School Counsellor

**This is a unique opportunity for a fully qualified Counsellor to make a real difference to young people’s mental health in local schools **

We have an exciting new opportunity available within our school service. We are looking for a dynamic counsellor who can offer a range of therapeutic interventions to all ages and who is able to positively engage with neurodiverse children and young people, as we strive to improve their mental health.

**Benefits**
- **Term time only, meaning annual leave during school holidays**:

- **People focused organisation with excellent staff satisfaction results**:

- **Additional annual leave for your birthday**:

- **Flexible approach to working**:

- **5% contributory pension scheme**

**About Us**

We may be a bit biased, but we think North Staffs Mind is a wonderful place to work We are a local charity supporting local people but can offer the support and opportunities that come with being part of the national Mind federation.

We have been delivering a range of services for adults, children, and young people in North Staffordshire for over 45 years. We pride ourselves on our relaxed and friendly atmosphere and our commitment to delivering high quality, client focused, respected, professional services.

We have an ambitious People Plan that focuses on our values of being **Open, Together, Responsive, Independent and Unstoppable**.

**About the Service**

Our well-established school team are proud to work in multiple schools and Academy Trusts across the Staffordshire area. New commissions are regularly acquired as we broaden our reach to provide the highest quality counselling support to children and young people within the school environment.

Quote from one of the team: '_**Working as a School Counsellor is an incredibly rewarding role. Each student brings something new to the sessions and it is a privilege to hear their stories. As a practitioner, working in such a supportive and collaborative school environment has helped me to develop and grow my practice, it is a fantastic role which continues to challenge, reward and allow me to advance as a counsellor.'**_

We are committed to equal opportunities and work with people from different cultural backgrounds, using interpreters when necessary and the service is available for young people from age 4 to 19 years old.

**About You**

We are looking for a fully qualified Counsellor with a real passion for supporting young people experiencing mental health issues.

You should be flexible, approachable and committed to working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in order to achieve the best possible outcome for every person you work with.

You should be adaptable in approach as you will be providing a diverse and engaging range of therapeutic interventions, not necessarily counselling, tailored to the individual client.

**The Details**

In return we offer a varied and rewarding role in a people-focused organisation that strives to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our local communities.

**You will be based in an individual school(s)* as well as our Head Office, Hanley and may also be expected to work remotely from home.**
- **Hours: Various - minimum of 14 per week, term time only**:

- **Salary: £22,068-£26,664 gross per annum, dependent on experience (salary will be pro rata’d dependent on hours)**:

- **Report to: School Team Manager**

**Job Summary**:
Working within North Staffs Mind Schools Counselling team, which provides counselling services to numerous schools across Staffordshire, a school counsellor is required to work independently within a school environment delivering one to one counselling and also group work to children and young people.

Our service is delivered on school premises, although we may also deliver services remotely via the telephone and/or video.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Offer professional therapeutic service within a specialist provision to meet individual needs.
- Offer flexibility in approaches to working with CYP. This may include walk and talk sessions, parental interventions, working with a small groups of children/young people and to work creativity to meet the needs of a diverse client group within multifaceted educational settings.
- Be able to engage appropriately with neurodiverse clients.
- Work with small groups of children/young people.
- Have input into staff training/ whole class activities to raise awareness of mental health and emotional well-being of children/young people.
- Share information required to ensure that the individual children and young people are protected/supported in line with agreed protocols.
- Maintain necessary records to ensure work is recorded appropriately and produce reports for information and statistical purposes so that the work can be effectively monitored and managed.
- Make and maintain links with staff in the school in order to ensure good communication.
- Liaise with key individuals in order to ensure the young p