School Counsellor

THE ROLE: Part-time (7.5 hours per week – term-time only) Fixed-term until 31 July 2025 (maternity cover) - based on site at the school, Wednesdays 0800 – 1600 (there may be some flexibility with this)

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Dialogue School Counselling is an established, BACP accredited school counselling service covering Brighton and Hove, East and West Sussex and Surrey. We are currently looking for a qualified counsellor with experience of working with primary and secondary age students with SEN to join our team and deliver the school counselling service at Downs View School in Brighton. Downs View School is a specialist provision school for learners aged 4-16, meeting the learning needs for pupils with profound and multiple, severe and moderate learning difficulties. Many of the pupils have autism and communication difficulties.

In this role, you will provide an ethical, professional counselling service and establish a professional working relationships with key school staff. This will include discussion of referrals, managing a session timetable within the school day and agreeing a process for students coming to and from sessions. You will be undertaking assessments and counselling sessions. In addition, you will complete associated administration tasks, attend regular clinical supervision, and line management meetings.

ABOUT YOU: We know that there are great candidates who will not fit everything described, or who have important skills we have not mentioned. If that is you, please do not hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself

You will already hold a Counselling or psychotherapy qualification with a recognised training provider and have a registration or accreditation with BACP or equivalent professional body such as HCPC, UKCP. You will have post-qualifying experience in individual counselling or therapy with children to include working with risk issues, along with experience of using creative therapeutic techniques and working in an SEN school setting.

You will have a professional, flexible attitude with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage your time well. You will be confident in identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns and have experience of working with children and young people. You will also have a sound understanding of child protection and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues, policies and procedures.

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion about this post, please contact Alice.Reid@ymcadlg.org. Should you require any assistance with our application process, please email Recruitment@ymcadlg.org

CLOSING DATE: 21 April 2024 at midnight. We reserve the right to close this advert early if a successful candidate is found, so please submit your application as soon as possible. Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK

An inclusive workplace - We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. Accessibility - If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists)check