30 hours per week (term-time only) / £34,475 per annum, pro rata / permanent / working days to be discussed at interview (role may be considered for job share between two counsellors)
YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.
We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.
We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.
Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.
YMCA Dialogue is a BACP Accredited service, providing counselling services in schools since 1994. Dialogue has built an excellent reputation with schools, colleges, professionals and commissioners and the service has developed and expanded over the years, now operating across Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.
We are recruiting for qualified counsellor or therapist with experience of working with secondary school children to join our team and deliver our service at The Forest School in Horsham, West Sussex.
We are seeking candidates who are passionate about making a difference to lives of the children they work with. You will provide an ethical, professional counselling service at The Forest School and will establish good 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 required to undertake assessments with parents/carers and counselling sessions with children, complete all associated admin and attend regular clinical supervision and line management meetings.
Key responsibilities
- Run a suitable appointment system flexible to the needs of the school, offering students appropriate assessments and counselling appointments.
- Manage the tight time boundaries of the role and the often complex and varied workload.
- Liaise with school staff over referrals, waiting lists and appointments.
- Carry out initial clinical and risk assessments and establish appropriate referral pathways with other services where appropriate. Continually assess risk throughout each student’s counselling.
- Follow YMCA Dialogue safeguarding procedures; to know who the School’s Designated Safeguarding Officer/s is and how to contact them when a safeguarding concern arises.
- Work at all times within the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
- Maintain individual membership of the BACP and to become a Registered Member (or other professional body such as HCPC).
- You will establish good professional working relationships with key school staff.
Qualifications, knowledge, and experience
You will have a genuine interest in working with children and young people of primary and secondary school age, together with experience of building effective therapeutic relationships. You will bring a professional, flexible approach, excellent interpersonal and time management skills, and ideally have experience of counselling children and young people using creative therapeutic approaches. Experience of working within a school setting would be advantageous.
Essential:
- Counselling or psychotherapy qualification at Level 4 minimum; Level 6 or above is desirable – along with two years’ or 450+ hours post qualifying experience in face-to-face individual counselling or therapy with young people (preferred), including experience of working with risk-related issues as a qualified counsellor.
- You will already have a sound understanding of child protection and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues, policies, and procedures.
- You will already have proven experience in safeguarding children and young people, responding to, managing, and referring safeguarding issues.
- You will already have a BACP Membership; BACP Registered or Accredited. Or other professional body e.g. HCPC.
If you would like any further information or an informal discussion about this post, please contact [email protected]. If you require any assistance with our application process, please do email us at [email protected].
CLOSING DATE: Monday 31 August 2026 at midnight.
Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.
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 and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns.
Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity checks.
