Sessional Counsellor

Job Purpose:

Working across the North Wales area providing a specialist Counseling Service to Adferiad clients. To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service.

Responsibilities:

• To have commitment to and demonstrate an undertaking of equality of opportunity and its relevance to different sectors within the community.
• Must demonstrate empathy towards Adferiad Recovery’s beneficiaries.
• To carry out all other tasks commensurate with the role.

Client Work

• To explain boundaries of confidentiality, exchange of information and informed consent to clients.
• To undertake assessments. To be able to recognize substance misuse issues and common mental health issues, draw out relevant information needed for an assessment using skillful and sensitive questioning.
• To make assessments based on a stepped care approach using relevant guidance such as the NICE Guidance for Commissioning Stepped Care for People with Common Mental Health Disorders
• To provide expertise in a specialist clinical area, undertaking specialist psychological interventions, formulating mutually agreed contracts for counselling and therapeutic interventions with clients; establishing, maintaining and disengaging from relationships with the client group.
• To select and deliver evidence-based client centred psychological treatments to meet the needs of the client group, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions, drawing on a range of theoretical approaches.
• Counselling, ACT, DBT, EMDR and brief interventions to be delivered in accordance with relevant NICE Guidelines.
• To undertake and manage own client caseload.
• To be accountable for own clinical decisions and professional actions in consultation with clinical supervisor.
• To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively highly complex and sensitive information, taking into account sensory and cultural barriers to communication.
• To make provision for people with limited literacy skills.
• To adhere to BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
• To work in accordance with Adferiad Policies and Procedures, All Wales Child Protection Procedures and Wales Vulnerable Adults Protocol.
• Making referrals to other services and agencies, to do this in a manner consistent with the specific referral processes used by those agencies.
• To undertake clinical administrative tasks and reports relating to clients when necessary.

To refer clients to other services within Adferiad and other external agencies as appropriate. When making

General:

Administration

• To keep in regular contact with CAST Appointments Team, Associate Director for therapeutic services and Clinical Supervisor.
• Keep up- to- date records of current therapeutic and counseling work, case notes and other such pro forma as directed.
• To comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (2016).
• To make referrals to other services and agencies in accordance with guidelines.
• To attend meetings as required.
• To comply with information sharing protocols and procedures.

Professional

• To maintain BACP membership, working towards MBACP membership.
• To gain BACP Accreditation and maintain through Continuous Professional Development.
• To participate in the Adferiad Recovery continuous learning, development and appraisal process.
• To gain and maintain professional accreditation as appropriate to role.
• To attend training provided, organised or arranged by Adferiad Recovery.
• To operate within and observe Adferiad Recovery policies and procedures as amended and updated.
• Participate in the development, evaluation and amendment of practice and protocols of treatment services.
• Continue to develop professionally consistent with any qualifications held.
• Make regular use of supervision as provided by Adferiad Recovery.
• To attend training provided, organised or arranged by Adferiad Recovery.
• To operate within and observe Adferiad Recovery policies and procedures as amended and updated.
• Participate in the development, evaluation and amendment of practice and protocols of treatment services.
• Continue to develop professionally consistent with any qualifications held.
• Make regular use of supervision as provided by Adferiad Recovery.

Person specification for Sessional Counsellor:

Essential:-

• Diploma in Counselling (as a minimum)
• Current BACP membership and accreditation

Experience:-

• Post qualification counselling experience
• Experience in addictions and mental health work
• Evidence of ongoing Professional Development

Skills:-

• Effective communication skills with a particular emphasis on listening skills
• Decision making skills (specifically within the assessment process)
• Ability to manage workload, meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Ability to work autonomously as well as being a member of the team
• Competence with MS Office: Word and Outlook
• Ability to reflect on own practice

Knowledge:-

• Knowledge and understanding of the impact of mental health on individual’s lives and the stigma associated with diagnosis and labelling; the importance of working practice that doesn’t reinforce stigma.
• Knowledge of early warning signs, monitoring and relapse prevention for mental health and substance misuse problems.
• Knowledge of Mental Health legislation.

Other Relevant Requirements:-

• Driving License and access to own vehicle
• Subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS check (adults barred only)

Salary: £15.00 per hour

Based at: Various locations across North Wales

Accountable to: Associate Director, Therapeutic Services

Job Type: Zero hours contract

Salary: £15.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Company events
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Referral programme

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Colwyn Bay: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 14/06/2023
Reference ID: AC096