Purpose: To support children and young people, aged 4 and above, who have experienced any form of sexual violence
Hours required: Up to eight CARA clients per week.
Rates: Rates are £37.50 per session, counselling rooms provided free-of-charge.
Qualifications: Diploma in counselling or equivalent, certificate in counselling children, play therapy qualification or equivalent
Time/Locations: Daytime, Mondays and/or Fridays. Face-to-face sessions in Colchester (potential in the future to offer sessions in other CARA centres across Mid and North Essex).
To Apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from our website
Application deadline: 10am, Friday 19th June 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 29th June 2026
Start date: As soon as possible, subject to receipt of satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.
Mandatory specialist sexual violence training dates: To be confirmed.
This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.
What we expect from our sessional counsellors:
· Support up to eight CARA clients each week
· Maintain and update accurate database records of clients
· Diploma in Counselling or equivalent, with a minimum of 400 counselling hours.
· Certificate in CounsellingChildren, Play Therapy qualification or equivalent
· Experience of working therapeutically with children with psychological and behavioural problems.
· An understanding of how trauma affects children both physically and emotionally.
· An ability to work creatively to enable children to process their conscious and unconscious emotions.
· An ability to work collaboratively with parents, while protecting children’s confidentiality.
· To liaise with other agencies including social care, Children and Adolescent Mental Health service (CAMHS) and schools, and attend meetings and provide reports, where required.
· Attendance of one CARA Meeting per month and attendance of monthly point of contact meetings.
· Attendance of clinical supervision, provided by a CARA-approved supervisor.
· Attend annual safeguarding training and other relevant training
· An open and non-judgemental attitude.
· Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding, both in relation to children and to vulnerable adults;
· Sessional Counsellors/Play Therapists will be working with clients on behalf of CARA and not on a private basis. As such, they will be bound by CARA’s processes, policies and procedures.
· Commitment to the feminist ethos of CARA
· Willingness to commit the necessary time to supporting vulnerable clients
· Membership of BACP, UKCP or equivalent professional body
· Abide by BACP’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy
· Owing to the nature of the role, we are only able to take on female candidates
What the Sessional Counsellor/Play Therapist can expect from us:
· Training and support
· Ongoing training opportunities
We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and those with additional language skills, including BSL.
Job Type: Freelance
Pay: £37.50 per hour
Experience:
- counselling: 3 years (required)
Work Location: In person
