Band 5 Counsellor within the Tees Valley Getting Help Service

Job summary
A collaborative of local organisations (TEWV, The Link, The Junction, Alliance Psychological Services, Changing Futures North East, and Teesside Mind) have come together to provide the Tees Valley CYP Getting Advice & Help (GA&H) service. This innovative partnership is built on a shared commitment to improving mental health outcomes for children and young people by making services more equitable, accessible, and responsive to local needs.

TEWV leads the partnership, with Alliance Psychological Services and The Link providing operational leadership in North Tees (including Darlington) and South Tees respectively; ensuring strong, place-based delivery.

This role offers a unique opportunity to be part of a transformative initiative that is reshaping how mental health support is delivered to young people in our communities.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be part of a wider team that collaboratively provides high-quality, brief, and evidence-based support that is sensitive to the unique needs and experiences of children and young people. This role will provide early intervention and structured therapeutic support to children, young people, and families experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health challenges. Working within a supportive, trauma-informed environment where the emphasis is on collaborative delivery of short-term, outcomes-based interventions, as well as contributing to consultation and partnership work in educational and community settings.

About us
We're proud to have directly helped 27,000 local people this last year, more than we've ever supported. We've been working in local communities to improve mental health and wellbeing for 30 years and during that time our support has evolved, enabling us to help people in new and impactful ways.

We believe everyone has the right to enjoy good mental health and our team of trusted professionals provide expert support to help people lead full and happy lives. What's more, we campaign locally to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding of what good mental health looks like.

Ours is a vibrant organisation to work for and our staff are our most important asset. We know just how important the benefits of a mentally healthy workplace are. So, it's only natural that our people and our culture are at the heart of all we do. Staff wellbeing is a high priority for us and we take great care and pride in making sure that everyone who works with us feels valued and supported. We're dedicated, friendly and open, working together to improve the lives of local people experiencing mental health problems.

Job responsibilities
Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To provide, under supervision, assessment, including risk assessment, of children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• To support management of the waiting list playing a proactive role in prioritisation, assessment, and signposting.
• Offer trauma-informed advice and informal guidance to education staff and carers, supporting relational and developmentally sensitive environments.
• Contribute to the delivery of training or workshops (under the guidance of senior clinicians) where appropriate.
• Deliver structured, time-limited therapeutic interventions (individual or group) for children, young people, and families, using evidence-informed approaches.
• Support the use of routine outcome monitoring tools (aligned with CYP IAPT) to assess progress and inform care planning.
• To make use of referral pathways following assessment for children, young people and families requiring other services, including statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Working in collaboration with children, young people and families to develop effective treatment plans and agreed outcomes.
• To operate within the Service Referral to Discharge Protocols.
• Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope, or more severe ensuring adherence to other relevant element of service delivery.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.
• Registration, through an approved professional body, either BABCP or BPS.
• Make reasonable adjustments to interventions to support engagement e.g. modifying language for CYP with autism, holding shorter sessions for CYP with ADHD or printing on green paper for individuals with dyslexia.

Supervision

• Receive clinical supervision and case management in relation to clinical work to meet the required standards.
• Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice.
• Prepare and present case load information to supervisors and case managers within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are delivered.
• Work within the boundaries of service delivery and support to meet the requirements of the service needs.
• Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competencies and practice.

Safeguarding

• Be responsible for safeguarding children and promoting their welfare, operating within local policies and procedures.
• Under guidance and support take appropriate safeguarding action to protect children and young people at risk of significant harm.
• Ensure that consent is obtained and verified before sharing information, except in safeguarding situations.
• Under guidance and supervision identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services.

Service Monitoring and Development

• To maintain appropriate clinical notes and records on IAPTUS.
• To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development as required for the purposes of continued professional accreditation or registration and as identified through professional development and Appraisal system.
• Contribute to the setting of targets and action plans to assist with service development.
• Encourage children and young people to be involved in the monitoring, evaluation, and development of the service.

Collaboration with Other Staff/Agencies

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCOs, Pastoral Teams, and other school staff, providing advice and consultation.
• Liaise effectively with other local statutory, voluntary, and third-sector providers to build effective relationships and support the development of pathways.
• Present the service and its users in a professional manner and represent the service at inter-agency meetings.
• Liaise with other staff and agencies to further meet the needs of children and young people.
• Work with families involved with social care, liaising closely with Social Workers and other professionals.

Person Specification
Personal Qualities

• Ability to work within a dynamic and developing service
• Demonstration of self-motivation and motivation of others
• Ability to work confidently and competently under pressure

Experience & Qualifications

• Holds a recognised qualification in counselling (L5/L6)
• Holds a recognised membership of a relevant professional body (i.e. HCPC/BACP/BABCP/BAAT/UKCP/BPS)
• Working towards accreditation
• Post qualification experience as a practicing counsellor
• Experience of working therapeutically with children and young people
• Experience of working within a childrens mental health service

Desirable

• Holds a Psychology or other Health/social care/youth related undergraduate degree
• Is accredited with a relevant professional body (i.e. HCPC/BACP/BABCP/BAAT/UKCP/BPS)
• Demonstrates an understanding of the service, including referral pathways and criteria for access
• Experience of working within educational establishments

Clinical Supervision, Case Management & Communication

• Demonstrates a willingness to undertake clinical supervision and case management
• Shows responsibility for continuous professional development
• Under supervision demonstrates a willingness to challenge assumptions and practice and with guidance can provide alternative and creative solutions
• Demonstrates commitment to deliver high quality services
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written and the ability to understand and respond to requirements of different audiences
• Shares information, skills and practice when required
• Excellent case recording, report writing and case presentation skills
• Demonstrates competency in using The Google suite and Microsoft Office
• Experience in using database systems to record sessions and notes

Partnership Working

• Demonstrates an ability to effectively build and manage relationships with referrers both within schools and community
• Strong working relationships with school leadership teams to support and maintain contracts
• Demonstrates a consistently positive attitude to working within The Link/InsideOut MHST
• Demonstrates a willingness to work collaboratively with children, young people and families
• Has the willingness to work under supervision to develop good therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families.

Therapeutic Practice & Child Safeguarding

• Demonstrates and understanding of assessment and risk
• Shows a willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of both service, children, young people and families and university requirements
• Ability to work with an agreed caseload and manage agreed targets and performance measures
• Demonstrates an understanding of childrens mental health
• A clear understanding of LSCB policies and procedures and commitment to the safeguarding of children and young people

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.