Counsellor Location: 55 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, London, Working Hours: 22.5 Hours per week (3 Days) Contract Type: Permanent Salary: £28,690 - £34,730 Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. About Waythrough Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers. Make a real difference in your community Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. About the Role We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Part-Time Counsellor to join our Drug and Alcohol service, Primary Care Recovery Service (PCRS) & Aftercare Lewisham. The role involves providing short- to medium-term one-to-one, face-to-face counselling, typically offering 8–12 sessions per client, to adults experiencing issues related to substance use. You will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to support clients in their recovery journey, promoting positive change, resilience, and wellbeing. Key Responsibilities Deliver structured one-to-one counselling sessions (8–12 sessions per client) in a face-to-face setting Carry out initial assessments, risk assessments, and agreed treatment planning Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential clinical records Review progress and outcomes with clients, adapting interventions as needed Work in line with relevant ethical frameworks, safeguarding policies, and service procedures Participate in supervision, team meetings, and ongoing service development Essential Requirements Recognised counselling qualification (e.g. Diploma or equivalent) Membership (or eligibility for membership) of a relevant professional body (e.g. BACP, UKCP, NCPS) Experience of providing counselling to adults, ideally within drug and alcohol, mental health, or related services Good understanding of substance misuse, recovery models, and trauma-informed practice Strong communication skills and the ability to build therapeutic relationships Commitment to equality, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice Desirable Experience working within a Drug & Alcohol or community-based service Knowledge of safeguarding, risk management, and multi-agency working Experience delivering time-limited or structured interventions What We Offer Supportive and collaborative working environment Regular clinical supervision Opportunities for professional development and training For Full Job Description Please Click Here What We Offer We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package: 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays) Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5% Life assurance (3× annual salary) Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals £500 Recommend a Friend bonus Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year Inclusion and accessibility Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk Closing Date: 2026-03-01 Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have almost 200 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 125,000 people. Bringing together two big organisations is not a small task and it’ll take a while to fully integrate our systems, processes and approaches. That’s why you will notice various brands including, ‘Richmond Fellowship’ or ‘Aquarius’ (our subsidiary charity in the Midlands). Aquarius Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough. Aquarius is a Midlands-based charity supporting individuals to overcome the harms caused by drugs, alcohol and gambling. Aquarius has always held the view that people we support could resolve their problems with support and guidance and that people have the ability to find their own solutions to their problems. Our roles across the organisation include Practitioners and Administrators as well as Team Managers. Find out more at www.aquarius.org.uk