Job summary
Welcome to Alliance Psychological Services, where we've been dedicated to providing first-rate counselling and psychological therapy services to our local communities for over two decades. As the largest and most trusted psychological therapy provider in Teesside, we take pride in our commitment to delivering cutting-edge, evidence-based services that prioritise people's mental health and well-being. Our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, evidence-based support, delivered by our team of trained and passionate staff. We place people at the core of everything we do, striving to excel in mental health provision.
We are looking to recruit a Counselling Lead to join the team.
The successful post holder will effectively co-ordinate the delivery and expansion of therapeutic counselling services in schools and various projects, ensuring compassionate, safe, and high-quality care for children, young people, and their families. Additionally, you will be responsible for developing and leading a counselling placement scheme that supports workforce development and service growth. Collaborating with the Team Manager, youll ensure the counselling provision meets all the contractual obligations and requirements, while also providing management and supervision to a team of dedicated counsellors.
Full time and Part Time positions available. Please specify on your application how many hours you are looking to work.
Main duties of the job
Our head office is in Stockton-on-Tees, however the post holder will be expected to travel to multiple locations across Teesside, so access to a car is required as some locations cannot be easily accessed via bus route.
This is an exciting time to be part of our Children, Young People and Families Team, as children's mental health has become a national, regional, and local priority. We aim to foster greater collaboration across Tees Valley with other leading partners, such as TEWV CAMHS, Education, Local Authoritys and the VCSE, to ensure collective success in our endeavours. Join us in making a significant impact in the lives of children and their mental health and well-being.
We're also the leading independent provider of children and young people's mental health and emotional wellbeing services in Teesside. With a team of over 40 qualified therapists and trainees, supported by dedicated leadership, management, and support staff, we serve and support more than 3000 children, young people, families, and education settings each year. Our work is commissioned through various funding streams, including Local Authority's, schools, and the Tees Valley ICB, and we lead the Hartlepool and Stockton National Trailblazer for Mental Health Support Teams. Our service has also achieved the Investing in Children Membership Award. This scheme recognises and celebrates examples of imaginative and inclusive practice with children and young people.
Closing: 17th August
Interviews: 24th August
About us
To arrange an informal chat about the post, please contact Kaye Hooker via telephone on 01642 352747 or via email CYPFamilies@alliancepsychology.com
You must have right to work in the UK as we are currently unable to offer working visa opportunities.
Alliance offers first rate training and development opportunities, 38 days annual leave pro rata, rising 1 day every 5 years of service (as well as the option to purchase additional annual leave) EAP health scheme including costs towards eye tests/glasses, dental treatment, physio treatment and shopping discounts alongside a 3% contributory pension scheme. We also offer Life assurance, additional leave and lots of health and wellbeing initiatives for our staff, promoting flexible working for a positive work life balance.
Alliance Psychological Services Limited is committed to promoting equal opportunities in our employment practice and service delivery. We are signatories to the Mindful Employers Charter. Alliance also has Investors in People status and is committed to the National Living Wage.
Alliance Psychological Services follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each persons individual responsibility and are committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of clients. Please note that due to the nature of the duties of these roles, an enhanced criminal records disclosure will be soughtinthe event of a successful application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To effectively co-ordinate the delivery and expansion of therapeutic counselling services in schools and various projects, ensuring compassionate, safe, and high-quality care for children, young people, and their families. Additionally, you will be responsible for developing and leading a counselling placement scheme that supports workforce development and service growth. Collaborating with the Team Manager, youll ensure the counselling provision meets all the contractual obligations and requirements, while also providing management and supervision to a team of dedicated counsellors.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Management and Leadership
- Co-ordinate the day to day running; development and management of a school-based counselling service, ensuring an equitable, pro-activate and safe service for children and young people presenting with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
- Recruit, induct, support, and provide leadership and line management to a therapeutic team of counsellors including trainee counsellors as part of a thriving placement scheme.
- Provide effective supervision and case management in line with Alliances standard operating procedures.
- Support and facilitate reflective practice, problem solving and personal development of counsellors and other well-being clinicians.
- Ensure staff all complete mandatory training and access additional training where required or appropriate.
- Raise the profile of Alliance and the School Based Counselling Service
- Undertake regular monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the clinical delivery of counselling and where appropriate make or recommend changes.
- Write quarterly reports on the counselling service for the Service Manager.
- Attend and contribute to Senior Operational Management Team Meetings.
- Ensure that all safeguarding concerns are dealt with in a consistent manner, in line with Alliances policies and procedures, while being part of an on-call safeguarding duty rota.
Therapeutic Service Development
- Co-ordinate the day to day running of the provisions provided by the School Based Counselling Service
- Develop a sustainable and flexible workforce using a grow your own approach by leading a successful Counselling Placement Scheme.
- Collaborate closely with other Leads within Alliance to seamlessly integrate counselling pathways into the broader range of support services, adopting a no wrong door approach. Improving access for children, young people, and their families, ensuring they receive the right support at the right time.
- Identify and, in conjunction with the Team Manager and/or Service Manager and local partners, develop opportunities to extend and/or develop services to meet identified needs.
- Keep up to date or create policies and procedures to maintain and continually improve the standards of clinical and therapeutic practice at Alliance in line with the organisation and BACP ethical framework and embed this across the service.
- Develop and deliver training both internally to staff and volunteers as well as externally as required to other agencies, stakeholders and interested parties, plus contribute to Axis development of training and education programmes.
- Be aware, use and share evidence-based approaches to trauma relevant to the therapeutic development of the team.
Clinical Practice
- To create and maintain effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCOs, Pastoral Team, and wider teaching staff by providing advice and consultative support on emotional and mental health issues, and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for children, young people, and families with mental health needs.
- To provide assessment, including risk assessment, of children and young people and families referred for psychological therapy.
- To work within the principles of CYP IAPT ensuring the appropriate use of routine outcome monitoring tools
- To make use of referral pathways following assessment for children, young people, and families requiring other services, including statutory and voluntary agencies
- To explore and evaluate clinical treatment using evaluation tools, contributing to evidence-based practice.
- Working in collaboration to support children, young people, and families in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
- Working in collaboration with families to develop effective treatment plans and agreed outcomes.
- To operate within the Service Referral to Discharge Protocols
- Attend multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to referrals for children, young people, and families in treatment.
- Keep coherent records of all training and clinical activity in line with Alliances service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making.
- To work in partnership with other childrens mental health providers including CaMHS, developing and improving pathways for support.
- To liaise effectively with other local providers, including statutory and voluntary organisations and advocate on behalf of the family where appropriate.
Safeguarding
- Responsible for safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children & young people at all times and operating within local policies and procedures.
- Taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children & young people at risk of significant harm.
- To identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services
- To share appropriately information with parents/carers or other agencies regarding the familys wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols.
A professional and Ethical Service
- To maintain appropriate clinical notes and records on IAPTUS and in line with Alliance policies and procedures
- To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development as required for the purposes of continued professional accreditation or registration and as identified through Alliances professional development and Appraisal System
- To undertake clinical supervision as per Alliance supervision policy and in line with the appropriate professional body.
- To work within Data Protection Act 1998 and Alliance Information Governance policies and procedures
- To ensure a safe and secure working environment for self and others and to act as necessary within Health and Safety and other guidelines.
- To adhere to all Alliance Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
- To promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people using the Service.
This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliances organisational objectives and priorities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To effectively co-ordinate the delivery and expansion of therapeutic counselling services in schools and various projects, ensuring compassionate, safe, and high-quality care for children, young people, and their families. Additionally, you will be responsible for developing and leading a counselling placement scheme that supports workforce development and service growth. Collaborating with the Team Manager, youll ensure the counselling provision meets all the contractual obligations and requirements, while also providing management and supervision to a team of dedicated counsellors.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Management and Leadership
- Co-ordinate the day to day running; development and management of a school-based counselling service, ensuring an equitable, pro-activate and safe service for children and young people presenting with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
- Recruit, induct, support, and provide leadership and line management to a therapeutic team of counsellors including trainee counsellors as part of a thriving placement scheme.
- Provide effective supervision and case management in line with Alliances standard operating procedures.
- Support and facilitate reflective practice, problem solving and personal development of counsellors and other well-being clinicians.
- Ensure staff all complete mandatory training and access additional training where required or appropriate.
- Raise the profile of Alliance and the School Based Counselling Service
- Undertake regular monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the clinical delivery of counselling and where appropriate make or recommend changes.
- Write quarterly reports on the counselling service for the Service Manager.
- Attend and contribute to Senior Operational Management Team Meetings.
- Ensure that all safeguarding concerns are dealt with in a consistent manner, in line with Alliances policies and procedures, while being part of an on-call safeguarding duty rota.
Therapeutic Service Development
- Co-ordinate the day to day running of the provisions provided by the School Based Counselling Service
- Develop a sustainable and flexible workforce using a grow your own approach by leading a successful Counselling Placement Scheme.
- Collaborate closely with other Leads within Alliance to seamlessly integrate counselling pathways into the broader range of support services, adopting a no wrong door approach. Improving access for children, young people, and their families, ensuring they receive the right support at the right time.
- Identify and, in conjunction with the Team Manager and/or Service Manager and local partners, develop opportunities to extend and/or develop services to meet identified needs.
- Keep up to date or create policies and procedures to maintain and continually improve the standards of clinical and therapeutic practice at Alliance in line with the organisation and BACP ethical framework and embed this across the service.
- Develop and deliver training both internally to staff and volunteers as well as externally as required to other agencies, stakeholders and interested parties, plus contribute to Axis development of training and education programmes.
- Be aware, use and share evidence-based approaches to trauma relevant to the therapeutic development of the team.
Clinical Practice
- To create and maintain effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCOs, Pastoral Team, and wider teaching staff by providing advice and consultative support on emotional and mental health issues, and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for children, young people, and families with mental health needs.
- To provide assessment, including risk assessment, of children and young people and families referred for psychological therapy.
- To work within the principles of CYP IAPT ensuring the appropriate use of routine outcome monitoring tools
- To make use of referral pathways following assessment for children, young people, and families requiring other services, including statutory and voluntary agencies
- To explore and evaluate clinical treatment using evaluation tools, contributing to evidence-based practice.
- Working in collaboration to support children, young people, and families in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
- Working in collaboration with families to develop effective treatment plans and agreed outcomes.
- To operate within the Service Referral to Discharge Protocols
- Attend multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to referrals for children, young people, and families in treatment.
- Keep coherent records of all training and clinical activity in line with Alliances service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making.
- To work in partnership with other childrens mental health providers including CaMHS, developing and improving pathways for support.
- To liaise effectively with other local providers, including statutory and voluntary organisations and advocate on behalf of the family where appropriate.
Safeguarding
- Responsible for safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children & young people at all times and operating within local policies and procedures.
- Taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children & young people at risk of significant harm.
- To identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services
- To share appropriately information with parents/carers or other agencies regarding the familys wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols.
A professional and Ethical Service
- To maintain appropriate clinical notes and records on IAPTUS and in line with Alliance policies and procedures
- To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development as required for the purposes of continued professional accreditation or registration and as identified through Alliances professional development and Appraisal System
- To undertake clinical supervision as per Alliance supervision policy and in line with the appropriate professional body.
- To work within Data Protection Act 1998 and Alliance Information Governance policies and procedures
- To ensure a safe and secure working environment for self and others and to act as necessary within Health and Safety and other guidelines.
- To adhere to all Alliance Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
- To promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people using the Service.
This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliances organisational objectives and priorities.
Person Specification
Other Skills and Qualities
Essential
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health interventions with Children, Young People, Parents/Carers/Families
- Ability to conduct group therapeutic interventions with children and their families
- Ability to work across a range of settings to increase mental health awareness
- Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people
- Ability to assess risk and to record and communicate it appropriately.
- Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
- Ability to mange own case load effectively.
- A participative leadership and management style
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Effective people management and interpersonal relationship
- Good time management with ability to multi-task
- Ability to undertake assessment including effective risk management of CYP.
- Excellent people management and negotiation skills
- Coordination and decision making (able to organise, plan and prioritise own work)
- Ability to manage change.
- Knowledge and experience in using IT (including Teams, Outlook, and other Microsoft Office packages)
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in children and young people.
- Knowledge of educational environments
- Knowledge of safeguarding issues
- Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence
- Knowledge CYP-IPAT principles and I-Thrive Framework
- Extensive knowledge of person-centred therapeutic theory, practice, and interventions with CYPF
- Extensive knowledge of clinical supervision theory and practice
- Knowledge of issues affecting the mental health of children & young people
- Experience of using a range of evidenced based interventions including the use of Routine Outcome Measures.
- A proven track record in the Counselling and Supervision Arena
- Full, enhanced, and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Self-motivated
- Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
- Team player
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.
- Able to drive and access to a car
Desirable
- Continued professional development showing further understanding and knowledge working therapeutically with children, young people, and families
- Proven commitment to continuous professional development.
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 4 years post-qualification experience as a counsellor/ psychotherapist working with children, young people, and families.
- Experience working with volunteers and/or placement counsellors.
- Experience of supervising and managing teams
- Appropriate experience of writing and presenting reports
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of CYP-IAPT and Ithrive
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level in Counselling/ Psychotherapy
- Registration/ Accreditation with UKCP/BACP/BPC or another recognised provider.
- Management Qualification
Desirable
- Any additional child/young person focused qualification/training
- Supervision Qualification
Person Specification
Other Skills and Qualities
Essential
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health interventions with Children, Young People, Parents/Carers/Families
- Ability to conduct group therapeutic interventions with children and their families
- Ability to work across a range of settings to increase mental health awareness
- Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people
- Ability to assess risk and to record and communicate it appropriately.
- Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
- Ability to mange own case load effectively.
- A participative leadership and management style
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Effective people management and interpersonal relationship
- Good time management with ability to multi-task
- Ability to undertake assessment including effective risk management of CYP.
- Excellent people management and negotiation skills
- Coordination and decision making (able to organise, plan and prioritise own work)
- Ability to manage change.
- Knowledge and experience in using IT (including Teams, Outlook, and other Microsoft Office packages)
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in children and young people.
- Knowledge of educational environments
- Knowledge of safeguarding issues
- Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence
- Knowledge CYP-IPAT principles and I-Thrive Framework
- Extensive knowledge of person-centred therapeutic theory, practice, and interventions with CYPF
- Extensive knowledge of clinical supervision theory and practice
- Knowledge of issues affecting the mental health of children & young people
- Experience of using a range of evidenced based interventions including the use of Routine Outcome Measures.
- A proven track record in the Counselling and Supervision Arena
- Full, enhanced, and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Self-motivated
- Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
- Team player
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.
- Able to drive and access to a car
Desirable
- Continued professional development showing further understanding and knowledge working therapeutically with children, young people, and families
- Proven commitment to continuous professional development.
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 4 years post-qualification experience as a counsellor/ psychotherapist working with children, young people, and families.
- Experience working with volunteers and/or placement counsellors.
- Experience of supervising and managing teams
- Appropriate experience of writing and presenting reports
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of CYP-IAPT and Ithrive
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level in Counselling/ Psychotherapy
- Registration/ Accreditation with UKCP/BACP/BPC or another recognised provider.
- Management Qualification
Desirable
- Any additional child/young person focused qualification/training
- Supervision Qualification
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.
