We are looking for home based Online Emotional & Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioners - Nationwide

A role with Kooth is an exciting chance to join the pioneers of digital mental health and wellbeing. 

Kooth is an organisation that uses technology as a way to remove any barriers that could prevent someone accessing the help that they need. Through Kooth, users can go online and access effective therapies and wellbeing strategies to manage their mental health in a safe and anonymous way. This fills a vital gap in current mental health provision. 

A job with us at Kooth offers you the chance to be part of a caring community that is at the forefront of digital mental health and wellbeing. 

You will be helping to provide young people with access to immediate and often crucial support.

We have helped over 2 million young people and adults through our online support platforms, Kooth, for children and young people, and Qwell, for adults. Currently, we are working with over 100 Local Authorities, CCGs, mental health trusts, businesses and charities across the UK to ensure it’s easy and safe for all generations to access the best emotional and mental health services as and when they need. 

What you’ll do

You will be at the heart of what Kooth is doing. You will be: 

• Providing text-based online emotional support and advice to children and young people facing challenges such as managing anxious feelings, depression, suicidal thoughts or engaging in risk taking behaviours.

• Sensitively moderating articles and message boards on the Kooth site.

• Assessing the risks and needs of each person you speak to – signposting, referring, liaising with agencies and individuals who may be in contact with the young person (where appropriate) or escalating each case (when relevant to do so).

• Cultivating a strong sense of community around our service users, engaging users and ensuring that the online community is maintained as a safe and fun environment.

• Performing all duties in line with relevant compliance, legal requirements and internal policies with particular reference to safeguarding.

You will also be embraced as part of a close-knit, positive and likeminded team who are committed to providing a valuable service in an online environment.

The types of people we would love to hear from are:

Willing to work alongside each other

• Warm, welcoming and companionable. Able to communicate effectively and empathetically with a diverse array of people in an online environment.

Flexible

• No day or person is the same. What is important is you put young people in control and can be there for them to provide immediate support when they need it the most.

Compassionate

• Open-minded people that do not judge. You listen, counsel and support.

Committed

•  No matter what support someone may need, you want to be there to help. You can remain positive, resilient and proactively work to provide effective support.

Safe

• You want to be a part of our safe space for users and are serious about safeguarding.

You are available for:

A minimum of 20 hours per week comprising 4 or 6 hour shifts (or split shifts) per day - which are spread across days, evenings and weekends.

•  A minimum of 33% of all working time must be between 8-10pm or Friday/Saturday evenings from 6pm.

•  Note: Positions of up to 32 hours a week are available where willing to work further evenings up to 10pm and weekends.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience in Counselling, Youth Work, Mental Health, Social Work, Teaching/ Mentoring, Information, Advice and Guidance or similar.

• Or a relevant degree or professional qualification.

• A minimum of 2-3 years’ experience of providing support to young people 10-25yrs in face to face or digital settings.

• Experience of providing effective engagement and immediate support to help young people through challenging experiences and develop skills to make positive changes in their lives.

• The ability to work remotely with a good broadband connection installed in your home/place of work alongside the competent and confident use of technology.

• This position is subject to a successful enhanced DBS check as part of recruitment procedures.

In return, you’ll receive

•  £20,000 - £28,000 p/a pro-rata

• All the necessary equipment for you to comfortably work from home

• A full training programme to get you started 

• Yearly professional training programmes structured around you

• Pension contributions

• Subsidised private medical insurance

• Eligible for annual award of Long Term Incentive Plan (shares)

• Healthshield - Cash Plan

• Life Assurance (4x Salary)