Mental health counsellors to strike over pay

Cameron Matthews says counsellors employed by NHS mental health trusts are paid higher

Counsellors at a mental health charity are due to go on strike in a dispute over pay.

UNISON said its members at Norfolk and Waveney Mind would stage a walkout between 09:00 BST and 14:00.

Eastern regional organiser Cameron Matthews said counsellors employed by NHS trusts received larger salaries and that Mind staff were under paid by "thousands of pounds a year".

A Mind spokesperson said "we remain committed to working collaboratively with all parties".

The walkout is timed with Mental Health Awareness Week and some staff are expected to join a picket line outside Mind's office in Norwich.

UNISON said some fully qualified counsellors were getting paid trainee-level rates.

"These counsellors are committed to their jobs and want to be out there helping patients, but the inflexible attitudes of their managers have forced them to strike," said Mr Matthews.

"Mind and [the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust] can still prevent this strike by recognising the work counsellors do and paying them what they deserve."

'Highest quality care'

Norfolk and Waveney Mind said it had taken proactive steps to minimise disruption to talking therapies during the day and none of the charity's other services would be affected.

The service employs about 400 members of staff.

Norfolk and Waveney Mind said "only 17" of its counsellors - all of whom were trained in giving NHS talking therapies - had voted in favour of strike action.

A Mind spokesperson said the pay levels for counsellors had been set as part of a contractual agreement, which ensured they were "aligned with the NHS agenda for change pay levels".

They continued: "We remain committed to working collaboratively with all parties involved in this dispute to find a constructive and appropriate resolution that addresses the concerns raised by counsellors, while continuing to deliver the highest quality care."