Assessment practitioner volunteer roles

Help us support families to get the right education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

We are seeking new people to join our Board of Trustees to support the good governance of our charity. It is an exciting time to join us as we work to launch our new strategy; an important timeframe as we review the Government’s White Paper on SEND and consider how best to adapt our services to ensure we reach those who need us most.

Who we are

Founded in 1983, IPSEA is a leading national charity focussed on supporting families to ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the education they are legally entitled to. Since our formation, we have actively helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people with SEND. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

Who are we looking for?

We wish to recruit a number of new trustees who are committed to our vision and values and who bring complementary skills to those of our current Board members.

Trustees are expected to gain an understanding of the organisation’s purpose, and to contribute their own expertise, ensuring IPSEA fulfils its objectives, and in accordance with our charitable objects and Articles of Association

Whether you’re an experienced trustee or wanting to take your first step at Board level, we are particularly interested in hearing from people with expertise and skills in one or more of the following areas:

• IT / Digital transformation / cyber security
• Governance
• Marketing and social media
• Equality, diversity and inclusion

Please note: a lack of expertise in these areas does not mean that an application will not be considered.

Our Board should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• an in-depth induction programme, training and reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
• the opportunity to be involved in making strategic decisions and developing new skills
• the opportunity to apply your knowledge and experience to an important cause
• a buddying system for new trustees as you settle into the role

The expected time commitment is six trustee meetings per year (meetings are held on weekdays in central London or at IPSEA’s office in Takeley, Essex with the option to join some meetings virtually), usually one strategic planning/training day and some other ad hoc time for occasional meetings and events.

To apply 

​Please visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form. 

Closing date for applications: 5pm on 29 May 2026

First-round interviews: week commencing 29 June 2026

No one should die because they needed first aid and didn’t get it. St John Ambulance teaches people first aid so they can be the difference between life and death, and you can help us do this.

We are seeking Event Doctors to respond and manage emergency calls/incidents at events which may include venues such as stadia, concert halls, motorsports tracks, road races etc. Event doctors shall provide specialist, clinical, social and holistic care while undertaking clinical assessment and interventions in the pre-hospital environment. This will mainly involve working in mobile treatment centres or temporary event medical centres.

 Successful candidates will be registered medical practitioners with the GMC, without cautions or restrictions, and hold a licence to practice outside of an approved practice setting.

Volunteer locations: Epsom and Mole Valley Network - Epsom; Rushmoor and South West Surrey Network- Farnborough, Guildford, Working and Cranleigh Network - Guildford; East Surrey Network - Redhill or North West Surrey - Weybridge

The closing date for this role is: 31/10/2026

Interview dates, time and location to be advised

No one should die because they needed first aid and didn’t get it. St John Ambulance teaches people first aid so they can be the difference between life and death, and you can help us do this.

We are seeking Event Doctors to respond and manage emergency calls/incidents at events which may include venues such as stadia, concert halls, motorsports tracks, road races etc. Event doctors shall provide specialist, clinical, social and holistic care while undertaking clinical assessment and interventions in the pre-hospital environment. This will mainly involve working in mobile treatment centres or temporary event medical centres.

Successful candidates will be registered medical practitioners with the GMC, without cautions or restrictions, and hold a licence to practice outside of an approved practice setting.

As a health professional volunteer, you would support our First Aid teams with patients who need more complex assessment or treatment, prescription medications or admission to hospital. 

We would warmly welcome you into our clinical team, provide all your training, uniform and equipment and offer you a great chance to work as part of a friendly prehospital care team, with good clinical support from experienced colleagues. 

You would join our group of over 20 Kent doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and paramedics who already give their time to volunteer with St John Ambulance. 

We have clinicians of all specialities in our teams and are happy to provide clinical supervision for those in training grades. 

We understand how tiring your work shifts can be, and that your duty to your NHS patients will always come first, and we can offer you flexibility around volunteering shifts as well as paid travel to, and accommodation at events. 

Please note, this is a Kent County wide advert for health professional volunteers, and once you are onboarded to the organisation you will be managed by one of the local networks and supported by the County Clinical Team. Kent Network locations are: St John North Kent (Rochester) - Unit 22, Castle View Business Centre, Gas House Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1PB St John Central Kent (Maidstone) - Dunk Memorial Hall, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 IEL St John South Kent (Ashford) - Furley Hall, Maidstone Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8TX St John West Kent (Royal Tunbridge Wells) - 160-162 Silverdale Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9HU St John East Kent (Canterbury) - Suite 1C Orchard House, Orchard Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8AJ

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:
Welcome Event (Induction) - XXXXXXX details of times, venue, etc.
Training for role - XXXXXXX details of course including dates, time & venue.

Closing date for these opportunities is: 07/02/2027

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Do you believe that professional therapy should be a community standard, not a luxury? As a qualified volunteer counsellor, help us provide accessible, online counselling while managing a flexible remote caseload via our secure platform, supported by peer supervision groups.

Flourish Wellbeing Support is a Not-for-Profit bridging the gap between overstretched NHS services and high-cost private care. We are looking for qualified volunteer counsellors to join our remote team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver our suggested 4x weekly 1-to-1 online counselling sessions to clients who cannot afford private fees but face long waitlists.
• Work within a structured 15-session clinical model to provide meaningful, short-term support.
• Manage your own digital diary and caseload via our integrated, paperless counselling technology (handling bookings, notes, and encrypted video).
• Engage with a monthly peer supervision group (4 people) to share clinical insights and maintain standards.
• Our service is open from 8am to 8pm from Monday to Friday. Our counsellors can choose to work during any of these times. 

What are we looking for?

We are looking for counsellors who believe that mental health support should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their income.

1. Professional Qualification & Registration 

The most important requirement is that you are a fully qualified, registered counsellor or psychotherapist (holding a Diploma or Degree in Counselling/Psychotherapy). You must hold current membership with a recognised professional body such as the BACP, UKCP, or NCS (Accredited). 

We will also require an enhanced DBS (or we can carry one out for you) and two professional references.

2. Clinical Experience with Complexity

Our ideal volunteer is a practitioner comfortable with a wide range of clinical presentations. We are looking for individuals who have experience in safely holding:

• Trauma
• Bereavement and Complex Grief
• Long-term Depression and Anxiety Experience in working within a short-term, structured framework (such as our 15-session model) is highly beneficial, as is the ability to conduct clinical assessments and manage risk within a remote setting.

3. Technical Literacy & Remote Readiness

As a 100% online service, our ideal volunteer is comfortable using (or learning) integrated counselling platforms for encrypted video sessions, digital note-taking, and diary management. You will need a private, confidential space to work from and a reliable internet connection to ensure the safety and continuity of the therapeutic relationship.

4. Professional Autonomy & Reliability

Because we offer sessions anytime between 8am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, you can work across any of these hours and will be responsible for managing your own schedule and ensuring consistency for your clients. 

5. A Collaborative, Community Spirit

While the work is remote, the spirit of Flourish is collective. We look for people who:

• Value Peer Supervision and are willing to share insights in a small-group setting.
• Are empathetic and non-judgmental, aligning with our Social Equity values.
• Are looking for a meaningful connection to a social mission.

What difference will you make?

In the UK, 1.9 million people are waiting for support, and 1 in 3 find their condition worsens during the wait. By joining Flourish, you bridge the gap for those who cannot afford private care but need more than a student-led placement can provide. Your expertise allows us to safely support individuals facing mental health issues who might otherwise be turned away. 

You will welcome clients and visitors, and support the smooth running of our local office at our drop in sessions on Mondays or Thursdays (or both)

Commitment: 6 hours/week (flexible)

Receptionists are the first point of contact for clients, welcoming visitors. You’ll record client details on our computer system, explain waiting times, and help ensure the service runs smoothly. The role builds communication, IT, and teamwork skills while making a real difference in the community. Full training and expense reimbursement are provided.

What you gain: Communication skills, admin experience, confidence using IT, and full training.

You'll gain valuable transferable skills in communication, problem solving, teamwork.

Whether you are starting out, changing career, retired, or returning to work, volunteering strengthens your CV and provides practical experience.

Guardian Light Foundation & Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd

Location: Remote / Online
Commitment: Approx. 20 hours per month
Role Type: Volunteer
Reports to: Founder / Safeguarding Lead

�� About Us

Guardian Light Foundation is a mission-driven organisation supporting children, teenagers, and single-parent families affected by homelessness, abuse, trauma, and financial hardship.

Our counselling services operate in three tiers:

Tier 1 – Guardian Light Foundation
Free emotional support for vulnerable individuals.

Tier 2 & Tier 3 – Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd
Low-cost and paid counselling services that help fund our charitable programmes and expand access to professional mental health support.

To maintain the highest ethical and professional standards, we are seeking a Volunteer Clinical Supervisor to support our counselling team.

�� Purpose of the Role

The Volunteer Clinical Supervisor will ensure that all counselling delivered through Guardian Light Foundation and Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd is:

• Ethical

• Safe

• Trauma-informed

• Professionally supported

• Aligned with recognised counselling standards (e.g. BACP / UKCP frameworks)

You will provide clinical supervision, safeguarding oversight, and professional guidance to our counsellors and trainee counsellors.

�� Key Responsibilities

Clinical Supervision

• Provide supervision for volunteer and trainee counsellors

• Facilitate monthly or bi-monthly group supervision sessions

• Offer guidance on complex or high-risk cases

• Support counsellors with professional development

Safeguarding Oversight

• Support decision-making where safeguarding concerns arise

• Ensure appropriate boundaries and ethical practice

• Assist with risk assessments where needed

Professional Standards

• Help maintain high clinical standards across services

• Ensure alignment with recognised ethical frameworks

• Provide guidance on confidentiality, consent, and record keeping

Support for Tier Structure

Provide supervision for counsellors working across:

Tier 1 – Charity Counselling

• Crisis support

• Emotional wellbeing support

• Early intervention

Tier 2 – Low-Cost Counselling

• Structured therapeutic support

Tier 3 – Professional Counselling

• Longer-term therapeutic work

Programme Development

• Advise on counselling frameworks and policies

• Support development of safe referral pathways

• Provide input on improving service delivery

��️ Safeguarding Requirements

Because this role involves oversight of services supporting vulnerable individuals:

• Enhanced DBS Check (Volunteer) required

• Must follow Guardian Light safeguarding policies

• Work closely with the Safeguarding Lead when concerns arise

DBS checks will be conducted via our trusted partner Serve (Rushden).

�� Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Qualified Clinical Supervisor

• Accredited or registered with a recognised body such as:

  • BACP

  • UKCP

  • NCPS

  • BABCP (or equivalent)

• Experience supervising counsellors or trainee therapists

• Strong understanding of trauma, safeguarding, and ethical practice

• Ability to support practitioners working with complex cases

Desirable

• Experience working with:

  • Young people

  • Domestic abuse survivors

  • Trauma

  • Vulnerable families

• Experience supporting trainee counsellors

• Experience working within charities or social enterprises

�� Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who is:

• Compassionate and emotionally intelligent

• Ethical and professional

• Passionate about protecting vulnerable people

• Supportive but able to challenge constructively

• Committed to social impact

⏰ Time Commitment

Approximate commitment:

20 hours per month

This may include:

• Group supervision sessions

• Case consultation

• Safeguarding guidance when required

Flexible scheduling.

�� What You’ll Gain

• The opportunity to shape a growing counselling service from the beginning

• Meaningful impact on vulnerable lives

• Recognition as a key professional advisor to the organisation

• Networking with therapists, legal professionals, and social care specialists

• Opportunity to join the Advisory Board or Board of Directors

• Professional contribution toward social change

�� Structure of Services

Guardian Light Foundation

• Tier 1: Free counselling for vulnerable individuals

Guardian Light Enterprises Ltd

• Tier 2: Affordable counselling

• Tier 3: Professional counselling services that help fund the charity

This structure allows us to sustain our mission while expanding access to mental health support.