Accredited Counsellor - Police Contract
| Posting date: | 24 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £40,000 per year |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 26 March 2026 |
| Location: | Lambeth, South East London |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Optima Health |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Job Title: Accredited Counsellor
Location: Base locations in Sidcup and Lambeth, however further travel within London is required on a need must basis.
Salary: £40,000 per annum, pro rata if part time
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time or Part Time. Monday – Friday. Minimum of 3 days per week. 9am-5:30pm
Right to live & work within the UK is required for this role. (This role requires high level security clearance)
About Us:
Optima Health are the UK market leader of Occupational Health and Wellbeing services. Our heritage can be traced back to 1947 where we were pioneers in the provision of Occupational Health and have led the way ever since, bringing new and innovative solutions to employers across the UK. We can offer unrivalled clinical expertise and industry leading tailored solutions to our clients. We work with over two thousand businesses, in various industries, and our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of the UK workforce by supporting healthy high performance in our client organisations, helping them to achieve their full potential through their people.
Optima Health not only provide an excellent package, but we also offer a structured induction and training programme in your first few weeks. We offer tailored career development and opportunities for further training and qualifications, to support you in your career journey. We are committed to making this a really great place to work, so together, we live by our values; We are one team, we do the right thing, we are shaping tomorrow, and we are never too big to care.
Role Summary:
We are seeking an experienced, fully accredited Counsellor to work within the Occupational Health service provided to the Metropolitan Police. This role involves delivering clinical assessments, one-to-one counselling sessions, and facilitating group work and workshops for police officers and staff operating in high-risk, high-exposure roles.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary Occupational Health team, you will collaborate closely with Occupational Health Advisors, Screening Nurses, Occupational Health Technicians, and EMDR Therapists to ensure coordinated, appropriate, and timely psychological support. The ability to work effectively within an OH framework, including clear communication, referral pathways, and shared governance, is essential.
The post requires significant experience in post-trauma and complex psychological presentations. You must be confident working within organisational policies, procedures, and quality standards, and able to adapt to change within a dynamic operational environment.
You will adhere to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Framework of Ethical Practice and MPS policies and processes.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
To conduct weekly psychological screening appointments with clients with individuals in vulnerable roles.
Facilitating support groups with officers & staff, focused on various different mental health topics, such as bereavement, substance misuse etc.
Provide crisis counselling based on case-by-case need as specified by the Clinical Lead
To deliver trauma interventions, this will include major and critical incidents as are reported working within with Optima and MPS policy.
Mange own caseload, delivering short-term (up to 6 sessions) of counselling for clients with personal or work-related issues, who are off sick or at work, with a goal of returning staff back to recuperative/full duties.
Intermittent, longer-term, on-going support to suspended officers.
Advice/support to managers about counselling services and managing a duty mailbox for urgent assessment of clients.
Psychological risk assessment for referrals received from managers and other wider occupational health departments and act according to MPS risk management protocol.
To deliver trauma interventions, this will include major and critical incidents as are reported working within with Optima and MPS policy.
Offer practical problem-solving guidance and signpost to other external agencies or internal multi-specialist occupational health team, which may include delivering presentations.
To assess officers' needs, plan effectively, monitor and evaluate interventions using evidence-based practice applied to individual needs
Any additional duties to support the duty team.
Experience, Skills, and Knowledge Required for the Role:
BACP Accreditation is essential (or equivalent).
Experience in substance misuse would be advantageous.
Evidence of completion of psychological risk assessment and have the ability to work autonomously.
Experience of delivering a brief counselling model.
Understand of the use of IAPT measurement forms.
A knowledge and understanding of clinical governance and risk management.
You must have at least 3 years' experience of working in a counselling service, occupational health or related service offering short term solution focussed therapy.
CBT trained practitioners desirable but not essential.
Experience delivering trauma focused counselling
What Can We Offer You?
25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
Buy and sell holiday scheme
Professional Registration fees paid
Matched Pension Scheme
Health Cash Plan
Life Assurance
Annual flu jabs
Eye Test Voucher
Employee Assistance Programme
Opportunities to progress in different areas on the business
Leadership training scheme if you would like to progress to leadership
Optima Health is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the role will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, gender or gender expression, disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief or sexual orientation.
Location: Base locations in Sidcup and Lambeth, however further travel within London is required on a need must basis.
Salary: £40,000 per annum, pro rata if part time
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time or Part Time. Monday – Friday. Minimum of 3 days per week. 9am-5:30pm
Right to live & work within the UK is required for this role. (This role requires high level security clearance)
About Us:
Optima Health are the UK market leader of Occupational Health and Wellbeing services. Our heritage can be traced back to 1947 where we were pioneers in the provision of Occupational Health and have led the way ever since, bringing new and innovative solutions to employers across the UK. We can offer unrivalled clinical expertise and industry leading tailored solutions to our clients. We work with over two thousand businesses, in various industries, and our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of the UK workforce by supporting healthy high performance in our client organisations, helping them to achieve their full potential through their people.
Optima Health not only provide an excellent package, but we also offer a structured induction and training programme in your first few weeks. We offer tailored career development and opportunities for further training and qualifications, to support you in your career journey. We are committed to making this a really great place to work, so together, we live by our values; We are one team, we do the right thing, we are shaping tomorrow, and we are never too big to care.
Role Summary:
We are seeking an experienced, fully accredited Counsellor to work within the Occupational Health service provided to the Metropolitan Police. This role involves delivering clinical assessments, one-to-one counselling sessions, and facilitating group work and workshops for police officers and staff operating in high-risk, high-exposure roles.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary Occupational Health team, you will collaborate closely with Occupational Health Advisors, Screening Nurses, Occupational Health Technicians, and EMDR Therapists to ensure coordinated, appropriate, and timely psychological support. The ability to work effectively within an OH framework, including clear communication, referral pathways, and shared governance, is essential.
The post requires significant experience in post-trauma and complex psychological presentations. You must be confident working within organisational policies, procedures, and quality standards, and able to adapt to change within a dynamic operational environment.
You will adhere to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Framework of Ethical Practice and MPS policies and processes.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
To conduct weekly psychological screening appointments with clients with individuals in vulnerable roles.
Facilitating support groups with officers & staff, focused on various different mental health topics, such as bereavement, substance misuse etc.
Provide crisis counselling based on case-by-case need as specified by the Clinical Lead
To deliver trauma interventions, this will include major and critical incidents as are reported working within with Optima and MPS policy.
Mange own caseload, delivering short-term (up to 6 sessions) of counselling for clients with personal or work-related issues, who are off sick or at work, with a goal of returning staff back to recuperative/full duties.
Intermittent, longer-term, on-going support to suspended officers.
Advice/support to managers about counselling services and managing a duty mailbox for urgent assessment of clients.
Psychological risk assessment for referrals received from managers and other wider occupational health departments and act according to MPS risk management protocol.
To deliver trauma interventions, this will include major and critical incidents as are reported working within with Optima and MPS policy.
Offer practical problem-solving guidance and signpost to other external agencies or internal multi-specialist occupational health team, which may include delivering presentations.
To assess officers' needs, plan effectively, monitor and evaluate interventions using evidence-based practice applied to individual needs
Any additional duties to support the duty team.
Experience, Skills, and Knowledge Required for the Role:
BACP Accreditation is essential (or equivalent).
Experience in substance misuse would be advantageous.
Evidence of completion of psychological risk assessment and have the ability to work autonomously.
Experience of delivering a brief counselling model.
Understand of the use of IAPT measurement forms.
A knowledge and understanding of clinical governance and risk management.
You must have at least 3 years' experience of working in a counselling service, occupational health or related service offering short term solution focussed therapy.
CBT trained practitioners desirable but not essential.
Experience delivering trauma focused counselling
What Can We Offer You?
25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
Buy and sell holiday scheme
Professional Registration fees paid
Matched Pension Scheme
Health Cash Plan
Life Assurance
Annual flu jabs
Eye Test Voucher
Employee Assistance Programme
Opportunities to progress in different areas on the business
Leadership training scheme if you would like to progress to leadership
Optima Health is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the role will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, gender or gender expression, disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief or sexual orientation.
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.