Counsellor

Main duties of the job

You will deliver outcome focused evidence-based therapy-based interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties to support them to improve their emotional health and build resilience. This will include (virtual & F2F) individual, group work and peer support. Working as part of the Be U Swindon Community Team you will be part of the delivery of this day, evening and weekend provision, working on a rotational basis.

• Deliver therapeutic interventions both independently and, at times, through lone working.
• Undertake professional initial assessments of young people.
• Provide ongoing and one-off counselling sessions.
• Develop alternative group work to one-to-one therapeutic work.
• Facilitate peer support interventions with and for children and young people.
• Provide information, advice, guidance, and support as part of the single point of access function.
• Maintain confidential case notes and records using case management systems.
• Develop links to other agencies and services and signpost and refer effectively.
• Positively manage risk and respond to safeguarding and child protection concerns.

How you fit

• Experienced mental health practitioner used to a fast-paced environment.
• Experienced in working with children and young people across early intervention / mental health settings and engaging the whole family.
• Experienced in providing guided self-help and short-term counselling interventions.
• Positive and proactive to achieve the highest standards and outcomes in engagement with children, young people, their parent/carers, and professionals.
• Adept in communication and confident communicating with CYP, their parents/carers and health professionals.
• Open, respectful, committed to equality and inclusiveness and motivated by new ideas and perspectives.

Diversity

We actively welcome candidates and staff with different identities and different ways of thinking. As a Disability Confident Leader we encourage open and honest communication at all levels and we are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments for any staff in any role.

Working Practice Expectations

• Ethical Practice: Employed therapists are required to abide by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or equivalent.
• Professional Membership and Registration: It is required that employed practitioners maintain active membership with a national organisation that represents the field of psychological therapy and people who work as counsellors and therapists, such as AFT, BACP, BPS, BABCP or HCPC or UKCP. Employed practitioners will ideally pursue accreditation or registration with one of these bodies and will complete annual continuing professional development and associated procedures required to maintain accreditation and/or registration. All costs associated with professional memberships, subscriptions, conferences, continuing education etc., are borne by the practitioner.
• Liability Insurance: Employed practitioners are covered against malpractice liability by ABL insurance.
• Supervision: Employed clinical practitioners are required to attend supervision at the minimum frequency of 1.5 hours per FTE per month, with an appropriately qualified internal ABL Health professional. This time is included in the contract.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Person Specification

• 1 year post qualification counselling / psychotherapy experience.
• Professional registration with recognised National Body (e.g. BACP/UKCP, HCPC).

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills including listening, verbal and written.
• Ability to communicate with CYP of different ages, developmental levels and backgrounds.
• Excellent telephone manner.
• Ability to prioritise work tasks.
• Ability to work under high pressure and in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Understanding and evidence of adhering to information governance and data protection policies.
• Efficient problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to interact with colleagues and other stakeholders politely and courteously.
• Excellent IT skills and proficient in all areas of Microsoft Office & running remote meetings.
• Experience with reporting in client database packages.
• Excellent customer care.
• Evidence of accuracy and paying attention to detail in tasks.
• Punctuality, reliability and honesty.
• Ability to use own initiative and confident to do so in the workplace.
• Local knowledge of services and needs.

Job Specific Requirements

• Work flexibly and adapt to suit service need.
• Willing to travel.
• Enhanced DBS check.

Experience

• Knowledge of development in CYP, family development and transitions.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Experience in managing a caseload.
• Ability to assess and manage risks.
• Ability to recognise and respond to concerns about child protection and safeguarding.
• Ability to make use of supervision.
• Up-to-date knowledge of CYP emotional wellbeing / early mental health clinical evidence-based practice and support for parents/carers.
• Experience in quality improvement measures.
• Experience in pathway development.
• Experience in delivering training and workshops to CYP and parents/carers.
• Experience in delivering training to professionals.
• Experience in running peer support groups.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.