Student Placements 2025

The new call for Student Placements is here!

Are you currently studying to become a Counsellor/Therapist and are looking for a placement to complete your training hours?

We are looking for committed trainee counsellors and therapists to join us as students on placement to work therapeutically with children and young people (CYP) and adults. Please note that the placement will be mainly with CYP (with primary or secondary school age children). Opportunities for placements with adults (parents/carers of the children we work with) may also be available depending on the number of cases we have.

Cambridge Acorn Project is a well-respected therapeutic charity in Cambridgeshire. We do holistic therapeutic work with children and families who have experienced trauma and are facing financial hardship. We are a responsive, justice-focused charity where children and their families who have lived through adverse experiences can access support quickly and in a way that is meaningful for them. Learn more about the type of support we offer here.

Key information

Type of vacancy: Volunteer, student placement
Deadline for applications: 4th July 2025
Placement to start in September 2025
Hours: Dependent based on availability
Location: Cambridgeshire (ability to travel across Cambridgeshire is required for this role)

To apply, please download the Student Placements Pack and Application below and once completed email it to Adriana Burciaga at adriana@cambridgeacornproject.org.uk

What would be the main responsibilities and duties as a Trainee Counsellor at Cambridge Acorn Project?
- To undertake therapeutic work including long term individual therapy/counselling with CYP or/and parent/carers as agreed with the supervisor.
- To use evidence-based therapeutic interventions and evaluations with children and families.
- To support with community initiatives, including wellbeing drop-ins or projects.
- To ensure all client case notes, assessments, and any other documentation are completed in accordance with the policies and procedures of Cambridge Acorn Project.
- To attend supervision and clinical supervision at agreed times*
- To carry out any other activities that may reasonably be requested by the management team, drawing on broader skills and knowledge.
- Maintaining confidentiality and boundaries.
- Staying up to date with and adhering to organisational policies, including safeguarding.
Please download the Student Placement pack here to learn more about this role, review the person specification and key dates.
Please download the application form and email it to Adriana Burciaga at adriana@cambridgeacornproject.org.uk by 4th July.
Please note that we are unable to accept CVs. In order to be considered for a student placement you must complete the application form provided here.
If you have any questions, require further information or If you prefer the job pack or application in an alternative format, please contact us on the email above.
DOWLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM HERE

We are committed to safe and inclusive recruitment.

Safeguarding and safer recruitment process

Safeguarding is at the heart of Cambridge Acorn Project including our safe recruitment processes. We undertake safe recruitment checks on anyone who wants to work with us as we work with children and adults at risk. This means that all our roles which have contact with services users or access to sensitive information, including this position, require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as well as two references.

This post involves working directly with children and/or vulnerable adults (as well as the processing of sensitive information connected to this under the Data Protection Act 1998). If you are disqualified from working with children or vulnerable adults, we are unable to offer you any posts that involve working with these groups. Across the UK, it is an offence for an individual who has been barred to apply for a regulated position.

Self-disclosure

If you are shortlisted, we will ask you to complete a self-disclosure form. This will be reviewed before your interview.

The self-disclosure form will ask for any criminal convictions, regulatory body sanctions or disqualifications from working with children or vulnerable adults, as well as any police or social services enquiries undertaken following allegations made against you. We may ask about this during the interview.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

Cambridge Acorn Project believes in a world that is equitable, safe, and free from abuse and coercion and we apply these principles to every part of our organisation fostering equality and inclusion in everything we do. We promote a culture of respect and a sense of belonging for all staff, volunteers, and service users where everyone is free to be themselves. We value lived experience, and we welcome applications from people with marginalised identities or experiences. Cambridge Acorn Project is a warm, flexible, and supportive organisation, and we want to work within a diverse collegiate team where everyone’s opinion and experience matters, and everyone has a voice.

Data protection

Cambridge Acorn Project processes data in line with The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. For more information, please see our terms of service.