Volunteer Counsellors

           Post Description

Volunteer Counsellor (part-time)

 

Responsible to: The Big House Counselling Co-ordinator

Post Location: Various possible locations (including Coleraine, Belfast, Holywood) and online, to be agreed with counsellor.

Post Summary: To provide counselling for young people in The Big House Ireland’s counselling service, The Listening Space.

Main responsibilities and Duties:

§  To provide counselling for young people

§  To maintain client records and store securely

§  To be part of the counselling team and work with the counselling coordinator to support the smooth running of The Listening Space (client admin, documentation etc)

§  Ensure ongoing membership of a registered counselling/psychotherapy body and hold appropriate Professional Liability Insurance to cover both face to face and online counselling sessions.

 Additional Responsibilities:

§  To attend team meetings and supervision

§  To attend wider Big House events, on an occasional basis.

Hours: At least one, and up to three counselling sessions per week. Flexibility is required in order to accommodate meetings and counselling sessions.

Required Criteria: It is essential that the applicant has an understanding and awareness of youth culture and experience in working with young people in Christian contexts. It is essential that the applicant is a Christian and is in agreement with the beliefs and values of the organisation. The applicant should also have the ability to effectively communicate their personal faith and experience of God, if requested, in therapeutically appropriate ways. It is essential that the applicant is a qualified and experienced counselling practitioner and is committed to continued professional development.

Desirable Criteria: It is desirable that the applicant has a child/youth specific qualification or experience. It is also desirable that the applicant is accredited or working towards accreditation. It is highly desirable that the applicant can give evidence of a specific interest in, or calling to this particular aspect of Christian ministry.

Other Information: Any post offer is subject to an Access NI Enhanced Disclosure check.

Person Specification

 Personality/Interpersonal Skills

Essential

  • Warm– a friendly, approachable nature

  • Positive attitude – encouraging to work with

  • Ability to relate to a wide variety of young people & to put people at ease

  • Empathetic, respectful, non-judgmental, encouraging

  • Evident and active Christian faith

Desirable

  • Robust and resilient

  • Able to demonstrate a respect for and work with therapists of other modalities/approaches

  • Able to learn from others

  • Able to manage personal stress and be responsible for their own self-care

Availability

Essential

  • Able to commit to regular counselling sessions

  • Availability to attend counselling team meetings & supervision

Desirable

  • Availability to work additional hours if required

  • Availability to attend occasional events run by The Big House (for example twice yearly prayer evenings)

Relevant Experience

Essential

  • Experience in counselling

  • Experience of working (voluntary or paid) with young people in a Christian context

Desirable

  • Experience of counselling from a Christian perspective

  • Experience of counselling young people

  • Experience of working within a team

Post Skills

Essential           

  • Ability to integrate therapeutic skill and personal spirituality                                                                    

  • Ability to adapt their counselling approach to the needs of young people

  • Ability to work as part of a team

  • Ability to keep legible handwritten records that are accurate and case appropriate

  • Be an accredited registrant member of any one of the professional bodies: BACP / IACP / ACC / UKCP / NCS OR be a registrant member of one of these bodies and be working towards accreditation with same.                        

  • Have a clear understanding and ability to work within the ethical framework of their professional body, BACP and Big House policies and procedures

Desirable    

  • Be qualified to Diploma level (Level 4) or above in counselling and/or psychotherapy.

  • Have completed at least 50 hours of face to face counselling (with young people).

  • Show evidence of having undertaken training in counselling young people.A high level of self-awareness and experience of personal therapy        

  • Willingness to partake in other aspects of The Big House Programme

  • Commitment to continued professional and personal development in counselling young people within an organisation of Christian ethos