Counsellor on Placement North West London

Place2be; Greater London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in children's mental health is seeking passionate Counsellors for placements in schools. This role offers the chance to provide vital emotional and therapeutic support to children and young people, contributing to their well-being and mental health. With a commitment to professional development, successful candidates will benefit from tailored training workshops and clinical supervision. This opportunity not only allows you to make a meaningful impact but also serves as a stepping stone for a rewarding career in mental health support. Join a dedicated team that values compassion and integrity while fostering resilience in schools and communities.

Benefits

Regular supervision

Tailored training workshops

Clinical placement recognition

CPD workshops

Opportunities for career advancement

Qualifications

• Fully qualified Counsellor or studying towards a relevant qualification.
• Experience working with children is essential for first-year students.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and therapeutic support to children aged 4-18.
• Conduct one-to-one counselling sessions with up to 3 children weekly.

Skills

Counselling Skills

Therapeutic Support

Emotional Support

Communication Skills

Education

Diploma in Counselling (Level 4 or above)

Degree, MSc, or MA in Counselling or Psychotherapy

Job description

Thank you for your interest in a Counselling Placement at a Place2Be partner school!

Click this link to view a map of our placement schools: Placement Map

• Please note that not all schools will have placements available, but we will try our best to match you to a convenient placement.
• We recruit for Counsellors to start in school in January, April, or September, in line with school term time. The recruitment and onboarding process can take 2-3 months.
• Please only apply for one vacancy as multiple applications are rejected on the system. If successful upon interview, you will have the opportunity to discuss your location preference.
• All successful applicants need a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check that is enhanced, checked for children’s and adults’ barred list, and registered on the Update Service.

Role Description

Counsellors on Placement provide emotional and therapeutic support to children and young people aged 4-18 in Place2Be partner schools. As an organisation that adopts the BACP ethical framework of good practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, counsellors working within the organisation are dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of the children they work with.

• Place2Be offers high-level support through regular supervision, tailored training workshops, and a well-recognised clinical placement.
• We provide a comprehensive induction programme and daily clinical supervision.
• You need to be available for at least one day per week to work in a therapeutic capacity with up to 3 children, offering one-to-one counselling.
• Placements are term-time only, lasting for one academic year, with opportunities to extend beyond one year.
• You can attend up to six optional workshops throughout the year, recognised as CPD time.
• Sessions with children count as clinical hours towards professional accreditation, recognised by BACP and UKCP.
• A placement can be a stepping stone into a career with Place2Be; over two-thirds of our clinical staff were once placement counsellors.
• We have positions available in primary and secondary schools nationwide.

Counting your hours

All clinical hours gained can be used towards accreditation with bodies like BACP and UKCP. Please check with your course tutor whether child hours are accepted for your course before applying. If not accepted, you can still apply for a placement as a second placement to gain experience working with children and young people.

Diversity and Inclusion

Place2Be is committed to equal opportunities and anti-discrimination practices, encouraging applications from all community sections. We are particularly interested in applicants from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. For clinical roles, we especially seek male candidates to reflect community diversity.

About You

You will be a fully qualified Counsellor, Therapist, or studying towards one of these at the following levels:

• Diploma in Counselling (Level 4 or above). If in your first year, you will have completed a full academic year Certificate Course in Counselling or equivalent of 9-12 months.
• Degree, MSc, or MA in Counselling or Psychotherapy. If in your first year, relevant experience of direct work with children is required.

We are always looking for suitable counsellors on placement. If you believe you can thrive in this environment, please apply. View/download the full Job Description and Person Specification on our website for more details.

About Us

Place2Be is the leading children's mental health charity providing in-school support and professional development to improve emotional well-being. We support around 243,000 children and young people across 500 UK primary and secondary schools.

Our services include counselling, creative work, and play, focusing on early intervention within the CAMHS system. We train around 1,200 counsellors on placement annually and offer professional development for school staff. Our work aims to build resilient, mentally healthy schools and communities.

Our values include compassion, integrity, perseverance, and creativity, guiding our approach and work ethic.