Psychotherapist jobs

We are seeking a Manager  of ISVA for our Advocacy service. If you are an experienced ISVA looking for a rewarding new role and overseeing the Advocacy serviceRespond has an exciting opportunity for you.    

The Advocacy Services Manager has responsibility for managing and developing Respond’s advocacy services for young people and adults with learning disabilities, autism or both who have experienced trauma and abuse. The postholder works alongside the Psychotherapist services manager to deliver best practice services as well as improving practice across the advocacy sector. 

Job Purpose

To provide confidential, accessible, and high-quality counselling support to students aged 16–18 and apprentices at Ada, the National College for Digital Skills. The counsellor will play a key role in promoting emotional wellbeing, resilience, and positive mental health to enable students to thrive academically, socially, and personally. The role supports the college’s mission to empower a diverse generation of digital pioneers by removing emotional barriers to learning and contributing to a safe and inclusive environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Direct Student Support

• Provide one-to-one counselling sessions to students and apprentices, including those experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, trauma, and/or personal issues.
• Deliver short-term, goal-focused therapeutic interventions based on students’ needs and referral pathways.
• Maintain appropriate and confidential records in line with safeguarding and data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR). Using the College’s CPOMS systems to record sessions.

2. Collaboration and Safeguarding

• Work closely with the Safeguarding and Wellbeing team, including the Designated Safeguarding Lead, to assess risk and provide timely interventions.
• Attend and contribute to safeguarding meetings, case conferences, and strategy discussions where appropriate.
• Make referrals to external mental health and support services when specialist or long-term intervention is required.
• Be a visible and approachable member of the learner services team, building trusted relationships with staff and students.

3. Promotion of Wellbeing

• Support the delivery of a proactive mental health strategy that reduces stigma and encourages help-seeking behaviours. 
• Facilitate a weekly well – being sessions with the safeguarding team.
• Contribute to college-wide initiatives, workshops, and campaigns that promote positive mental health, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
• Help create a psychologically safe, inclusive space for under-represented and neurodiverse learners.

4. Professional Practice

• Adhere to ethical guidelines set by a recognised professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP) and uphold standards of best practice.
• Participate in regular clinical supervision and CPD to maintain and develop professional skills and knowledge.
• Evaluate the impact and outcomes of counselling provision using appropriate tools and data.
• Provide monthly intervention and support reports to the Assistant Principal Learner Services and College DSL.
• Work closely with the College Safeguarding and Apprenticeship team.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Qualified counsellor or psychotherapist (minimum Level 4 diploma or equivalent).
• Registered member of a professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP, NCS).
• Experience of working with young people (16–18) and/or apprentices in an education or youth setting.
• Understanding of safeguarding principles and a commitment to student welfare.
• Ability to manage sensitive issues with professionalism, discretion, and cultural awareness.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in a further education or sixth-form environment.
• Familiarity with digital safeguarding risks and challenges faced by digitally engaged young people.
• Understanding of intersectional mental health needs (e.g., LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, BAME students).

Other Requirements:

•  Ability to represent Ada at external events when required. 
•  Able to travel as necessary for the role
•  A commitment to ongoing professional and personal development
•  A willingness to work flexibly and where necessary outside of normal working hours
• Suitable to work with young people and vulnerable adults in accordance with Government guidelines for safeguarding.

Variation to this Job Description

This is a description of the job as it is at present and is current at the date of issue. The duties and responsibilities described above are not exhaustive and additional assignments, duties or responsibilities may be required of this position. The job description will be reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure that appropriate revisions are incorporated, and that it relates to the job to be done.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people and we expect all staff to share this commitment. Any job offer will be conditional on various, appropriate, pre-employment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check and Barred List Check, having the legal right to work in the UK and having satisfactory overseas criminal records checks, if deemed necessary, and supportive references.

Equal opportunities

Ada. National College for Digital Skills recognises that equality of opportunity and the recognition and promotion of diversity are integral to its strengths. The following principles apply in respect of the College’s commitment to equality and diversity:

• To provide and promote equality of opportunity in all areas of its work and activity;
• To recognise and develop the diversity of skills and talent within its current and potential community.
• To ensure that all employees and prospective employees of the College are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential without receiving any unjustified discrimination or unfavourable treatment on grounds such as age, disability, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender reassignment, trans status, socio-economic status or any other irrelevant distinction;
• To provide and promote a positive working, learning, and social environment which is free from prejudice, discrimination and any forms of harassment, bullying or victimisation;
• To promote good relations between individuals from different groups.

Applicants with disabilities

Ada. National College for Digital Skills is keen to increase the number of disabled people it employs. We therefore encourage applications from individuals with a disability who are able to carry out the duties of the post. If you have special needs in relation to your application please let us know. 

Sponsorship

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role so can only accept applications from candidates who have the legal right to work and remain in the United Kingdom.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, as they are received, and we may decide to stop accepting applications before this date, so early applications are recommended.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Therapist to join our Young People's services in Bromley and Ealing.

£6,936.00 per annum, working 8 hours per week.

Want to feel in control of your career? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS (take this out if BSW advert)
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Anerley Station Road and Horn Lane are innovative young people semi- independent accommodation services. Anerley Station Road is based in one site in Bromley and Horn Lane is spread across two neighbouring sites in Eailing, both services support a broad range of service users including Looked After Children, Care Leavers, Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children, as well as other young people being referred in for multiple support needs.
The services work closely with statutory services to provide wrap around support for each customer within the service. Support is provided by a large and skilled workforce with specialist roles.
We are recruiting for an experienced counsellor/psychotherapist to join the team who will lead in facilitating therapeutic groups and individual counselling /therapy for customers across the two locations spending 4 hours a week at each service.

The post holder will support the staff team in developing their psychological understanding and raising awareness in the emotional impact of working with young people, whilst leading on creating and maintaining a therapeutically informed programme for the team to deliver Psychological Informed Environment in the service.

The Therapist will work with young people to improve engagement with support services as well as providing in depth sessions with young people with the desired outcome of the young person having a clearer insight into their own emotional wellbeing.

The post holder will have a creative approach to engaging young people including group and individual therapy and will tailor their interactions to each young person (this could involve using any approach which might be easier for the young person to engage with: self-expression, mindfulness, art, creative writing etc.).

Key information and documentation will be kept up to the required standard as expected between a therapist and a client and the post holder will adhere to all relevant legislation that governs these professional relationships.

The post holder will work flexibly across the service and will use technology were appropriate to ensure time is effectively used across the service provision.

What you'll do:
* Adopt and implement a Psychological informed Environment in the service.
* To support the team in carrying out holistic assessments on appropriate support plans, and comprehensive risk assessments in full consultation with service-users, their families/carers, and other agencies.
* To liaise with the multi-disciplinary team working collaboratively to ensure that full information is given (in case of risk) to enable a robust assessment of service-users.
* Lead on staff team debriefs following any serious incidents, develop workshops to assist staff in managing stress and wellbeing in the workplace and advise the manager on supportive interventions for the team as a whole
* Lead on team reflective practise sessions but also other creative activities for the team to aid reflection, insight, and best practise.
* To ensure recovery focused support plans are reviewed, evaluated, and amended in accordance with changing needs, presenting risks and individual preferences to promote recovery with an attitude of 'positive risk taking'.
* To provide recovery focused support to achieve personal goals/aspirations in partnership with service-users, family members and statutory agencies. To work with service-users on a one-to-one basis to achieve positive outcomes within a given service timeframe.
* Provide structured support and guidance to other front-line staff in their area of expertise, building capacity and skills within the team, and contribute to the relevant internal specialist forum.
* Lead on external relationships with Mental Health professionals, including the Recovery team, maintaining excellent relationships with them.
* Develop and maintain links with key agencies and service providers in the local community.
* Demonstrate a commitment to the empowerment of service-users and a strong interest in co production and promoting people's rights.
* Knowledge and practical experience of using person centred tools to support recovery and development of service-users.

Please see our website for a full job deescription.