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Sunderland Counselling Service is a is a dynamic and diverse workplace where we are committed to delivering our charitable aims.
If you want to make a real difference and be part of our amazing team check out our latest job vacancies.
"An ethical organisation who cares equally about the staff and the service users. I feel the provisions are brilliant, management are very approachable, they make you feel your opinions matter. I find it a lovely place to be employed"
Feedback from our staff survey 2023
Sunderland Counselling Service is recruiting to the following vacancies:
Counsellor - Cancer Carer Service
Hours: 18.75 hours per week which are to be worked on a Monday, Thursday and Friday
Salary: AfC Band 5 comparable (£31,049 to £37,796) p/a pro rata
Contract type: Fixed-term for 24 months
Location: Freeham Hospital, Freeham Road, Newcastle, NE7 7DN.
Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) is seeking to appoint an effective counsellor to work as part of our Specialist Cancer Carer Counselling Service in the Freeham Hospital.
We are a unique independent mental health charity and company limited by guarantee, acknowledged for our contribution to the community by mental health professionals, health practitioners and local and regional voluntary and statutory agencies.
This is a new service, and the successful post holder will provide a person-centred service providing support by creating an understanding of the psychological, neurological, social, cultural and spiritual impact cancer can have, as well as reducing fear/anxiety in relation to cancer and building resilience in carers enabling them to carry out their important role.
This service will work effectively in partnership with cancer psychology services within Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust to support the implementation of a localised, integrated psychosocial pathway. The post holder will be fully aligned to existing cancer psychology teams there. This will aid the delivery of the service by providing a consistent point of contact with referrers, the Newcastle Hospitals Cancer Workforce, to build relationships, discuss suitability, and develop pathways.
Counselling will be provided from the Freeham Hospital to ensure access is both easy and time. Occasional domiciliary visits may be necessary according to client need. The post holder may be called upon to use a personal means of transport while engaged in the work of the service for which travel expenses will be available. The role may also occasionally require the post holder to work confidentially from home depending upon client need, in these instances appointments will be offered over the telephone or online.
The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of individual counselling services to adults over the age of 18 who have a loved one who has been diagnosed with cancer or are at any stage of treatment for cancer and for whom counselling may be of benefit.
Interventions will focus on dealing with the emotional impact and effects of diagnosis and illness to reduce the mental and emotional distress experienced by carers, as well as increasing the range of coping strategies available to the carer and support available to them. Indirectly this service will support patients with a cancer diagnosis by strengthening the support system around them.
Therapists will be expected to complete a comprehensive assessment of needs with their clients and counselling will be offered as part of a six-session model. Counsellors will be expected to ensure the client has access to appropriate ongoing support and liaise with partner agencies as required according to their treatment needs.
If you would like further information about this role, please contact Kelly Burton, Services Manager or Marianne Guthzeit, Clinical Lead on 0191 514 7007.
All applications for this post must be submitted by 11.59pm on Sunday, 19th April 2026 alongside a completed equal opportunities and diversity monitoring form to [email protected]. Applications received after this time will not be considered.
Unfortunately, we will not offer feedback to those who are unsuccessful at the application phase.
Please note SCS may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) detection tools to identify whether an application has been completed using AI.
We expect that AI may be used to enhance your application such as refining and clarifying your ideas and thoughts and checking for grammar and spelling. However, applications where AI has been used to invent or inflate your skills and experiences or create generic responses will be rejected.
To verify you have written your application please add the following to the bottom of your application:
"I confirm that the content of this application is my own work and has not been generated by artificial intelligence tools beyond basic editing or proofreading."
Please download below:
- Job Description
- Application Form
- GDPR Privacy Notice for Applicants
- Equal Opportunity and Diversity Monitoring Document
High Intensity Therapist
JOB TITLE: High Intensity Therapist
GRADE: £49,387 (Comparable to Agenda for Change Band 7) subject to qualification and accreditation status
DEPARTMENT: Sunderland Counselling Service
LOCATION: Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS), 51 John Street, Sunderland, SR1 1QN
RESPONSIBLE TO: Services Manager (Sunderland Counselling Service)
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Clinical Lead (Sunderland Counselling Service)
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent
HOURS: 37.5 p/w excluding breaks and inclusive of evening work as required
Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) is excited to be working alongside Primary Care Networks (PCN) in Sunderland to develop and enhance the high intensity service provision across the city for patients who have one or more long-term conditions or are in receipt of fit notes as part of the Healthy Activity Programme (HAP) to support with the aim to improve their mental and emotional wellbeing.
The post holder will be qualified and accredited within one or more recognised Talking Therapies High Intensity modalities, such as High Intensity CBT, Person Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression (PCE-CfD), Eye Movement and Desensitization and Processing (EMDR) therapy and / or Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).
This is an exciting opportunity to intervene early with clients who have co-morbidity issues to enhance their emotional resilience and prevent further longer-term mental health distress.
The post holder will work outside of a traditional talking therapies service and complete assessments and appropriate community-based interventions for clients with a range of complex problems relating to anxiety and depression and for which one of more of the interventions above is demonstrated to be clinically effective.
The post holder will be employed on Sunderland Counselling Service terms and conditions and offered an NHS comparable agenda for change Band Seven salary subject to qualification and accreditation status.
They will be expected to work closely with the teams based within a specific PCN in the city to develop effective pathways and referral routes for patients who may benefit from this intervention. They will be expected to effectively comply with the SCS Clinical and Information Governance requirements and hold appropriate access to PCN systems as relevant to the role.
The post holder will work with people with diverse cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
This will be a permanent position subject to a successful probationary period of six months.
Please note applications will be accepted until the 11.59pm on 22nd April but we reserve the right to close the application process early if we receive a high volume of submissions. Interviews are expected to take place soon after and we hope to have a short turn around following the successful appointment of the post holder.
SCS provides a range of services across the North East region offering psychological therapies including counselling and cognitive behavioural therapies to children and adults, as well as wrap around support to help enhance emotional and mental wellbeing.
The post-holder will be provided with regular line management, clinical and case management supervision by staff based within SCS or outsourced to specialist providers where required according to their modality.
The successful candidate will be entitled to benefits such as 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, access to our 24/7 employee assistance programme, Cycle2Work Scheme, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, training and being part of a supportive team which emphasises the importance of continuing personal and professional development.
Please note applications will be accepted until 11.59pm on the 22nd April but we reserve the right to close the application process early if we receive a high volume of submissions. Interviews are expected to take place soon after and we hope to have a short turn around following the successful appointment of the post holder.
Unfortunately, we will not offer feedback to those who are unsuccessful at the application phase.
Applications alongside a completed equality opportunity monitoring form should be sent to [email protected]. For further information about the role you can also contact Leanne Davis, Head of Services at [email protected] or on 0191 514 7007.
Please note SCS may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) detection tools to identify whether an application has been completed using AI.
We expect that AI may be used to enhance your application such as refining and clarifying your ideas and thoughts and checking for grammar and spelling. However, applications where AI has been used to invent or inflate your skills and experiences or create generic responses will be rejected.
To verify you have written your application please add the following to the bottom of your application:
"I confirm that the content of this application is my own work and has not been generated by artificial intelligence tools beyond basic editing or proofreading.".
Please download below:
- Job Description
- Application Form
- GDPR Privacy Notice for Applicants
- Equal Opportunity and Diversity Monitoring Document
Sunderland Counselling Service - Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
JOB TITLE: Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
GRADE: £32,073 (Comparable to Agenda for Change Band 5) subject to qualification and accreditation status
DEPARTMENT: Sunderland Counselling Service
LOCATION: Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS), 51 John Street, Sunderland SR1 1QN
RESPONSIBLE TO: Services Manager (Sunderland Counselling Service)
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Clinical Lead (Sunderland Counselling Service)
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent
HOURS: 37.5 p/w excluding breaks and inclusive of evening work as required
This post is expected to be community based, working from Sunderland Counselling Service central office, GP practices and community venues. The post holder may be required to work confidentially from home on an exceptional basis according to service need.
Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) provides a range of services across the North East region offering psychological therapies including counselling and cognitive behavioural therapies to children and adults, as well as wrap around support to help enhance emotional and mental wellbeing.
SCS is excited to be working alongside Primary Care Networks (PCN) in Sunderland to develop and enhance the low intensity service provision across the city for patients who have one or more long-term conditions or are in receipt of fit notes as part of the Healthy Activity Programme (HAP) to support with the aim to improve their mental and emotional wellbeing.
The post holder will be qualified in a PWP Training Course (Post Graduate Certificate or Level 3 undergraduate course) and successfully accredited with the BABCP or similar or waiting for ratification/accreditation after the successful completion of the PWP Training Course.
This is an exciting opportunity to utilise low intensity CBT skills with clients outside of the normal national talking therapies service provision and to intervene early with clients who have co-morbidity issues to enhance their emotional resilience and prevent further longer-term mental health distress.
The post holder will complete assessments and provide community-based interventions for clients with a range of mild to moderate problems relating to anxiety and depression and for which low intensity CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective.
They will be expected to work closely with the teams based within a specific PCN in the city to develop effective pathways and referral routes for patients who may benefit from this intervention. They will be expected to effectively comply with the SCS Clinical and Information Governance requirements and hold appropriate access to PCN systems as relevant to the role.
The post holder will work with people with diverse cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
The post holder will be employed on SCS terms and conditions and offered an NHS comparable agenda for change Band five salary subject to qualification and accreditation status.
This will be a permanent position subject to a successful probationary period of six months.
The post-holder will be provided with regular line management, clinical and case management supervision by staff based within SCS or outsourced to specialist providers where required according to their modality.
The successful candidate will be entitled to benefits such as 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, access to our 24/7 employee assistance programme, Cycle2Work Scheme, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, training and being part of a supportive team which emphasises the importance of continuing personal and professional development.
Please note applications will be accepted until 11.59pm on the 22nd April but we reserve the right to close the application process early if we receive a high volume of submissions. Interviews are expected to take place soon after and we hope to have a short turn around following the successful appointment of the post holder.
Unfortunately, we will not offer feedback to those who are unsuccessful at the application phase.
Applications alongside a completed equality opportunity monitoring form should be sent to [email protected]. For further information about the role you can also contact Leanne Davis, Head of Services at [email protected] or on 0191 514 7007.
Please note SCS may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) detection tools to identify whether an application has been completed using AI.
We expect that AI may be used to enhance your application such as refining and clarifying your ideas and thoughts and checking for grammar and spelling. However, applications where AI has been used to invent or inflate your skills and experiences or create generic responses will be rejected.
To verify you have written your application please add the following to the bottom of your application:
"I confirm that the content of this application is my own work and has not been generated by artificial intelligence tools beyond basic editing or proofreading."
Please download below:
- Job Description
- Application Form
- GDPR Privacy Notice for Applicants
- Equal Opportunity and Diversity Monitoring Document