South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Children and Young People's Counsellor

The closing date is 13 June 2025

Job summary

We are delighted to be in a position of expanding our workforce and are looking to appoint a Children and Young People's (CYP) Counsellor to join our well established and innovative children and young peoples mental health service in South Tyneside.

We are looking for an individual who has the ability to support the delivery of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust children and young peoples mental health Lifecycle Service.

The team is multi-disciplinary and is comprised of high and low intensity Children and Young Peoples Mental Health (CYPMH) practitioners providing a range of therapeutic interventions to children, young people and their families who present with moderately severe mental health conditions.

If you are a skilled, experienced, enthusiastic and highly motivated (CYP) Counsellor with significant experience, and seeking an opportunity to play an instrumental role in delivery innovative services for children, young people and their families, this could be the post for you.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Carl Sketchley, CYPMHS Clinical Lead or Paula Wake, Clinical Team Manager on 0191 2832937

Main duties of the job

You will have sound knowledge and skills pertaining to CYPMH. You will work autonomously as a practitioner and collaboratively with colleagues across a wide range of professions and organisations.

You must have:

Diploma, Degree, MSc, or MA level training in Counselling.

Registration/accreditation with an appropriate governing body e.g. UKCP/BACP

A recognised qualification in working therapeutically with children and young people.

Experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families

Experience of working within a community context

Ability to complete mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families

Ability to engage vulnerable and hard to reach, under served population..

Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children

Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist childrens service provision

Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.

Proven organisational skills and proven time and caseload management skills.

Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.

Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

About us

Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Details

Date posted

30 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year £38,682 - £46,580 (25/26 pay award pending)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9155-CMAHP-0525-65

Job locations

Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre & Library

10 Prince Edward Road

South Shields

NE34 8PS


Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as a member of the Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service in South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust based within the Lifecycle Primary Care Mental Health Service.

The service is a getting help service, described in the iTHRIVE multiagency model of childrens mental health services.

To offer counselling support to children and young people with moderate mental health needs.

This includes the direct provision of evidence-based interventions and outcome focused standards of care to children and families.

The delivery of high-quality training, consultation, and support to universal services.

To offer clinical supervision and support the facilitation and development of clinical expertise within the team.

To assist leadership, motivation and support to the team.

To support with service development and innovative models.

To support with clinical governance and quality monitoring, ongoing research and audit of practice.

To work autonomously, assessing child/young person needs, identify and implement a plan of care and initiate appropriate holistic research-based health information and care.

To take a lead / champion role in an area of specialist area of interest relevant to a childrens mental health service.

The service will be delivered from community bases as an integral part of an agreed iTHRIVE multi-agency model of Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service provision.

Work collaboratively with multi professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective, evidence based and safe

This will be achieved by:

Listening to and understanding the community

Bringing people together to develop a shared local vision with service users as equal partners

Assessing community assets, resources, needs and issues

Empowering community members to identify local issues and articulate solutions

Linking in with Community Mental Health Services (i.e. CYPS, IAPT, CTT)

The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.

To always promote a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.

To always promote a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as a member of the Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service in South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust based within the Lifecycle Primary Care Mental Health Service.

The service is a getting help service, described in the iTHRIVE multiagency model of childrens mental health services.

To offer counselling support to children and young people with moderate mental health needs.

This includes the direct provision of evidence-based interventions and outcome focused standards of care to children and families.

The delivery of high-quality training, consultation, and support to universal services.

To offer clinical supervision and support the facilitation and development of clinical expertise within the team.

To assist leadership, motivation and support to the team.

To support with service development and innovative models.

To support with clinical governance and quality monitoring, ongoing research and audit of practice.

To work autonomously, assessing child/young person needs, identify and implement a plan of care and initiate appropriate holistic research-based health information and care.

To take a lead / champion role in an area of specialist area of interest relevant to a childrens mental health service.

The service will be delivered from community bases as an integral part of an agreed iTHRIVE multi-agency model of Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service provision.

Work collaboratively with multi professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective, evidence based and safe

This will be achieved by:

Listening to and understanding the community

Bringing people together to develop a shared local vision with service users as equal partners

Assessing community assets, resources, needs and issues

Empowering community members to identify local issues and articulate solutions

Linking in with Community Mental Health Services (i.e. CYPS, IAPT, CTT)

The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.

To always promote a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.

To always promote a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified to Diploma, Degree, MSc, or MA level in Counselling.
  • Registered/accredited with appropriate governing body e.g. UKCP/BACP
  • Possession of a recognised qualification in working therapeutically with children and young people.
  • To be registered/accredited with UKCP/BACP

Desirable

  • Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
  • Evidence of further study to enhance practice
  • Recognised supervision course
  • Evidence of leadership responsibilities

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of working with children and young people and families.
  • Experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
  • Experience of working within a community/educational context

Desirable

  • Facilitating teaching or delivering training
  • Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.
  • Experience of working in a children and young peoples mental health service.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of universal and specialist childrens mental health service provision.
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
  • Proven organisational skills.
  • Proven time and caseload management skills
  • Able to write clear reports and letters. Demonstrates a high standard in both written and oral communication.
  • Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Ability to undertake risk assessments.
  • Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
  • Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of children's mental health disorders and how this may present in children and young people.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence based psychological therapies

Desirable

  • A working knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health
  • Knowledge of relevant guidance policy and good practice

Physical skills

Essential

  • Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
  • Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of the training course and work within the service.
  • Ability to sit, stand, and walk as required across the full duration of the working day.
  • Ability to - on occasion, to move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
  • The ability to work flexibly sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified to Diploma, Degree, MSc, or MA level in Counselling.
  • Registered/accredited with appropriate governing body e.g. UKCP/BACP
  • Possession of a recognised qualification in working therapeutically with children and young people.
  • To be registered/accredited with UKCP/BACP

Desirable

  • Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
  • Evidence of further study to enhance practice
  • Recognised supervision course
  • Evidence of leadership responsibilities

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of working with children and young people and families.
  • Experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
  • Experience of working within a community/educational context

Desirable

  • Facilitating teaching or delivering training
  • Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.
  • Experience of working in a children and young peoples mental health service.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of universal and specialist childrens mental health service provision.
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
  • Proven organisational skills.
  • Proven time and caseload management skills
  • Able to write clear reports and letters. Demonstrates a high standard in both written and oral communication.
  • Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Ability to undertake risk assessments.
  • Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
  • Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of children's mental health disorders and how this may present in children and young people.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence based psychological therapies

Desirable

  • A working knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health
  • Knowledge of relevant guidance policy and good practice

Physical skills

Essential

  • Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
  • Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of the training course and work within the service.
  • Ability to sit, stand, and walk as required across the full duration of the working day.
  • Ability to - on occasion, to move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
  • The ability to work flexibly sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre & Library

10 Prince Edward Road

South Shields

NE34 8PS


Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre & Library

10 Prince Edward Road

South Shields

NE34 8PS


Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead

Carl Sketchley

carl.sketchley@nhs.net

01912832937

Details

Date posted

30 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year £38,682 - £46,580 (25/26 pay award pending)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9155-CMAHP-0525-65

Job locations

Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre & Library

10 Prince Edward Road

South Shields

NE34 8PS


Supporting documents

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