Counsellors in Norfolk and Waveney will walk out on Wednesday in a dispute over pay during Mental Health Awareness week.

The counsellors, employed by the Mind charity, provide talking therapy services to patients with long-term or complicated mental health problems at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Despite being fully qualified, they are being paid trainee rates, says the Unison union, which represents the counsellors.

“Mind is campaigning this Mental Health Awareness Week to ‘make sure that no mind gets left behind’,” Unison Eastern regional organiser Cameron Matthews said. 

“But it’s underpaying the people on the front line of Britain’s mental health crisis by thousands of pounds a year.

“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.

“Almost every other NHS trust in the country pays its counsellors at the higher band that these staff are asking for. But local managers refuse to accept they’re in the wrong.

“Mind and the trust can still prevent this strike by recognising the work counsellors do and paying them what they deserve.”

A spokesperson for Norfolk and Waveney Mind said:  Norfolk and Waveney Mind has taken proactive steps to ensure that any disruption to service users is minimal and that the Talking Therapies service continues to support the local community throughout this period.

“Norfolk and Waveney Mind employs around 400 members of staff, and only 17 counsellors delivering NHS Talking Therapies have voted in favour of strike action. None of our charity’s other services will be affected.”

“The pay levels for counsellors have been set as part of the contractual agreement under which N&WM delivers the Talking Therapies service. This agreement ensures that counsellors' pay is aligned with NHS Agenda for Change pay levels and includes adjustments to staff banding to reflect the level of service they are providing.”