We are seeking part-time Sessional (school based) Counsellors to join our busy team, supporting Children and Young People aged 11 to 18 years with their mental health and emotional resilience.
Reporting directly to the service manager, you will be responsible for delivering one to one counselling to children and young people who are suffering a wide range of mental health concerns. This may require you to work in one specified school, college or venue, in person or in several schools across the project area. Delivering counselling sessions via phone or MS teams to support young people not in education, such as home schooled, NEETs, and home based clients, may also be required.
Generally, work will take place in schools, colleges and occasionally in other venues in the specified location, however there maybe opportunities to work across Darlington, South Durham and Hambleton and Richmondshire.
There may be scope to work with younger clients aged 6 - 10. Experience of working with this age group would be beneficial.
The service manager will assign your caseloads and you will be required to update them regularly, maintain up to date, accurate case notes, and ensure all case files are kept confidential and secure and handled correctly. Ensuring Darlington Mind Confidentiality and GDPR and other relevant policies are adhered to.
You will deliver a person centred, integrative approach in counselling to meet the needs of those young people referred into our service. Ensuring you establish and maintain the therapeutic relationship at all times by using the core principles of counselling and following the guidance of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy or equivalent.
You must ensure all young people are fully aware of confidentiality, the triple harm clause, the sharing of information and safeguarding though the use of a counselling contract.
Working ethically and ensuring best practice is delivered to all young people, and signposting to other services and agencies as required.
Working remotely at times, you will be responsible for liaising with school staff to arrange appointments and room bookings to support those pupils assigned to you. You may also be required to meet with parents, teachers and other professionals.
Ensuring full compliance with Darlington Minds Safeguarding Procedures, reporting all safeguarding concerns to local Designated Safeguarding Leads and updating service manager of any concerns raised.
You will be required to attend regular clinical supervisions session as per your caseload which we will fund. There will also be the need to attend regular managerial supervision, team meetings, CPD, and training.
You will require access to a car for work
This role involves working with children and is subject to robust safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced criminal records check. Darlington Mind is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We warmly encourage applications from people from diverse communities, including but not limited to people with lived experience of mental health problems, people with disabilities and people from the LGBTQ and BAME communities.
We are an equal opportunities employer.
Job Type: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: From £15.00 per hour
Experience:
- Working with children and young people: 2 years (preferred)
- Providing CYP counselling: 2 years (preferred)
- Working with secondary school students: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
How to Apply
Please submit your CV in the first instance to [email protected]
Closing date for applications: Friday 30th October 2026