BAM Counsellor

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a BAM Counsellor to support our BAM Team.

Deadline: 19th August 2024

Location: London

Salary: Starting salary 36,724 plus £3,285 London Weighting (Grade C: £36,724 to £40,755)

Hours: Full time

Contract type: This is a fixed term full time role ending August 2025 with the potential for extension, at 32 hours per week as part of our 32-hour week pilot. This is due to be reviewed in March 2025 and may revert to 35 hours per week.

Becoming A Man (BAM) is a two-year school-based counselling and mentoring programme that guides young men as they learn, practice, and internalise social-emotional skills, make responsible decisions for their future, and become positive members of their school and community. BAM was first developed in Chicago by Youth Guidance in 2001 and has been validated by two randomised control trials, having shown long-term positive outcomes for young people. Since 2020, BAM has been delivered in six secondary schools across Lambeth and Islington by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF).

MHF is seeking a new Counsellor to join the team in continuing the programme across schools in Islington. Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work in partnership with teachers and school staff, effective leadership skills, and a background in youth engagement will be required.

What does the role involve?

· leading and facilitating four to five weekly BAM groups during the school-day, utilizing youth engagement, clinical counselling, Men’s Work, and Rites of Passage skills;

· collaborating with school administration, teachers, and other Mental Health Foundation programmes to provide and participate in professional development sessions.

Requirements

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?

· The appointed person will be able to effectively engage diverse groups of young people in group activity and be proficient in recording confidential case notes in a timely manner.

· The appointed person will have lived experience of the issues encountered by BAM participants and/or proven experience of working in a therapeutic capacity with groups of young people.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including an enhanced DBS check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of enhanced DBS checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK. 

Other information

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application below.  Please ensure you attach an up to date CV and statement of suitability answering all points of the person specification.  Applications will close at 5pm on 19th August and we are unable to accept late applications.  Interviews are planned for 28th and 29th August.  You will be asked to deliver a presentation on the day of the interview.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with.  Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme.  Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment.  Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview.  Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing).  We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home.

We look forward to hearing from you