Location
London Borough of Islington

Hours
Full Time (35 hours per week)

Salary
£45,696 per annum

About the Role
Islington Council is seeking skilled and committed practitioners to join the Becoming A Man (BAM) team as Counsellors working directly with young people in secondary schools. BAM is a school-based counselling and mentoring programme that supports boys aged 12–16 to develop social-emotional skills, strengthen relationships and make positive choices about their future. As a BAM Counsellor, you will build trusted relationships with young people and create safe, supportive and appropriately challenging spaces in which they can reflect, develop and thrive.

You will deliver weekly curriculum-based BAM group counselling sessions (“BAM Circles”), provide individual counselling, mentoring and support to young people participating in BAM, and build strong, trusting relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. Collaboration with school staff, pastoral teams and other professionals to support young people’s engagement and wellbeing is essential. You will create safe, engaging and inclusive environments that support young people’s social-emotional development, maintain accurate records, and contribute to programme monitoring, evaluation and data collection.

Participation in BAM training, coaching, supervision and reflective practice is required to ensure high-quality and consistent programme delivery. You will also follow safeguarding procedures and identify and escalate concerns appropriately.

This role is subject to a Genuine Occupational Requirement that applicants must be male, due to the nature and delivery model of the BAM programme. Applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

Islington Council is committed to challenging inequality and creating a more equal borough. We live by our CARE values: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. We offer up to 31 days leave per year (increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service), flexible working arrangements, learning and development opportunities, competitive pay with a commitment to the London Living Wage, an excellent pension scheme, Cycle to Work scheme, discounted gym memberships, and local discounts.

Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees in the redeployment pool must meet essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Islington Council is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workforce, promoting equality, equity, diversity and inclusion at all levels, and maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation.

Experience
Experience working directly with young people in education, youth work, counselling, social care or community settings is essential. Proven ability to build positive, trusting relationships with young people and strong group facilitation skills are required.

About you
You will have strong interpersonal, communication and empathy skills, with an understanding of trauma-informed, relationship-based and culturally responsive practice. Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with school staff and other professionals is important. A commitment to equality, inclusion and anti-racist practice is essential, along with openness to coaching, feedback and reflective practice. Good organisational skills and the ability to maintain accurate records and contribute to programme monitoring and evaluation are also required.

Qualifications
Applicants must be male due to the Genuine Occupational Requirement of the role. Professional qualifications or registrations relevant to counselling or youth work are desirable. The role is subject to enhanced DBS checks with children’s barred list, qualifications check and 3-5 years referencing. Pre-employment checks will include proof of address, right to work in the UK, overseas criminal record check (if applicable), satisfactory references, occupational health clearance and evidence of professional qualifications or registrations.