Practitioner jobs in Leeds

Sessional Counsellor (Subcontracted) Opportunities 

The role 

SAFE! Support for Young People Affected by Crime is a dynamic Oxford based charity working across the Thames Valley.We are looking for Level 5 qualified counsellors based in The Vale of The White Horse, South Oxfordshire & West Berkshire and the surrounding areas to provide counselling support on a freelance basis to young people and parents/caregivers across all our services.Subcontracted sessional practitioners are contracted on a freelance basis to provide one-to-one support to young people.There are also opportunities to co-facilitate group work.Sessions may be delivered remotely or face to face, dependent upon the needs of clients.Freelancers are home-based practitioners who travel to meet young people and /or parents face-to-face (within a 25-mile radius), provide remote support online, or a combination of both.

SAFE! Subcontracted Sessional Practitioners  
Locations: Vale of the White Horse, South Oxfordshire & West Berkshire 

Payment: Practitioners submit invoices monthly and are paid at a rate of £25 per hour for admin and delivery and £10 per hour for travel time.They are liable for all tax and expenses. 

About you  

You’ll have extensive experience of working with young people in a supportive role with a proven track record of building appropriate relationships and providing outstanding support to children, young people, and parents.You will hold or be working towards a Level 5 qualification in counselling. You’ll be confident in designing individual intervention plans based on needs. An enthusiastic self-starter with excellent communication skills, you’ll possess a positive, solution-focussed attitude. With experience of multi-agency working and a commitment to high standards of professionalism, your values will align with SAFE!’s vision, mission, and values. You will be a current member of an ethical body and hold your own liability insurance and have your own clinical supervision in place. Your active commitment to both safeguarding and promoting equal opportunities and diversity will be evident in all you do.You will have a good understanding of confidentiality and safe working practices and be proficient in the maintenance of records in accordance with the Data Protection (GDPR) Act.

We are seeking people with a professional qualification in counselling, social work, teaching, youth work, probation, or equivalent, and extensive experience of working with children and young people. 

Contracts will be subject to references and checks made by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) satisfactory to SAFE!

Shortlisting will happen on a rolling basis with interview dates offered on 17/09/2026 and 24/09/2026 at SAFE! Head Office, OX4 2BH 

Successful candidates will be required to attend the following: Induction dates (candidates will be required to attend ALL induction sessions: 1, 2 & 3). Induction Session 1 - 08/10/2026, Induction Session 2 - 26/11/2026, Induction Session 3  - 03/12/2026 

The role 

SAFE! Support for Young People Affected by Crime is a dynamic Oxford based charity working across the Thames Valley.We are looking for experienced practitioners to provide face to face support on a freelance basis to young people and parents/caregivers across all our services on a one-to-one basis.Freelancers are home-based practitioners who travel to meet young people and/or parents face-to-face, with very occasional remote support.There are also opportunities to co-facilitate group work.

SAFE! Sessional Practitioners  

Locations: Opportunities across the Thames Valley.

Payment: Practitioners submit invoices monthly and are paid at a rate of £25 per hour, plus £10 per hour travel cost.They are liable for all tax and business expenses. 

About you  

You’ll have extensive experience of working with young people in a supportive role with a proven track record of building appropriate relationships and providing outstanding support to children, young people, and parents.You’ll be confident in designing individual intervention plans based on needs. An enthusiastic self-starter with excellent communication skills, you’ll possess a positive, solution-focussed attitude. With experience of multi-agency working and a commitment to high standards of professionalism, your values will align with SAFE!’s vision, mission, and values.

Your active commitment to both safeguarding and promoting equal opportunities and diversity will be evident in all you do.You will have a good understanding of confidentiality and safe working practices and be proficient in the maintenance of records in accordance with the Data Protection (GDPR) Act.

We are seeking people with a professional qualification in social work, teaching, youth work, probation, or equivalent, and extensive experience of working with children and young people. 

Contracts will be subject to references and checks made by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) satisfactory to SAFE!

Shortlisting will happen on a rolling basis with interview dates offered on 17/09/2026 and 24/09/2026 at SAFE! Head Office, OX4 2BH 

Successful candidates will be required to attend the following:  

• Protective Behaviour Training in Oxford (OX4 3BH) 2 Sessions face-to-face on 13/10/2026 and 20/10/2026 or 4 Sessions Online 04/11/2026, 11/11/2026, 18/11/2026 & 25/11/2026.

• Induction dates (candidates will be required to attend ALL induction sessions: 1, 2 & 3). Induction Session 1 - 08/10/2026, Induction Session 2 - 26/11/2026, Induction Session 3- 03/12/2026 

Are you an experienced practitioner with a passion for empowering young people and making a difference?

At NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), we are dedicated to making a lasting impact on the lives of children, young people, and adults at risk. We believe no child or young person should ever be alone or voiceless in the care system, in family court, or when decisions are being made about their future.

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Senior Practitioner to join Project Unity England, working 28 hours per week. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver intensive, trauma-informed support to care-experienced young mothers who are pregnant or have recently given birth, helping families stay together and supporting young mothers to build positive futures.

About Project Unity England

Project Unity England is an innovative national initiative focused on improving outcomes for care-experienced young mothers and their children through collaborative, multi-agency working. The project aims to keep families together, strengthen service delivery, promote innovation and ensure that local needs are addressed effectively across England.

At the heart of Project Unity is a collaborative approach that brings together local authorities, health partners and community organisations to provide coordinated, community-focused support. By working closely with partner agencies, Project Unity helps ensure young mothers receive the right support at the right time, enabling them to make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcomes for themselves and their children.

About the role

As a Senior Practitioner, you will manage a complex caseload, providing independent, rights-based advocacy and one-to-one support to care-experienced young mothers. Working autonomously while supported by the Project Coordinator, you will empower young mothers to understand their rights, navigate statutory processes and make informed decisions that help keep families safely together.

You will build trust, complete assessments, develop support plans and advocate on their behalf within multi-agency settings. You will work alongside social workers, midwives, health visitors and other professionals to ensure each young mother's voice is heard and represented.

Alongside direct casework, you will contribute to peer support groups, workshops and community-based activities that reduce isolation, build confidence and strengthen parenting skills. You will also play an important role in safeguarding, quality assurance and service development by maintaining high-quality records, producing case studies and identifying opportunities to improve local services.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of care-experienced young mothers while working within an innovative, rights-based national programme.

About you

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and families. You will be confident working independently while building strong partnerships with professionals across health, social care and the voluntary sector.

You will have experience supporting families or parents with complex social care involvement and a sound understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment and relevant legislation. You will be an effective advocate with excellent communication skills, able to build trusting relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.

You will be organised, resilient and confident managing a demanding caseload, with strong analytical skills and the ability to make sound professional judgements in complex situations.

Above all, you will demonstrate NYAS's values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Empowerment, sharing our commitment to ensuring children, young people and adults at risk have their voices heard.

How to Apply

Please apply via the the NYAS website. In your application, evidence using specific examples how your skills and experience meet the criteria in the person specification within the attached job description, including:

• Experience with vulnerable young people or families in a social care, advocacy or support setting
• Knowledge of legislation and policy relating to advocacy, safeguarding and children’s social care
• Excellent communication, organisational and report-writing skills, with sound professional judgement

Employee Benefits

We offer the following employee benefits:

• 26 days, increasing to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Occupational sick pay (subject to completion of qualifying period)
• Enhanced pay for family friendly leave
• Free parking at some of our offices
• Employee assistance programme
• Group stakeholder pension scheme
• Access to BHSF health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Support and supervision from your line manager
• Learning and Development opportunities

Safeguarding and Compliance

NYAS operates robust safeguarding procedures, and internal candidates will be subject to references in line with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. In accordance with UK immigration law, proof of eligibility to work in the United Kingdom will be required as part of the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is an established rights-based charity ensuring that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are respected, represented and supported in expressing their views. We work with care-experienced people who are often reliant on statutory services, and our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident Employer, guaranteeing an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.