School Counsellor

A permanent part-time position for a qualified counsellor or therapist is available at Shoreham College, starting in September 2025. The role entails providing professional counselling services to children and young people, focusing on enhancing their emotional wellbeing and life skills. Candidates should possess a minimum Level 4 counselling qualification, with two years of post-qualification experience preferred. The successful applicant will adhere to safeguarding protocols and work within the BACP Ethical Framework. Applications are due by 21 July, and the role requires a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, alongside an Enhanced DBS check.

7.5 hours per week – term-time only / £33,795 per annum pro rata / permanent / one day per week – any day Monday to Thursday, excluding Friday / the role will commence at the beginning of September 2025.

is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Established in 1996,  is a BACP accredited school counselling service covering Sussex and Surrey.

We are recruiting for qualified counsellor or therapist with experience of working with children and young people to join our team and deliver our service at from September 2025. Shoreham College is an independent day school for boys and girls aged 3 to 16, and we have been providing the college counselling service here since 2017.

We are seeking candidates who are passionate about making a difference to lives of the children and young people they work with. You’ll have a keen interest in and experience of working with children and young people of primary and secondary age.

Key responsibilities:

• You will provide an ethical, professional counselling service at Shoreham College
• 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
• You will establish good professional working relationships with key school staff. This will include discussion of referrals, waiting lists and appointments, managing a session timetable within the school day and agreeing a process for students coming to and from sessions
• 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
• You will be required to undertake assessments with parents/carers and counselling sessions, complete all associated admin and attend regular clinical supervision and line management meetings
• 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 and maintain individual membership of the BACP (or other professional body such as HCPC)

Qualifications, knowledge, and experience:

• You will have counselling or psychotherapy qualification minimum Level 4 and ideally Level 6, with 2 years’ post qualifying experience in individual counselling or therapy with children preferred, to include working with risk issues
• You will have a BACP Membership; BACP Registered or Accredited. Or other professional body e.g. HCPC
• You will also have a sound understanding of child protection and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues, policies, and procedures
• You will be confident in identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns and have experience of working in a school setting
• You will have a keen interest in working with children and will be familiar with using creative therapeutic approaches, along with experience of working in a school setting
• You will have a professional, flexible attitude with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage your time well

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion about this post, please contact . Should you require any assistance with our application process, please email us at 

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 21 July at midnight.

Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role

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 are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider.