Social Service Counsellor in Glasgow

Based within GCA’s Head Office in North Claremont Street with some travel throughout Glasgow for service delivery. Part-time – 15-16 hours per week (2 posts). Mainly business hours but to include Monday evening or Saturday.

Murray’s Initiative (formally known as Glasgow Council on Alcohol) is an independent Scottish charity that works to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm at both individual and community levels. Established in 1965, Murray’s Initiative adopts a long-term, trauma-informed and asset-based approach to changing the culture around substance use. Its services are built on a person-centred, harm-reduction model, supporting people whether their goal is to reduce consumption or achieve abstinence.

Murray’s Initiative offers free, confidential counselling services for people concerned about their own or someone else's drinking. Murray’s Initiative delivers a range of interventions including groupwork and employability support as well as a number of holistic and inclusive services, such as a women’s service for survivors of gender-based violence, young person’s peer education service, LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing support and tailored wellbeing programmes.

Murray’s Initiative is also a recognised provider of professional development, offering a comprehensive training portfolio including education aimed at increasing awareness of alcohol use and promoting healthier lifestyles, COSCA Counselling Skills and a Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. Murray’s Initiative deliver services over 6 days per week and throughout Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire, helping people make meaningful, positive change in their lives.

The foundation of Murray’s Initiative is our supportive and inclusive culture for all who engage and work with us. The role of the counsellor is to provide a counselling, advice and information service for individuals aged 16 and over with their own problematic alcohol or drugs use. The service is delivered from our offices in Glasgow and within community settings throughout Glasgow and surrounding areas. The Counsellor will report to the Counselling Practice Manager. This post requires a Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme membership - successful applicants will be required to join the PVG Scheme for both adults and children.

Key Responsibilities of the Counsellor:

• Provide a counselling service to adults presenting with issues relating to their alcohol and / or drug use.
• Contribute to Murray’s Initiative meeting the national waiting times target for addiction services of referral to treatment in three weeks or less.
• Conduct high quality, person-centred assessments and delivering a counselling service to individuals impacted by alcohol and / or drugs, adopting Murray’s Initiative’s integrative counselling approach.
• Ensure all paperwork is completed accurately and professionally and work with the admin team to ensure that the counselling database and reports are kept accurate and up to date.
• Attend regular practice supervision, line management and team meetings, and participate in appropriate meetings and training opportunities.
• Adhere to the ethical frameworks of the appropriate governing body (COSCA) and follow all organisational policies and procedures, including health and safety.
• Produce high-quality, accurate case studies of counselling clients for use in reports and training.
• Contribute to service promotion by attending partner meetings in a professional manner.
• Undertaking any other duties as required by the Counselling Practice Manager.

A diploma qualification in counselling, or equivalent, ideally with post-qualification counselling experience. Training in Addiction field or experience working in alcohol, drugs or addiction fields. Evidence knowledge of issues faced by adults with problematic alcohol and/or drugs use, with a harm-reduction approach to alcohol and / or drugs issues. Demonstrate experience of inter-agency working and working in community settings to be able to provide a high standard of support to clients alongside different services. Demonstratable alignment with the Core Conditions for a counsellor.

Competitive salary and benefits package:

• Very generous annual leave entitlement: full time employees start with an annual leave entitlement of 37 days (inclusive of 12 bank holidays) which increases with length of service.
• Death in service policy.
• Cycle to work scheme where employees can save money on a new bike and spread the cost.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and career development.

Interested candidates are invited to apply by completing the online application form which can be by clicking the Apply button now. We are committed to treating all workers and job applicants fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital / civil partnership status, age, race, disability or gender identity and expression or any other personal characteristic.