Yes. North East Counselling Services provides one-to-one counselling to children and young people, as well as to school staff.

North East Counselling Services provides one-to-one counselling to children and young people from age 4 upwards.

We can provide in-school counselling for just one child, or can offer from a half day to several days of in-school counsellor support each week. If a student struggles to be seen in school, then alternative venues can be used.

If, at the first counselling session, we feel that the issues a child or young person is experiencing (or some other background factors) mean they would benefit from a different type of therapy or service, which we do not provide, then we will discuss that with the school. We would also do this if, during or at the end of counselling, we felt that the child could benefit from some other support.

Our rapid response, crisis service provides trauma-informed support when a school has been affected by an unexpected death or other major incident.

We have supported schools in this way, for example, after

• Traumatic bereavements
• Violent incidents that have affected pupils and/or staff

To assess needs, we aim to meet within 24 hours of your first contact with us. We will then work quickly with you to agree and co-ordinate rapid access to services.

This might involve one-to-one counselling for a small number of students or staff who have been most affected, or group-based sessions where appropriate.

Individual Student and Staff Counselling

When our counsellors work one-on-one with your pupils or staff, what they say to us will be confidential, within safe and legal limits. This allows them the freedom to express themselves and really get to the root of the issues, without fear of any judgement or negative repercussions from others.

 Group Work with School Staff

When working with groups of staff, it’s important to create a safe space in which they can speak freely. In order to do that, the counsellor facilitating the group will make an oral contract with the school staff who take part, limiting what can be shared outside of the sessions.

Our schools counsellors are fully qualified and are registered or accredited members of a professional membership body, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

All of our counsellors:

• Work to a competence framework and strict code of ethics set by their membership body.
• Hold an up-to-date, Enhanced, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and complete regular safeguarding training
• Are covered by professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance.

Each counsellor also receives a minimum of an hour of clinical supervision each month and undertakes appropriate continuing professional development, to inform and continually strengthen their work.

To ensure that all of the counselling we deliver is safe and ethical, we assess any risks that arise during work with a child or and young person. If at any time the counsellor feels risks may be present, they will:

• Follow the procedures set out by the school;
• Report to the school’s designated safeguarding lead (DSL);
• Log the safeguarding issue on North East Counselling Services’ own system;
• Ensure that they act in line with best practice guidance and with our own safeguarding policy

Counsellors are also able to contact a safeguarding lead, at our head office, for support as required.

To arrange counselling, discuss counselling costs and budgets, or simply to explore how we might be able to work together, please telephone us on 0191 4661314 and ask to speak to Marj Hunter (CEO) or Jolene McCourt (Operations Manager). Alternatively, email marj@necounselling.org.uk or jolene@necounselling.org.uk – or fill in our contact form to get started.