Counsellor - Becoming a Man (BAM)

Islington Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days leave

Flexible working

London Living Wage

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work

Gym discounts

Local discounts

Job summary

Islington Council is seeking skilled and committed practitioners to join the Becoming A Man (BAM) team as Counsellors working directly with young people in secondary schools. BAM is a school-based counselling and mentoring programme supporting boys aged 12–16 to develop social-emotional skills, strengthen relationships and make positive choices about their future.

As a BAM Counsellor, you will build trusted relationships with young people and create safe, supportive and appropriately challenging

Qualifications

• Experience working directly with young people in education, youth work, counselling, social care or community settings.
• Strong interpersonal and empathetic skills with ability to engage diverse groups of young people.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, relationship-based and anti-racist practice.

Responsibilities

• Deliver weekly BAM group counselling sessions (BAM Circles).
• Provide individual counselling, mentoring and support to BAM participants.
• Build trust with young people while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Collaborate with school staff and other professionals to support wellbeing and engagement.
• Create safe, engaging environments for social-emotional development.
• Maintain records and contribute to programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Participate in training, supervision and reflective practice for delivery quality.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Group facilitation

Trauma-informed

Collaboration with staff

Equality & inclusion

Reflective practice

Record keeping

Professional development

Job description

Focused on changing the future

Islington Council is seeking skilled and committed practitioners to join the

About The Role

Islington Council is seeking skilled and committed practitioners to join the Becoming A Man (BAM) team as Counsellors working directly with young people in secondary schools.
BAM is a school‑based counselling and mentoring programme that supports boys aged 12–16 to develop social‑emotional skills, strengthen relationships and make positive choices about their future. As a BAM Counsellor, you will build trusted relationships with young people and create safe, supportive and appropriately challenging spaces in which they can reflect, develop and thrive.

What will you be doing?

• Deliver weekly curriculum‑based BAM group counselling sessions ("BAM Circles").
• Provide individual counselling, mentoring and support to young people participating in BAM.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with young people and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Work collaboratively with school staff, pastoral teams and other professionals to support young people’s engagement and wellbeing.
• Create safe, engaging and inclusive environments that support young people’s social‑emotional development.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to programme monitoring, evaluation and data collection requirements.
• Participate fully in BAM training, coaching, supervision and reflective practice to support high-quality and consistent programme delivery.
• Follow safeguarding procedures and identify and elevate concerns appropriately.

What skills and experience are we looking for?

• Experience working directly with young people in education, youth work, counselling, social care or community settings.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive, trusting relationships with young people.
• Strong group facilitation, communication and empathy skills.
• An understanding of trauma‑informed, relationship‑based and culturally responsive practice.
• An ability to work effectively and collaboratively with school staff and other professionals.
• A commitment to equality, inclusion and anti‑racist practice.
• A commitment to ongoing professional and personal development, including openness to coaching, feedback and reflective practice.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to maintain accurate records and contribute to programme monitoring and evaluation.

Occupational Requirement

Due to the nature and delivery model of the BAM programme, this role is subject to a Genuine Occupational Requirement that applicants must be male. Applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.
The role involves building sustained, trusted relationships with boys and young men through a programme specifically designed around their social‑emotional development, positive identity development, and experiences of masculinity.

About You

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.
We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.
To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work‑life balance, as well as a 35‑hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.
We maintain a zero‑tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.
We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.
We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The post is subject to a enhanced DBS check with children barred list, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.