ABL Health Ltd

Counsellor/Psychotherapist - Be U Wirral

The closing date is 04 November 2025

Job summary

In this role, you will provide person-centred, evidence-based counselling interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges. Your work will focus on improving emotional wellbeing and building resilience through both individual and group sessions.

You will also collaborate with the Clinical Lead and Service Lead to design and implement innovative, client-focused approaches that promote effective care pathways and support sustainable recovery.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will deliver therapeutic interventions to Children Looked After (CLA), working independently where required, which may involve some travel and lone working. You will undertake professional initial assessments and provide counselling to CLA, as well as support professional consultations and develop innovative approaches beyond one-to-one therapy, such as group work. Maintaining accurate and confidential case notes using the designated case management systems will be an essential part of the role. You will build strong links with other agencies and services, maintaining a sound understanding of local resources for signposting and onward referrals. A key aspect of the role involves managing risk positively and responding proactively to child protection and safeguarding concerns.

Strong communication and engagement skills are vital, ensuring that children and young people feel heard, respected, and empowered. You will also work collaboratively as part of a supportive team committed to achieving positive outcomes for young people.

About us

ABL is an exciting fast-paced, growing community health organisation. As an experienced CQC registered provider of community health services, we are passionate about delivering evidence-based, innovative, effective and relevant health care services in partnership with individuals, communities and stakeholders.

Details

Date posted

21 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,000 to £29,000 a year Pro rata part time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

E0343-25-0017abl812

Job locations

A B L Health Ltd

Vittoria Close

Birkenhead

Merseyside

CH41 3LE


Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you:

An experienced mental health practitioner used to a fast-paced environment.

Experienced in working with Children Looked After (CLA) / children and young people across mental health settings / care placements and experienced in engaging the whole family / stakeholders.

Experienced in providing guided self-help and short to medium-term counselling interventions.

Positive and proactive to achieve the highest standards and outcomes in engagement with children, young people, their parent/carers, and professionals.

Adept in communication and confident communicating with CYP (Children and Young People), their parents/carers and health / social professionals.

Open, respectful, committed to equality and inclusiveness and motivated by new ideas and perspectives.

A team player.

Role Purpose:

You will deliver person-centered outcome focused evidence-based counselling interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties to support them to improve their emotional health and build resilience. This may include individual and group work.

Supporting the Clinical Lead and Service Lead in designing and implementing innovative client focused plans to support successful care pathways and sustainable recovery.

Main Duties and responsibilities:

This post will work under the line management of the Clinical Lead and Service Lead. The role will be varied, challenging, and rewarding as you will work as part of a diverse clinical team pro-actively developing the service through co-production, delivery, and ongoing innovation.

Main Tasks:

To deliver therapeutic interventions to CLA (Children Looked After), working independently, which may at times mean some travel and lone working.

To undertake professional initial assessments of young people.

To provide counselling to CLA (Children Looked After).

To support with professional consultations.

To develop alternatives to one-to-one therapeutic work i.e., group work.

To maintain confidential case notes and records in a timely manner ensuring that they are stored securely using the specified case management systems.

To develop links to other agencies and services and have a good understanding of local services for signposting and onward referrals.

To positively manage risk and recognise and pro-actively respond to child protection and safeguarding issues.

Communication

Be able to communicate and engage with children and young people appropriate to individual needs.

Ensure young people feel listened to, feel in control and are respected.

Be a team player

WORKING PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS

Ethical Practice

Employed therapists are required to abide by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or equivalent.

Professional Membership and Registration

It is required that employed practitioners maintain active membership with a national organisation that represents the field of psychological therapy and people who work as counsellors and therapists, such AFT, BACP, BPS, BABCP or HCPC or UKCP. Employed practitioners will ideally pursue accreditation or registration with one of these bodies; and will complete annual continuing professional development and associated procedures required to maintain accreditation and/or registration. All costs associated with professional memberships, subscriptions, conferences, continuing education etc., are borne by the practitioner.

Liability Insurance

Employed practitioners are covered against malpractice liability by ABL insurance.

Supervision

Employed clinical practitioners are required to attend supervision at the minimum frequency of 1.5 hours per FTE per month, with an appropriately qualified professional approved by ABL. This time is included in the contract.

Standard Information

Information Governance

Employees of ABL Health must comply with the provisions of GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The postholder must not; either during the course of their employment, or following termination of their employment, disclose any information relating to service users or employees, or of the lawful business practices, of the organisation.

The postholder will be required, when and where appropriate to the role, to comply with the processing of requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

The postholder must comply with ABLs policies that protect the information assets of the organisation from unauthorised disclosure, modification, destruction, inappropriate access or use. The postholder will be responsible for maintaining the clinical and/or corporate records that fall within the remit of this role to the standards in ABLs records management policies, and data quality processes and standards.

Health & Safety

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the postholder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Safeguarding is Everyones Business

ABL has a responsibility to ensure that all children / young people and adults are adequately safeguarded and protected. Consequently, all ABLs employees, temporary staff and volunteers are required to adhere to ABLs safeguarding policies / procedures in addition to local and national safeguarding policies and to act upon any concerns in accordance with them.

Smoke Free

ABL is Smoke - Free. Smoking is not permitted on any of our premises or the surrounding land including car parking facilities.

Training

The postholder must attend any training that is identified as mandatory to their role.

The range of duties and responsibilities outlined above are indicative only and are intended to give an overview of the range and type of duties that will be allocated. They are subject to modification in the light of changing service demands and the development requirements of the postholder.

Equality, Diversity & Human Rights

It is the responsibility of every person to act in ways to support equality and diversity and to respect human rights, working within the spirit and detail of legislation including the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. ABL is an equal opportunities employer and aims to challenge discrimination, promote equality and respect human rights.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you:

An experienced mental health practitioner used to a fast-paced environment.

Experienced in working with Children Looked After (CLA) / children and young people across mental health settings / care placements and experienced in engaging the whole family / stakeholders.

Experienced in providing guided self-help and short to medium-term counselling interventions.

Positive and proactive to achieve the highest standards and outcomes in engagement with children, young people, their parent/carers, and professionals.

Adept in communication and confident communicating with CYP (Children and Young People), their parents/carers and health / social professionals.

Open, respectful, committed to equality and inclusiveness and motivated by new ideas and perspectives.

A team player.

Role Purpose:

You will deliver person-centered outcome focused evidence-based counselling interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties to support them to improve their emotional health and build resilience. This may include individual and group work.

Supporting the Clinical Lead and Service Lead in designing and implementing innovative client focused plans to support successful care pathways and sustainable recovery.

Main Duties and responsibilities:

This post will work under the line management of the Clinical Lead and Service Lead. The role will be varied, challenging, and rewarding as you will work as part of a diverse clinical team pro-actively developing the service through co-production, delivery, and ongoing innovation.

Main Tasks:

To deliver therapeutic interventions to CLA (Children Looked After), working independently, which may at times mean some travel and lone working.

To undertake professional initial assessments of young people.

To provide counselling to CLA (Children Looked After).

To support with professional consultations.

To develop alternatives to one-to-one therapeutic work i.e., group work.

To maintain confidential case notes and records in a timely manner ensuring that they are stored securely using the specified case management systems.

To develop links to other agencies and services and have a good understanding of local services for signposting and onward referrals.

To positively manage risk and recognise and pro-actively respond to child protection and safeguarding issues.

Communication

Be able to communicate and engage with children and young people appropriate to individual needs.

Ensure young people feel listened to, feel in control and are respected.

Be a team player

WORKING PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS

Ethical Practice

Employed therapists are required to abide by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or equivalent.

Professional Membership and Registration

It is required that employed practitioners maintain active membership with a national organisation that represents the field of psychological therapy and people who work as counsellors and therapists, such AFT, BACP, BPS, BABCP or HCPC or UKCP. Employed practitioners will ideally pursue accreditation or registration with one of these bodies; and will complete annual continuing professional development and associated procedures required to maintain accreditation and/or registration. All costs associated with professional memberships, subscriptions, conferences, continuing education etc., are borne by the practitioner.

Liability Insurance

Employed practitioners are covered against malpractice liability by ABL insurance.

Supervision

Employed clinical practitioners are required to attend supervision at the minimum frequency of 1.5 hours per FTE per month, with an appropriately qualified professional approved by ABL. This time is included in the contract.

Standard Information

Information Governance

Employees of ABL Health must comply with the provisions of GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The postholder must not; either during the course of their employment, or following termination of their employment, disclose any information relating to service users or employees, or of the lawful business practices, of the organisation.

The postholder will be required, when and where appropriate to the role, to comply with the processing of requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

The postholder must comply with ABLs policies that protect the information assets of the organisation from unauthorised disclosure, modification, destruction, inappropriate access or use. The postholder will be responsible for maintaining the clinical and/or corporate records that fall within the remit of this role to the standards in ABLs records management policies, and data quality processes and standards.

Health & Safety

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the postholder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Safeguarding is Everyones Business

ABL has a responsibility to ensure that all children / young people and adults are adequately safeguarded and protected. Consequently, all ABLs employees, temporary staff and volunteers are required to adhere to ABLs safeguarding policies / procedures in addition to local and national safeguarding policies and to act upon any concerns in accordance with them.

Smoke Free

ABL is Smoke - Free. Smoking is not permitted on any of our premises or the surrounding land including car parking facilities.

Training

The postholder must attend any training that is identified as mandatory to their role.

The range of duties and responsibilities outlined above are indicative only and are intended to give an overview of the range and type of duties that will be allocated. They are subject to modification in the light of changing service demands and the development requirements of the postholder.

Equality, Diversity & Human Rights

It is the responsibility of every person to act in ways to support equality and diversity and to respect human rights, working within the spirit and detail of legislation including the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. ABL is an equal opportunities employer and aims to challenge discrimination, promote equality and respect human rights.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 24 months post qualification counselling /psychotherapy experience. Professional registration with recognised National Body (e.g. BACP/UKCP, HCPC). Knowledge of development in CYP, family development and of transitions.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
  • Experience in managing a caseload.
  • Ability to assess and manage risks.
  • Ability to recognise and respond to concerns about child protection and safeguarding.
  • Ability to make use of supervision.
  • Up to date knowledge of CYP emotional wellbeing / early mental health clinical evidence-based practice and support for parents/carers

Desirable

  • Experience in the CLA sector.
  • Experience in quality improvement measures.
  • Experience in pathway development.
  • Experience in delivering training and workshops to CYP and parents / carers.
  • Experience in delivering training to professionals.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 24 months post qualification counselling /psychotherapy experience. Professional registration with recognised National Body (e.g. BACP/UKCP, HCPC). Knowledge of development in CYP, family development and of transitions.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
  • Experience in managing a caseload.
  • Ability to assess and manage risks.
  • Ability to recognise and respond to concerns about child protection and safeguarding.
  • Ability to make use of supervision.
  • Up to date knowledge of CYP emotional wellbeing / early mental health clinical evidence-based practice and support for parents/carers

Desirable

  • Experience in the CLA sector.
  • Experience in quality improvement measures.
  • Experience in pathway development.
  • Experience in delivering training and workshops to CYP and parents / carers.
  • Experience in delivering training to professionals.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

ABL Health Ltd

Address

A B L Health Ltd

Vittoria Close

Birkenhead

Merseyside

CH41 3LE


Employer's website

https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/work-for-us/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

ABL Health Ltd

Address

A B L Health Ltd

Vittoria Close

Birkenhead

Merseyside

CH41 3LE


Employer's website

https://www.ablhealth.co.uk/work-for-us/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Oliver Godfrey

ogodfrey@ablhealth.co.uk

Details

Date posted

21 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,000 to £29,000 a year Pro rata part time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

E0343-25-0017abl812

Job locations

A B L Health Ltd

Vittoria Close

Birkenhead

Merseyside

CH41 3LE


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

ABL Health Ltd's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)