Sidebar clickable category list using query

See link in private field

So I am using “posts” and “post categories” to create content for pages – so each high level “post category” is a “page” – as you can see directory, documents and notices

I can display on each page the posts from that category using the QUERY function quite happily

But they would like a mini menu in the sidebar (or above I guess) that allows them to click into the sub-categories, and drill down

I was oddly enough not able to create a clickable mini catgeory link list using query – is it possible and am I just missing something?

I have it working by using the standard “categories list” block BUT its showing all categories and ideally I would only want to display the subcategories for that main category

So on directory page I would like sidebar to show

Directory (4)
Education (1)
Health (1)

On document page I want to see

Documents (23)
Agendas (8)
Finance (4)

and on notices

Notices (22)
Community (15)
Council (4)

etc

I am not worried about number of posts if that matters, but it does need to click

I know that could create an actual menu – but these subcategories can change and I would rather it was automatic for the customer

Thank you
Sarah