and one-off).
• Develop and facilitate group/peer support and signposting.
• Maintain confidential records and manage risk and safeguarding concerns.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Child and adolescent communication

Crisis/risk management

Group facilitation

Counselling experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Client database packages

Job description

You will deliver outcome focused evidence-based therapy-based interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties to support them to improve their emotional health and build resilience. This will include (virtual & F2F) individual, group work and peer support. Working as part of the Be U Swindon Community Team you will be part of the delivery of this day, evening and weekend provision, working on a rotational basis.

Main duties of the job

This is a varied, challenging, and highly rewarding role working under the line management of the Communities Service Lead and clinical supervision of the Senior Practitioner, supporting children and young people across Be U Swindon and community venues to access therapeutic interventions and thrive. As part of a diverse clinical team, you will play a key role in developing the service through co-production, delivery, and ongoing innovation. Responsibilities include delivering therapeutic interventions both independently and, at times, through lone working, undertaking professional initial assessments, and providing both ongoing and one-off counselling sessions. You will also develop and facilitate group and peer support interventions, contribute to the single point of access by offering information, advice, and guidance, and maintain accurate, confidential records using case management systems. The role involves building strong links with local agencies to support effective signposting and referrals, as well as proactively managing risk and responding to safeguarding and child protection concerns. Strong communication skills are essential, ensuring you engage effectively with children and young people, making them feel heard, respected, and empowered throughout their support journey.

About us

ABL is an exciting fast-paced, growing communityhealth organisation. As an experienced, CQC registered, provider of communityhealth services, we are passionate about delivering evidence based, innovative,effective and relevant health care services in partnership with individuals, communitiesand stakeholders.

We are a values drivenorganisation, dedicated to reducing health inequalities and improving peopleslives. We would love to hear from you if you would like the opportunity to workwith in a close team of committed professionals and you share our values ofdesigning and delivering health services.

Job responsibilities

We actively welcome candidates and staff with different identities and different ways of thinking. As a Disability Confident Leader we encourage open and honest communication at all levels and we are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments for any staff in any role.

Are you:

An experienced mental health practitioner used to a fast-paced environment.

Experienced in working with children and young people across early intervention / mental health settings and experienced in engaging the whole family.

Experienced in providing guided self-help and short-term counselling interventions.

Positive and proactive to achieve the highest standards and outcomes in engagement with children, young people, their parent/carers, and professionals.

Adept in communication and confident communicating with CYP (Children and Young Peoples), their parents/carers and health professionals.

Open, respectful, committed to equality and inclusiveness and motivated by new ideas and perspectives.

A team player. Role Purpose:

You will deliver outcome focused evidence-based therapy-based interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties to support them to improve their emotional health and build resilience. This will include (virtual & F2F) individual, group work and peer support. Working as part of the Be U Swindon Community Team.

Main Duties and responsibilities:

This post will work under the line management of the Communities Service Lead and clinical supervision of the Senior Practitioner. You will work from Be U Swindon and community venues to support Children / Young People to easily access therapeutic interventions and thrive.

The role will be varied, challenging, and rewarding as you will work as part of a diverse clinical team pro- actively developing the service through co-production, delivery, and ongoing innovation.

Main Tasks:

To deliver therapeutic interventions to children and young people, working independently which may at times mean lone working.

To undertake professional initial assessments of young people.

To provide ongoing and one-off counselling to young people.

To develop alternatives to one-to-one therapeutic work i.e., group work.

To facilitate peer support interventions with and for children and young people.

To provide information, advice, guidance, and support as part of the single point of access function.

To maintain confidential case notes and records in a timely manner ensuring that they are stored securely using the specified case management systems.

To develop links to other agencies and services and have a good understanding of local services for signposting and onward referrals.

To positively manage risk and recognise and pro-actively respond to child protection and safeguarding issues.

Communication

Be able to communicate and engage with children and young people appropriate to individual needs.

Ensure young people feel listened to, feel in control and are respected.

WORKING PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS

Ethical Practice

Employed therapists are required to abide by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or equivalent.

Professional Membership and Registration

It is required that employed practitioners maintain active membership with a national organisation that represents the field of psychological therapy and people who work as counsellors and therapists, such AFT, BACP, BPS, BABCP or HCPC or UKCP. Employed practitioners will ideally pursue accreditation or registration with one of these bodies; and will complete annual continuing professional development and associated procedures required to maintain accreditation and/or registration. All costs associated with professional memberships, subscriptions, conferences, continuing education etc., are borne by the practitioner.

Liability Insurance

Employed practitioners are covered against malpractice liability by ABL insurance. Supervision

Employed clinical practitioners are required to attend supervision at the minimum frequency of 1.5 hours per FTE per month, with an appropriately qualified internal ABL Health professional. This time is included in the contract.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 1 years post qualification counselling /psychotherapy experience.
• Professional registration with recognised National Body (e.g. BACP/UKCP, HCPC).

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills including listening, verbal and written.
• Ability to communicate with CYP of different ages, developmental level and backgrounds.
• Excellent telephone manner.
• Ability to prioritise work tasks.
• Ability to work under high pressure and in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Understanding and evidence of adhering to information governance and data protection policies.
• Efficient problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interact with colleagues and other stakeholders politely and courteously.
• Excellent IT skills and proficient in all areas of Microsoft Office & running remote meetings.
• Experience with reporting in client database packages.
• Excellent customer care.
• Evidence of accuracy and paying attention to detail in tasks.
• Punctuality, reliability and honesty.
• Ability to use own initiative and confident to do so in the workplace.
• Efficient problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interact with colleagues and other stakeholders politely and courteously.
• Excellent IT skills and proficient in all areas of Microsoft Office & running remote meetings.
• Experience with reporting in client database packages.
• Excellent customer care.
• Evidence of accuracy and paying attention to detail in tasks.
• Punctuality, reliability and honesty.
• Ability to use own initiative and confident to do so in the workplace.
• Local knowledge of services and need.

Job Specific Requirements

• Work flexibly and adapt to suit service need.
• Willing to travel.
• Enhanced DBS check.

Experience

• Knowledge of development in CYP, family development and of transitions.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Experience in managing a caseload.
• Ability to assess and manage risks.
• Ability to recognise and respond to concerns about child protection and safeguarding.
• Ability to make use of supervision.
• Up to date knowledge of CYP emotional wellbeing / early mental health clinical evidence-based practice and support for parents/carers.
• Experience in quality improvement measures.
• Experience in pathway development.
• Experience in delivering training and workshops to CYP and parents / carers.
• Experience in delivering training to professionals.
• Experience in running peer support groups.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.