Job summary
Alliance is a leading local children's mental health provider delivering psychological support and emotional well-being services in a range of settings.
Our Children, Young People, and Family Service provides support for children's mental health on behalf of and in partnership with North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundations Trust (CAMHS) and other local organisations like Changing Futures North East (CFNE). Collectively we work together using the iThrive framework to improve mental health services and make them more accessible for children and young people in Teesside.
Our mission is to help families navigate the mental health system so they can get the right support when they need it. We want to make sure everyone gets the help they deserve for better outcomes.
Using the iThrive framework, we offer a variety of therapeutic services tailored to meet different needs. If you would like to learn more about how we support mental health in five key areas, please click the link below.
https://implementingthrive.org/
Main duties of the job
We are seeking a Children & Young People's Counsellor to join our inclusive and compassionate team. This is an excellent opportunity to provide early intervention and structured therapeutic support to children, young people, and families experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health challenges.
You will work 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.
This role is ideal for a practitioner who enjoys working relationally and is looking to further develop their therapeutic skills within a structured and nurturing service. You will work at locations across the Tees Valley.
You must have right to work in the UK as we are currently unable to offer working visa opportunities.
Applications for full-time or part-time hours will be considered.
For more information on this post please contact Kaye Hooker or Debra Lyth on CYPFadmin@alliancepsychology.com
Closing date for applications: 17 August 2025
Interview date: w/c 25 August 2025
About us
Alliance offers first rate training and development opportunities, 38 days annual leave pro rata, rising 1 day every 5 years of service (as well as the option to purchase additional annual leave) EAP health scheme including costs towards eye tests/glasses, dental treatment, physio treatment, life insurance and shopping discounts alongside a 3% contributory pension scheme. We also offer lots of health and wellbeing initiatives for our staff and promote flexible working for a positive work life balance.
Alliance Psychological Services has organisational responsibility for safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults within our service, part of this is to follow safer recruitment of staff for all appointments. It is also a requirement that all staff understand it is each persons individual responsibility and are committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children.
Please note that due to the nature of the duties of these roles, an enhanced criminal records disclosure will be sought in the event of a successful application.
Alliance Psychological Services Limited is committed to promoting equal opportunities in our employment practice and service delivery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Undertake thoughtful, developmentally appropriate assessments of emotional and mental health needs, including trauma, attachment, and neurodiversity-informed perspectives.
Deliver structured, time-limited therapeutic interventions, individual or group, for children, young people, and families, using evidence-informed approaches.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Undertake thoughtful, developmentally appropriate assessments of emotional and mental health needs, including trauma, attachment, and neurodiversity-informed perspectives.
Deliver structured, time-limited therapeutic interventions, individual or group, for children, young people, and families, using evidence-informed approaches.
Person Specification
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to provide advice and guidance to parents, carers, and frontline professionals on childrens emotional well-being.
- Confidence in delivering short-term therapeutic approaches (e.g., person-centred, CBT-informed, DDP-informed).
- Interest or experience in co-facilitating training or psychoeducation sessions, with support.
- Ability to work within a supportive team structure under the guidance of senior clinicians.
Other
Essential
- Demonstrates the effective use of clinical supervision
- Shows responsibility for continuous professional development
- A clear understanding of LSCB policies and procedures and commitment to the safeguarding of children and young people
- Demonstrates an ability to effectively build and manage relationships with referrers both within schools and community
- Demonstrate an ability to contribute and support multi agency support plans to enable positive outcomes for children and their families.
- Demonstrates a consistently positive attitude to working within Alliance
- Demonstrates ability to work collaboratively with children, young people and families
- Has the ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families
- 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
- Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post
- 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 Microsoft Office
- Experience in using database systems to record sessions and notes
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised qualification in counselling, psychotherapeutic counselling, or a relevant mental health discipline.
- Registration or accreditation with a professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP, HCPC).
Experience
Essential
- Experience working with children, young people, and families with mild to moderate mental health challenges.
- Understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, child development, and neurodiversity.
Person Specification
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to provide advice and guidance to parents, carers, and frontline professionals on childrens emotional well-being.
- Confidence in delivering short-term therapeutic approaches (e.g., person-centred, CBT-informed, DDP-informed).
- Interest or experience in co-facilitating training or psychoeducation sessions, with support.
- Ability to work within a supportive team structure under the guidance of senior clinicians.
Other
Essential
- Demonstrates the effective use of clinical supervision
- Shows responsibility for continuous professional development
- A clear understanding of LSCB policies and procedures and commitment to the safeguarding of children and young people
- Demonstrates an ability to effectively build and manage relationships with referrers both within schools and community
- Demonstrate an ability to contribute and support multi agency support plans to enable positive outcomes for children and their families.
- Demonstrates a consistently positive attitude to working within Alliance
- Demonstrates ability to work collaboratively with children, young people and families
- Has the ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families
- 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
- Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post
- 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 Microsoft Office
- Experience in using database systems to record sessions and notes
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised qualification in counselling, psychotherapeutic counselling, or a relevant mental health discipline.
- Registration or accreditation with a professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP, HCPC).
Experience
Essential
- Experience working with children, young people, and families with mild to moderate mental health challenges.
- Understanding of trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, child development, and neurodiversity.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
