Counsellor

Employment Type

Part Time, Permanent

Application Start Date

02-09-2026

Application End Date

21-09-2026

Location

YMCA Phoenix Youth Centre, Tadworth

KT20 5FB

Non-profit charitable organisations

Description

Our mission is to provide opportunities for people to develop to their full potential, with a focus on children and young people and those who are vulnerable, have a disability or face disadvantage.

YMCA East Surrey's Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health team, who are part of our Children & Young People Services, are recruiting for a Counsellor to provide short term counselling support, undertake therapeutic assessments, and deliver therapy sessions either face to face or online for young people aged 11-24 years.

You must have a Diploma (Level 4) or higher-level qualification in counselling and be a registered member of BACP. You must have a minimum of 200 supervised 1:1 therapeutichoursof client experienceand at least 1 year of post-qualification experience.

Excellent knowledge of safeguarding and child protection practices, and the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people is required for this role.

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Permanent

LOCATION: YMCA Phoenix Youth Centre in Tadworth, KT20 5FB but working acrossvarious locations in East Surrey dependent on needs of service.

HOURS OF WORK: 21 hours per week
Working arrangements are flexible and will be dependent on the needs of the service, to be discussed at interview.

SALARY: £17,538 - £20,628 per annum (pro-rata) (FTE £29,229 - £34,380 per annum); dependent on qualifications and experience

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide one-to-one counselling to children and young people, using appropriate therapeutic approaches based on client's presenting issues
• Work with a range of presenting issues, maintaining a young person-centred approach
• Ensure children and young people understand the service and can give informed consent in line with Fraser Guidelines and Gillick competence
• Liaise with parents and carers where appropriate, particularly for clients under 14 or those not meeting Gillick competence
• Apply safeguarding and child protection procedures in line with YMCA East Surrey policies
• Set clear therapeutic goals and support young people to measure progress and outcomes
• Contribute to the effective delivery and development of the service, supporting service sustainability and growth
• Liaise appropriately with school safeguarding leads when working in school-based settings
• Contribute to service evaluation through outcome monitoring, data collection, and feedback
• Maintain awareness of, and uphold, the rights of the child, supporting autonomy within the counselling process
• Maintain professional membership, insurance, and practice in line with a recognised professional body's ethical framework ie. BACP

We are seeking candidates who are passionate about working for a charity and making a difference to the lives of the children and young people in our community.

If you're enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.

HOLIDAYS: 5 weeks per annum plus bank holidays.
The holiday year runs from 1 April to 31 March each year. (Pro-Rata for Part Time)

BENEFITS

• Be part of a long-standing and well-respected charity
• Discounted childcare for permanent employees
• Gym membership and free access to all leisure facilities for permanent employees
• Eligibility for Blue Light Discount Retail Card
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 6.6 weeks annual leave which increases after 2 years continuous service
• Free access to our Employee Assistance Programme

Interview date: 06/10/2026

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 equality, 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 at

YMCA East Surrey 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 Adult's barred lists) check, along with reference checks.

Equal Opportunities (Please note, recruiting managers do not see this information. If you are successful, when the HR team set up your employee record, they will import this data).