Children's Sight Loss Counsellor
| Posting date: | 07 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £22,560.72 per year |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 06 June 2026 |
| Location: | Harborne, Birmingham |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Focus Birmingham |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 76 |
Summary
The Children’s Sight Loss Counsellor will provide therapeutic support to children and young people living with visual impairments and/or additional disabilities. Working within school and community settings, you will deliver both one-to-one counselling and group wellbeing sessions, creating a safe, supportive and confidential environment. You will also work closely with families, carers, schools and external professionals to support the wider wellbeing of the child.
As part of the Low Vision team at Focus Birmingham, you will contribute to the ongoing development of counselling services, ensuring they are accessible, effective and responsive to need. You will play a key role in improving emotional wellbeing and resilience, while maintaining strong engagement with stakeholders and partner organisations.
You will be responsible for maintaining accurate and confidential records, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed at all times. You will work in line with professional and organisational standards, participate in clinical supervision, and support continuous improvement of the service.
Person Specification
Essential
Experience working with children in a therapeutic or counselling setting
Recognised counselling qualification (or working towards)
Excellent listening and communication skills
Empathy, sensitivity and a non-judgemental approach
Ability to build rapport quickly with children and families
Strong emotional resilience
Ability to adapt communication and therapeutic approaches
Strong organisational and time management skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
Competent IT and record-keeping skills
Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities
Desirable
Membership or accreditation with a professional body (e.g. BACP, UKCP, NCPS)
Experience working with children with visual impairments or additional needs
Experience delivering group sessions
Experience working in school or community settings
Knowledge of low vision or disability support services
Experience working with external professionals
What we offer
26 days holiday + bank holidays
5% employer pension contribution
24/7 Virtual GP Service
Online Physiotherapy
Employee Assistance Programme
Mental Health First Aider Support
Wellbeing App
Health Cash Plan
Enhanced Family Leave Pay
Learning & development opportunities
Blue Light Card Discounts
Life Assurance
As part of the Low Vision team at Focus Birmingham, you will contribute to the ongoing development of counselling services, ensuring they are accessible, effective and responsive to need. You will play a key role in improving emotional wellbeing and resilience, while maintaining strong engagement with stakeholders and partner organisations.
You will be responsible for maintaining accurate and confidential records, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed at all times. You will work in line with professional and organisational standards, participate in clinical supervision, and support continuous improvement of the service.
Person Specification
Essential
Experience working with children in a therapeutic or counselling setting
Recognised counselling qualification (or working towards)
Excellent listening and communication skills
Empathy, sensitivity and a non-judgemental approach
Ability to build rapport quickly with children and families
Strong emotional resilience
Ability to adapt communication and therapeutic approaches
Strong organisational and time management skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
Competent IT and record-keeping skills
Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities
Desirable
Membership or accreditation with a professional body (e.g. BACP, UKCP, NCPS)
Experience working with children with visual impairments or additional needs
Experience delivering group sessions
Experience working in school or community settings
Knowledge of low vision or disability support services
Experience working with external professionals
What we offer
26 days holiday + bank holidays
5% employer pension contribution
24/7 Virtual GP Service
Online Physiotherapy
Employee Assistance Programme
Mental Health First Aider Support
Wellbeing App
Health Cash Plan
Enhanced Family Leave Pay
Learning & development opportunities
Blue Light Card Discounts
Life Assurance
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.