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This is for a 12 month fixed term contract, working 2 days a week at 14.5 hours. This role can be performed remotely with period visits to BACP House in Lutterworth, or off-site for events
Job purpose: Through experience as a subject matter expert, provide strategic and policy advice to deliver BACP’s public affairs workstream covering children, young people and families. Working with members, networks of therapists and external stakeholders to increase awareness of the efficacy of counselling for children and young people as a response to mental health needs. Informing BACP’s work to influence policy and decision-makers to recognise the mental health needs of children, young people and families, the relevance of counselling and an increased confidence in BACP professionals working with this age group.

Accountabilities:

• To provide strategic and policy advice to support the Policy and Public Affairs Team across all areas of work relating to children, young people and families.
• Contribute subject matter expertise internally and externally to the understanding of the mental health needs of children, young people and their families and the positive impact that counselling makes.
• In collaboration with the Parliamentary and Public Affairs Officer influence policy and decision makers across the UK to prioritise the mental health of children, young people and families and to recognise the role of counselling as a response to need.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with BACP Children, Young People and Families Division and BACP University and Colleges Division, supporting and enabling them to contribute to our policy and influencing work.
• Lead the delivery of BACP’s school-based counselling expert reference group and representation of BACP on key networks of school counsellors across the four nations, enabling BACP to draw on the voice and experience of members and clients for the benefit of our policy work and to effectively represent school counsellors.
• Establish the learning needs and support work to increase competencies and confidence of BACP members and the wider profession of working with children and young people.
• Build and maintain relationships with members and services providing counselling and psychotherapy to children, young people and families enabling BACP to understand and promote best and innovative practice.
• Contribute subject matter expertise to the ongoing maintenance, updates and development of internal and externally produced key guidance documents around the best practice delivery of counselling for children and young people, including BACP’s policy and position statements.
• Develop the organisation’s messaging and articulate the relevance and efficacy of counselling children and young people to increase understanding and acceptance amongst a wide range of external stakeholders
• Provide subject matter based expert guidance and advice into internal and external research projects relating to children, young people and families.

Knowledge & experience:
A strong understanding of the importance of the mental health of children and young people and how counselling can contribute to this.
A counsellor or psychotherapist specialising in working with children and young people.
Excellent inter-personal skills with an ability to communicate to a range of audiences, including effective and clear verbal communication through digital/online/telephone, face-to-face, and presentations; traditional and web communications, reports and emails.
The ability to inform and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to impact upon the development and delivery of good counselling services for children, young people and their families.
Educated to degree level with a relevant professional qualification.
A BACP registered (or equivalent) counsellor or psychotherapist.
Experience of working with children, young people and families in a therapeutic role/environment
Ability to analyse and present information in a clear and concise manner.
Ability to establish and maintain organisational relationships with a range of internal, external stakeholders and partners.
Ability to work collaboratively across an organisation and maintain effective relationships at all levels
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, committed to delivering high quality customer service

Please refer the Job description for details