Psychological Therapist

About the Refugee Council

The Refugee Council is the nation’s largest refugee charity. For more than 70 years, we have supported people who have fled war, violence and persecution to find safety and rebuild their lives in Britain. Born in the aftermath of the Second World War, we have extensive experience helping refugees overcome the challenges of displacement and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

Working alongside community groups, partners and volunteers, we support refugees and people seeking asylum to rebuild their lives, integrate into communities, and play an active part in British society. Refugees are at the heart of everything we do, and we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live a safe, purposeful and fulfilling life.

Our Values

Our values underpin everything we do:

• Inclusive: We work with – not for – refugees and people seeking asylum so they have an equal voice, co-producing projects and ensuring their expertise and experiences are at the heart of what we do.
• Collaborative: Working with others is a priority in order to have the collective impact that is vital to achieving policy and practice reform.
• Courageous: We speak out when we see injustice, cruelty and unfairness. We always stand up for what we believe is the right thing to do to transform the experiences of those seeking protection in our country.
• Respectful: We are respectful of all those we interact with. We treat everyone – our staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, partners and people we disagree with – with the same respect, professionalism and understanding.

About the Role

The Lewisham Sanctuary Seeking Wellbeing Service provides specialist mental health and wellbeing support to people seeking asylum, people arriving through Homes for Ukraine, newly recognised refugees and resettled refugees living in Lewisham.

Working within a trauma-informed, human-rights-based and holistic model, you will provide specialist assessments and short-term psychological therapy of up to 12 sessions. Support is delivered both face-to-face and online.

You will manage a therapeutic caseload, conduct holistic assessments and provide culturally sensitive interventions designed to strengthen clients’ resilience, safety and wellbeing.

You will also work closely with colleagues, interpreters, referral partners, statutory services and community organisations to ensure clients can access the right support.

Who We Are Looking For

You will have a recognised professional qualification in counselling, psychotherapy, counselling or clinical psychology, or another relevant clinical mental health discipline.

You will also be registered or accredited, or eligible for appropriate membership/accreditation, with a relevant professional or regulatory body such as HCPC, BACP or UKCP or another appropriate regulatory body.

You’ll have:

• Experience of working with refugees and people seeking asylum in mental health settings.
• Experience of delivering trauma-informed counselling or psychotherapy.
• An understanding of the psychological and psychosocial impact of forced migration.
• Knowledge of how UK immigration and asylum policy can affect people’s mental health, wellbeing and everyday lives.
• The ability to undertake holistic biopsychosocial assessments and make appropriate referrals.
• Confidence in assessing and responding to risk, including suicidal ideation and self-harm.
• The ability to work sensitively and professionally with people affected by trauma, loss and separation.
• Strong cultural awareness and an understanding of different attitudes towards mental health.
• Strong communication, organisational and IT skills, with the ability to manage a caseload effectively.

Why Join the Refugee Council

At the Refugee Council, we care about our people. We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, work/life balance and professional development, including:

• Flexible working and hybrid working arrangements.
• 28 days' annual leave, rising to 30 days with service (excluding bank holidays), plus the option to purchase additional annual leave.
• Group personal pension scheme with up to 5% employer contribution.
• Life assurance.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Interest-free loans, including season ticket loans and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Employee assistance programme providing confidential advice and wellbeing support.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of the UK refugee protection system.

If you meet most of the essential criteria and are excited about the role, we'd encourage you to apply. We value different experiences and perspectives and recognise that skills can be developed in different ways.

Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and employment. If you require any adjustments, please let us know, and we will work with you to support your participation.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 23:45 on 8 October 2026.

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

Interviews: w/c 12 October 2026.

Successful applicants may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, where applicable to the role.