External development manager jobs

School based counsellor

The Matthew hackney foundation

Woking, Surrey (On-site)

West Byfleet, Surrey

£25 per hour

Part-time (3 hours per day minimum)

Contract or temporary (School summer term (May to July))

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

All counselling delivered through The Matthew Hackney Foundation is provided in line with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (or equivalent professional standards).

The Matthew Hackney Foundation is a small, registered charity (Charity No. 1208669) dedicated to improving access to emotional and mental health support for children and young people who would not otherwise be able to access counselling.

We currently provide funded, school-based counselling across 23 Surrey schools and support approximately 45 children, young people and their caregivers each week. We are proud of the strong, trusting relationships we have built with the schools we work with, all of whom provide appropriate, private spaces for counselling sessions. Session days and times are arranged collaboratively, with flexibility for our counsellors wherever possible.

The Role

This role is particularly well suited to newly qualified counsellors or therapists looking to build confidence, experience and regular school-based hours within a highly supportive charity setting.

We are delighted to invite one or more fully qualified Counsellors to join our small, passionate team on a self-employed basis, initially for the Summer Term 2025.

You will provide a minimum of 3 hours of counselling per week in one school. There is flexibility to take on additional paid hours, up to 6 hours per day and up to 5 days per week, delivered across different schools, depending on availability and funding. Placements typically run for up to 11 weeks, aligned with individual school terms.

You will need access to your own transport, as travel between schools may be required.

Should funding continue, there may be opportunities to extend this work into the next academic year.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Practice

· Deliver high-quality, safe and confidential 1:1 counselling to children and young people

· Undertake assessments and agree appropriate therapeutic interventions

· Manage and maintain a clinical caseload, including regular reviews

· Work using an integrative therapeutic approach

· Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date clinical records

· Engage in monthly clinical supervision with a suitably qualified supervisor experienced in working with children and young people (external supervision is acceptable and expected)

Working with Schools

· Build and maintain positive, professional relationships with pupils and school staff

· Work closely with the school’s designated contact and the Foundation’s Clinical Lead

· Embed the counselling service within the ethos of each school

· Work autonomously and proactively within the school environment

· Identify and discuss potential referrals appropriately

· Promote positive mental health and share good practice where appropriate

Safeguarding and Professional Practice

· Demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding and child protection

· Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and follow reporting procedures

· Work in line with KCSIE, statutory guidance and the Foundation’s safeguarding policies

· Maintain high standards of professionalism, conduct, punctuality and communication

· Promote the values, reputation and policies of The Matthew Hackney Foundation

Person Specification

We warmly welcome applications from newly qualified counsellors and therapists, as well as those with more established practice.

Essential Criteria

· A recognised post-graduate qualification in Counselling, Psychotherapy, or Psychology

· BACP Accreditation, UKCP or BPC registration (or working towards), or equivalent

· Experience of working therapeutically with children and/or young people or relevant transferable experience and a clear interest in developing this specialism

· A sound understanding of child development and the emotional, social and educational needs of children and young people

· A clear understanding of safeguarding and child protection responsibilities

· Commitment to equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice

· Ability to work independently while recognising when to seek support

Desirable Criteria

· Experience of working within a school setting

· Additional training in child and adolescent therapeutic approaches

· Knowledge of local CAMHS and mental health services

Personal Attributes

· A genuine passion for supporting the mental wellbeing of children and young people

· Emotionally resilient, reflective and self-aware

· Friendly, approachable and professional

· Proactive, organised and reliable

· Creative and flexible in approach

What Support Will I Get?

We recognise that working in schools — particularly as a newly qualified counsellor — can feel both exciting and daunting. We are committed to providing a supportive, containing and ethical environment in which you can develop your practice.

You can expect: - A named Clinical Lead for guidance, consultation and professional support - Clear safeguarding procedures and support with decision-making - Well-established relationships with schools, reducing administrative burden - Flexibility around days and times where possible - Opportunities to gradually increase hours as your confidence and availability grow - A values-led organisation that prioritises ethical practice, reflection and care for practitioners

Additional Information

Employment Status

This role can be offered on either a self-employed or employed basis
Self-employed counsellors are responsible for their own tax, National Insurance, supervision and professional insurance
Employed counsellors will receive statutory holiday pay and employer National Insurance contributions; the employed hourly rate has been calculated to reflect this difference
You must be able to commit to a minimum of one half-day per week (term time only) for at least one school term (ideal for newly qualified counsellors building a portfolio of experience)
You will be required to obtain an Enhanced DBS check, provide evidence of safeguarding training, and supply three professional references
Counsellors may also have the opportunity to be listed on our website for self-referrals and to receive referrals for part-funded work

If you share our values and are passionate about making a meaningful difference to children and young people’s mental health, we would love to hear from you.

Application Instructions

We will review your application within 2 weeks and respond. Interviews will be arranged at a mutually convenient time and will happen in Byfleet, Surrey.

Organisation

The Matthew hackney foundation View profile

Registered Charity

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Posted on: 21 January 2026

Closing date: 20 February 2026 at 14:01

Job ref: Byfleet

Tags: Counselling

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

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Lead Strategist, Methane (Maternity Cover)

The File Foundation

London, Greater London (Hybrid)

£70,000 - £80,000 per year

Full-time or part-time (40 or 32 hours a week)

Contract (6-8 months)

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

Job Title: Lead Strategist, Methane (Maternity Cover)

Location: United Kingdom - Candidates can work remotely with occasional travel to the office

Remuneration: £70,000 - £80,000

Contract: Fixed Term Maternity Cover (ideal start date 23 February 2026 until 23 November 2026)

Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time Pro Rata (5 or 4 days per week)

The Role

Catalysing support for high-impact legal strategies on methane mitigation by mapping opportunities, aligning stakeholders across the legal ecosystem, and strengthening the ecosystem’s capacity for collective action on methane emissions with systemic-change potential in a shifting legal and political landscape. Supporting colleagues in relevant FILE grant-making portfolios to make well-informed decisions with respect to funding partners working to address methane emissions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy development:Leading the design and evolution of innovative funding and convening strategies to support legal action aimed at reducing methane emissions from fossil fuel extraction processes, agriculture and waste, working in close collaboration with legal and grantmaking experts, and supporting civil society to build capacity, to address the contribution of methane emissions to the climate, health and biodiversity crises.

Collaboration and movement strengthening: Organizing knowledge-sharing sessions between ecosystem actors across regions, sectors and expertise, acting as a coordinator for the established communities of practice working on legal interventions targeting methane emissions, and coordinating activities related to methane legal interventions at major climate convenings.

Grantmaking, impact and learning: Producing research notes on emerging trends and upcoming initiatives that can benefit the ecosystem, and liaising with academic and research organizations on expanding insights useful for practitioners in the field.

Supporting colleagues in relevant FILE grant-making portfolios to make well-informed decisions with respect to funding partners working to address methane emissions.

Philanthropic engagement: Engaging with the broader philanthropic ecosystem as an expert thought partner, to deepen understanding of strategic approaches and outlining the potential collective and complementary opportunities, and organizing donor-engagement touchpoints through both bilateral meetings and annual roundtables or group sessions.

Key Outcomes

A document outlining strategic opportunities to address methane mitigation through legal actions.
In-person convenings with a sectoral, regional or thematic focus.
Ongoing ecosystem collaboration efforts through circulating updates, organizing workshops or knowledge sessions.
Engagement with philanthropic community via an annual roundtable and regular bilateral touchpoints
An established community of practice.

About you

We know that long lists of criteria can be discouraging and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they feel they meet all of the criteria. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

We also recognise that skills and experience can be gained in unexpected places, so we welcome applications from candidates who feel they have relevant skills for the role, gained from a wide range of professional, lived and learned experiences.

Essential criteria

A sound and in-depth understanding of the legal frameworks for accelerating action on climates.
Strong analytical and strategy development skills, including in particular an understanding of how to catalyse change in complex systems.
An ability to work equitably and effectively with multiple perspectives and build trust with diverse partners, and understanding of funder positionality and responsibility.
An understanding of principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and a developed ability to apply them within delivery of role’s outcomes and wider working relationships.
A professional standard of written and spoken English.

Desirable

Legal qualifications in a relevant jurisdiction.
A sound and in-depth understanding of the legal frameworks for regulating and challenging methane emissions in relevant jurisdictions.
Experience of building and / or maintaining external networks, bringing expert practitioners and / or civil society together 
A professional standard of major languages other than English could be useful, but is not essential.

About FILE

The Foundation for International Law for the Environment (FILE) is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation working to accelerate legal action on climate change. 

Through grant-making and in-house legal expertise, we empower our partners to deliver strategic, innovative legal interventions and we support lawyers in their own countries to bring their own cases. 

Legal action can unlock the systemic changes in finance, policy and social systems needed to protect all of us from climate change. The power of the law is both direct (changing policy and practice) and indirect (signalling the wider shifts taking place across these systems).

FILE is a ‘regrantor’ - this means we do not bring legal action in our own name. We receive grants from our philanthropic donors and make onwards grants to partners who align with FILE’s charitable aims and purposes. We do not seek to make any profit from our activities either in a relevant financial year or in the longer term.

Location

We are advertising this role for candidates based (and with the right to work) in the UK and in the Netherlands. Please note that you will see this role advertised in multiple locations but that we are only hiring for one position based in either location, and that we are able to offer collaborative working spaces only in the Netherlands and the UK.

Please apply to the job post for your preferred location.

Working for FILE

FILE is a collaborative community of individuals who share a passion for climate, nature, and justice. We bring together knowledge and experience to support our mission.

Our people are empowered to lead their work both individually and as part of a wider team in order to make impactful change. As a relatively young organisation with the ambitious mission to change global systems, our roles are ideally suited to those who are strategic, innovative and collaborative, and open to growing in line with the Foundation.

FILE is committed to challenging systemic injustice. Our ability to do so is strengthened by the diversity of our partners and staff. Our mission, work and impact is global, with staff and partners from across the world and a range of lived experiences. We are actively working to create a culture where colleagues feel welcomed, heard and supported to succeed and thrive.

How FILE supports its staff

FILE is committed to creating a workplace that supports our staff to do their best work and develop professionally. FILE offers a generous annual leave policy and additional time-off work to support wellbeing. Amongst other benefits, FILE offers private healthcare, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave, enhanced sick leave, flexibility working remotely and also abroad and a matching contribution to a pension scheme.

Applications

Please apply on our website and upload your CV. This role is open for applications immediately and we accept applications on a rolling basis. If you are interested, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. The role will remain open for three weeks from the date of advertisement until 8 February 2026.

Representation and Culture

FILE recognises the under-representation of historically marginalized communities and individuals in climate, nature and philanthropy spaces. We are committed to developing an organization that represents the world we are looking to protect and building a culture that supports such.

In doing so, FILE is committed to building policies and practices that ensure no current or prospective employee is discriminated based on disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

Organisation