Counsellor – Role Description

Role Purpose

The EHM Counsellor provides safe, professional and child-centred counselling support for children and young people experiencing emotional, social or psychological difficulties.

Counsellors at EHM work as part of a wider emotionally informed team, supporting children who may be experiencing anxiety, low mood, trauma, grief, family difficulties, school-related distress, low self-esteem, emotional overwhelm, SEND-related challenges or barriers to education.

The role requires appropriate counselling qualifications, professional membership, insurance, external supervision and a strong understanding of safeguarding, boundaries and ethical practice.

Counselling may take place at an EHM centre, in school, online or in other agreed settings.

Key Responsibilities

1. Counselling Delivery

Provide 1:1 counselling for children and young people.
Offer a safe, confidential and developmentally appropriate space for children to explore emotions, experiences and challenges.
Work in a child-centred, trauma-informed and ethically sound way.
Adapt sessions according to the child’s age, communication style, emotional needs and SEND profile.
Use appropriate therapeutic approaches, tools and resources within your training and competence.
Work at the child’s pace and within clear professional boundaries.

2. Assessment, Boundaries and Suitability

Contribute to initial suitability discussions where required.
Recognise when counselling is appropriate and when another form of support may be more suitable.
Identify when a child’s needs are outside the scope of EHM counselling provision.
Escalate concerns appropriately to EHM leadership, parents, schools or external agencies where necessary and in line with safeguarding procedures.
Work within your qualifications, experience, professional code of ethics and insurance requirements.

3. Safeguarding and Risk

Follow EHM safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.
Report safeguarding concerns promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Manage disclosures, risk concerns and wellbeing issues in line with EHM procedures and professional responsibilities.
Maintain accurate safeguarding records where required.
Understand the limits of confidentiality when there are concerns about safety or risk.

4. Communication with Parents, Schools and EHM

Communicate sensitively and professionally with parents, carers, schools and EHM leadership where appropriate.
Maintain confidentiality while sharing relevant information in line with safeguarding, consent and professional boundaries.
Contribute to reviews, updates or multi-agency discussions where appropriate.
Work collaboratively with EHM tutors, coaches and leadership when a child receives wider support.

5. Record Keeping and Administration

Keep accurate, confidential and professional counselling records.
Complete required documentation within agreed timescales.
Follow EHM systems for attendance, communication and record keeping.
Comply with data protection, confidentiality and retention requirements.
Maintain professional records in line with your ethical body and EHM expectations.

6. Professional Practice and Supervision

Maintain appropriate professional membership.
Maintain professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Attend monthly external clinical supervision.
Engage in reflective practice and continuing professional development.
Work in line with the ethical framework of your professional body.
Inform EHM of any issues that may affect your professional practice, membership, insurance or suitability to work with children.

7. Team Working and EHM Values

Work as part of the wider EHM team.
Contribute to a calm, respectful and emotionally safe environment.
Attend relevant EHM meetings or training where required.
Work in a way that aligns with EHM’s emotionally informed and child-centred approach.

Person Specification

Essential

Recognised counselling qualification suitable for working therapeutically with children and young people.
Current membership of a relevant professional body, such as BACP, UKCP, NCPS or equivalent.
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Regular external clinical supervision.
Experience counselling or therapeutically supporting children and young people.
Strong understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality, consent and professional boundaries.
Ability to work ethically and within professional competence.
Enhanced DBS on the update service, or willingness to obtain one.
A warm, calm and child-centred approach.
Ability to communicate sensitively with children, parents, schools and colleagues.
Ability to follow EHM policies, procedures and record keeping expectations.
Reliable, reflective and professional.
Willingness to uphold and represent the Christian values and ethos of Emotionally Healthy Minds, while working inclusively and respectfully with children and families of all backgrounds.
Willingness to be part of the EHM team, encourage colleagues and contribute positively to team culture.
Ability to take feedback and work as part of a team.
Tech comfortable and able to use EHM systems as required.

Desirable

Specific training in counselling children and young people.
Experience working with trauma, anxiety, grief, attachment needs, school-related distress or emotional regulation difficulties.
Experience supporting neurodivergent children and young people.
Experience working with SEND, autism, ADHD, PDA profiles, SEMH needs or EBSA.
Experience working in schools, alternative provision, EOTAS or community-based settings.
Play therapy, creative therapy or integrative therapeutic training.
Understanding of EHCPs, PEPs, Virtual School processes or local authority involvement.
Experience contributing to multi-agency support.

Additional Information

This role requires counsellors to work safely, ethically and within the boundaries of their professional training, insurance and supervision arrangements.

Training, safeguarding procedures, policies and operational guidance are provided by Emotionally Healthy Minds. Clinical supervision remains the responsibility of the counsellor and must be maintained externally.

Please note that this job description is intended as a guide and may be subject to amendments as the role develops.

Fees, Pay and Contract Information

This role is offered on a self-employed associate basis, with sessions agreed according to practitioner availability and the needs of the children and young people referred to EHM.

Rates of pay will be discussed during the recruitment process and may vary depending on the role, setting, experience, qualifications and type of provision delivered.

Practitioners are responsible for maintaining appropriate professional indemnity and public liability insurance, an enhanced DBS on the update service and any relevant professional membership, supervision or registration required for their role.

Further details will be provided as part of the application and registration process.