Counsellor/Psychotherapist in Swindon

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.

Main duties of the job:

• This post will work under the line management of the SPA & Community Service Lead and clinical supervision of the Senior Practitioner.
• You will work from Be U Swindon Hubs, education settings and community venues to support Children / Young People to easily access therapeutic interventions and thrive.
• The role will be varied, challenging, and rewarding as you will work as part of a diverse clinical team pro‑actively developing the service through co‑production, delivery, and ongoing innovation.

Job responsibilities:

• You will work from Be U Swindon Hubs & Haven Service and community venues to support Children/ Young People to easily access therapeutic interventions and thrive.
• This part of the role delivers emotional support to CYP in community settings including community centres and Be U therapeutic spaces working on Saturdays on a rota basis.
• Main Tasks:

• Deliver therapeutic interventions to children and young people, working independently which may at times mean lone working.
• Undertake professional initial assessments of young people.
• Provide ongoing and one‑off counselling to young people.
• Develop alternatives to one‑to‑one therapeutic work i.e., group 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 in a timely manner ensuring that they are stored securely using the specified case management systems.
• Develop links to other agencies and services and have a good understanding of local services for signposting and onward referrals.
• Positively manage risk and recognise and pro‑actively respond to child protection and safeguarding issues.
• Provide on‑call support.

Communication:

• Be able to communicate and engage with children and young people appropriate to individual needs.
• Ensure young people feel listened to, feel in control and are respected.

Are you:

• An 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 experienced in 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 (Children and Young Peoples), their parents/carers and health professionals.
• Open, respectful, committed to equality and inclusiveness and motivated by new ideas and perspectives.

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.
• 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.
• Information Governance: Employees of ABL Health must comply with the provisions of GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Health & Safety: Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the postholder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions.
• Safeguarding is Everyone’s Business: ABL has a responsibility to ensure that all children/ young people and adults are adequately safeguarded and protected.
• ABL is Smoke‑Free. Smoking is not permitted on any of our premises or the surrounding land including car parking facilities.
• Training: The postholder must attend any training that is identified as mandatory to their role.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: 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 level 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 need.
• 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 of 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.