Counsellor

Rethink Mental Illness; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

25 days leave

Wellbeing support

Career development

Pension

Travel schemes

Blue Light Card

Referral bonus

Job summary

Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, invites applications for a Counsellor at HMP Millsike. This full‑time role (37.5h) is based at Full Sutton, York, with a standard Monday–Friday 08:00–16:00 shift and occasional travel.

The service focuses on rehabilitation and reducing reoffending prior to release. You will deliver 1:1 and group counselling, follow Step 2 IAPT guidance, work within an integrated mental health team, and maintain

Qualifications

• Diploma in therapeutic counselling or equivalent with BACP or similar accreditation.
• Post‑qualification counselling experience in an IAPT or stepped‑care service, delivering brief interventions.
• Strong knowledge of assessment, screening, referral pathways, risk assessment, record‑keeping and outcome‑based practice (PHQ‑9, GAD‑7).
• Ability to build effective therapeutic relationships in an inclusive, non‑discriminatory manner.
• Clear understanding of IAPT models and their application.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with IT and clinical databases.

Responsibilities

• Deliver brief 1:1 and group counselling for depression related to life events.
• Support wellbeing initiatives and collaborate with clinical and care navigation services.
• Supervision provided in line with BACP standards.

Skills

Counselling

PHQ-9/GAD-7

Risk assessment

IAPT/Stepped-care

Therapeutic relationships

Communication skills

Education

Diploma in therapeutic counselling

Tools

Microsoft Office

Clinical databases

IT systems

Job description

Join Our Team as a Counsellor

Location: Full Sutton, York (HMP Millsike)

Role: Full-time – 37.5 hours per week

Rethink Mental Illness works in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust to deliver Step 1 and 2 talking therapies within integrated prison mental health teams. At HMP Millsike—a Category C resettlement prison for adult males located in East Yorkshire,the service provides high‑quality, face‑to‑face interventions that focus on rehabilitation, skill building and lowering reoffending prior to an inmate’s release. The role is mainly Monday–Friday, 08:00–16:00, with some flexibility and occasional reimbursed travel.

What I will do and achieve:

I deliver brief 1:1 and group counselling for depression related to recent life events, following Step 2 IAPT guidance. Working within the integrated mental health team, I support wellbeing initiatives and collaborate with Rethink colleagues across clinical and care navigation services, with supervision provided in line with BACP standards.

Clinical Assessment & Intervention

• Manage referrals in line with service protocols, assessing suitability and stepping clients up or down as appropriate.
• Conduct person‑centred assessments, including risk assessment, goal‑setting, and identifying areas for change.
• Deliver Step 2 counselling interventions, developing, implementing, and evaluating therapy plans.
• Use recognised outcome measures (PHQ‑9, GAD‑7) to monitor progress throughout treatment.

Collaboration & Continuity of Care

• Work closely within the multidisciplinary team to support a stepped‑care approach.
• Attend MDT meetings and maintain strong links with statutory and non‑statutory agencies to support continuity of care on release.
• Communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and external professionals in both written and verbal form.

Record Keeping & Data Quality

• Maintain accurate, high‑quality clinical records and enter data onto agreed systems.
• Contribute to monthly performance reporting to support service monitoring and improvement.

Professional Standards & Development

• Protect client confidentiality and uphold Rethink Mental Illness values at all times.
• Engage openly in supervision and adopt a flexible, pragmatic approach to ensure excellent service delivery.
• Work to agreed activity levels to maintain accessibility and minimise waiting times.

Essential Experience and Skills:

• Diploma in therapeutic counselling (or equivalent) enabling BACP or similar professional accreditation.
• Post‑qualification counselling experience within an IAPT or stepped‑care service, delivering evidence‑based brief interventions.
• Strong knowledge of assessment, screening, referral pathways, risk assessment, record‑keeping and outcome‑based practice (e.g., PHQ‑9, GAD‑7).
• Ability to build effective therapeutic relationships and work in an inclusive, culturally sensitive, non‑discriminatory manner.
• Clear understanding of IAPT counselling models and their application in clinical practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence using IT systems, Microsoft Office, and clinical databases.
• Ability to prioritise workload, manage challenging situations calmly, and adapt positively to changing demands.
• Commitment to personal and professional development, using supervision constructively and maintaining reflective practice.

If you’re passionate about empowering individuals, reducing stigma, and improving mental health outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.

Why join Rethink Mental Illness?

We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to be themselves. You'll benefit from:

• An inclusive culture , with colleague-led staff networks for Disability & Neurodiversity, Race & Ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, Gender Equality and Menopause.
• Flexible working and 25 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with the option to buy or sell leave.
• Wellbeing support including our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and Unmind.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Financial and family benefits including a contributory pension, enhanced family leave and travel schemes.
• Recognition and rewards including discounts, cashback offers and a Blue Light Card.
• Referral bonus where you can earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.

Our commitment to inclusion

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We're also committed to becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider supported by a multi-year equity, diversity and inclusion programme of work. For more information please view https://www.rethink.org/media/hdtjjy5b/revised-edi-plan-rethink.pdf

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and want everyone to have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experience. If you need reasonable adjustments during recruitment or when in your role, please let us know and we will work with you to understand what support you need.