MENTAL health counsellors working for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust will begin a five-day walkout over pay and conditions on Monday after being banned from talking about their salaries on social media.

The workers employed by Norfolk and Waveney Mind to provide talking therapy services for the trust are being paid trainee rates despite being fully qualified, leaving them thousands of pounds out of pocket, said Unison.

Now the charity has “gagged” them by bringing in new social media rules preventing staff from speaking out about their pay, it added.

Unison eastern regional organiser Cameron Matthews said: “Banning counsellors from speaking out about fair pay is outrageous. But gagging staff won’t stop them standing up for what’s right.

“Mind’s approach to staff welfare raises serious questions about the charity’s fitness to provide mental health services.”

Mind says it does not have to pay full rates as it provides “high-intensity therapy,” without using high-intensity therapists.

But Unison said this would put Mind in breach of its obligations to the NHS trust.

Mr Matthews said: “It’s not only Mind that’s behaving poorly. Trust bosses are showing exactly how the trust found itself at the bottom of the league table, refusing to get involved and ensure its services are being run properly.

“Counsellors don’t want to be on strike, but they’ve been left with no choice.

“Mind and the trust need to get around the table urgently and agree to properly recognise staff for the skilled and important work they do.”

The trust and Mind have been contacted for comment.