School and Community Based Counsellor

Vale of Glamorgan School & Community Based Counselling Service

We are looking for an experienced and qualified Counsellor to join our team of counsellors based within Vale of Glamorgan High Schools and the Community. The position is part time, 7.4 hours per day, 3-days (22.2 hours) per week, over 42 weeks (39 weeks term time and 3 weeks non-term term). This is a unique opportunity for a highly motivated individual to work with us;

contributing to the delivery of a busy service aligned with our  strategic vision of Changing Childhoods, Changing Lives.

The salary for this role is £30,798 (Full Time Equivalent), £16,872 pro rata and is non-negotiable. Other salaries are shown so that applicants are aware of the progression salaries.

What is the Vale School & Community Based Counselling Service (VSCBCS)?

Commissioned by The Vale of Glamorgan Council, we have successfully run the VSCBCS for almost 10 years. Guided by the School & Community Based Counselling Operating Toolkit (revised 2020) we operate from High Schools across the Vale and within the Community, with counselling rooms in Barry and Cardiff.

The aim of the service is to reduce psychological distress in children and young people by providing a safe space and forming empathic, non-judgemental and supportive relationships to enable them to find their own answers to their own problems. In turn, this will improve their emotional health and wellbeing and support the development of effective coping strategies, enabling them to better understand and cope with what they are going through.

We put the voices of children and young people at the heart of what we do by providing person centred, client led counselling for children & young people using a bespoke combination of talking therapy and creative activities.

What does the role involve?

Practicing ethically and in line with the BACP and Barnardo's policies and procedures, you will contribute to the work of the VSCBCS as a Counsellor. You will be part of a small team and supported by the Team Manager. You will be responsible for managing your own case load, managing a waiting list, undertaking assessments, delivering up to 6 counselling sessions on a 1:1 basis within schools and/or within the Community and completing digital recordings.

You will have:

• Level 4 Counselling Diploma (minimum)
• Registration and membership with BACP (or equivalent)
• Enhanced DBS Certificate
• Experience of managing your own caseload to include planning, undertaking and evaluating complex therapeutic interventions
• Knowledge, understanding and experience of safeguarding children and young people
• Experience of undertaking assessments, including risk assessments.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and of working cooperatively with a range of agencies.
• Knowledge and experience of the issues relevant to working within an education environment
• Experience of using digital recording systems to input data to case files
• Driving licence and access to your own vehicle (you will be required to work at any of the sites within the Vale of Glamorgan, sometimes at short notice)

What do we offer?

• Comprehensive induction
• Monthly Clinical Supervision
• 6-weekly Manager Supervision
• Management, Peer and Admin support
• Competitive salary
• Pension scheme with Death in Service Cover
• Training and CPD opportunities
• Employee discount schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Recognition Day

Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to exploring flexible working arrangements.

Barnardo's is committed to becoming a trauma responsive organisation and these principles underpin all our services.

Need any further information?

If you require any further information about this opportunity, please contact Katrina Hewitson, Team Manager (VSCBCS) or .

Although this contract has a permanent status, please be aware that this post is subject to funding currently to 31 March 2027 and therefore should this funding not be extended further, you may be subject to a redundancy consultation or a TUPE arrangement.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.