ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Counselling qualification at Diploma level or above and minimum of one years’ experience working in a client-centred way
• Current BACP membership and to conscientiously work within the BACP Ethical Framework
• Experience of professionally supporting women, men or children and young people (in line with role applied for) who have experienced current or historic trauma such as, life impacting experiences or domestic abuse or sexual violence or substance misuse or mental health (for example); maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
• Experience of undertaking strengths, needs & risk assessments
• Experience of effective multi-agency and partnership working
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Experience of client-centred service delivery and enabling client and volunteer involvement and be able to work as part of a team
• Knowledge of the impact of sexual violence on individuals and communities
• Knowledge of best practice in relation to safeguarding and confidentiality
• Knowledge of criminal and civil proceedings relating to sexual violence
• Knowledge of and commitment to diversity and inclusion: with an ability to work in a culturally sensitive way
• Skilled at IT including office suite such as excel, publisher, power point and word and data entry packages
• Ability to self-reflect and develop and improve practice through ongoing training and review
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends when required and be part of a help line service
• Ability to work across identified contract area and travel for training and meeting purposes
• Car driver with use of car for work purposes

As a YOU Counsellor you will also have a range of activities within the team including holding a client one-to-one counselling caseload, help line support and developing and facilitating regular therapeutic psycho-educational group sessions. You will work with others to develop a team of Peer Volunteers who will co-facilitate therapeutic group sessions. You will be confident and creative to enable you to deliver therapeutic sessions and groups in a range of geographical locations, meeting the needs of the people we work with. You will ensure that all work is carried out within contractual requirements as directed by the Clinical Lead and Team Manager in line with national guideline and local best practice. YOU Counselling (YCC) centres work with adults and children and young people who have a range of experiences and presenting issues such as sexual and/or domestic abuse, mental health, substance misuse and other life limiting issues, my client case load will be agreed from within this cohort.
The appointed YOU Counsellor - Children & Young People will:
1. I follow YOU Counselling Centres (YCC) and YOU processes, policies and procedures
2. I work with an agreed client cohort
3. I ensure that the agreed triage processes and any service allocation is risk led and that clients referred are offered the safest, most appropriate and empowering service
4. I focus on delivering counselling sessions and facilitation of therapeutic groups and ensuring my availability for help line duty
5. I will be mindful to create a therapeutic environment in a range of locations, to ensure access for all the people I work with
6. I manage my diary and work in line with the contract specifications, key performance indicators and timescales as discussed with the Clinical Lead and Team Manager
7. I manage my work responsibilities and deliver appropriate, timely service delivery
8. I ensure that I capture all the data with up-to-date and accurate information for the work we do on Advice Pro: our case management system and that the information captured addresses all KPI’s and other contractual and service requirements as informed by the Team Manager
9. I complete individual safety and support plans for all clients; ensuring interventions are appropriate for level of risk and that safety remains central
10. I will be part of the team who support all unallocated clients; ensuring contact is maintained, risk continues to be managed and any increase in risk is identified and supported appropriately
11. I will support, and share my expertise with colleagues and volunteers in line with service requirements, contractual and grant fund specifications, key performance indicators and timescales
12. I will be flexible in my availability to the staff on-call rota: ensuring all sessions are covered in times of staff holiday or sickness
13. I will work with the team to ensure that all referrals are assessed in priority as indicated by risk levels or professional judgment
14. I deliver therapeutic and support groups within the community, including development and delivery of groups where required, which may include schools and colleges, if I work with young people
15. I will be responsible to deliver the safest, most appropriate and empowering service
16. I will support and advocate on behalf of clients in a professional and respectful manner: encouraging and enabling clients to have their own voice and develop self-resilience
17. I will allocate time and opportunities to ensure I attend team meetings and clinical supervision and complete ongoing learning development
18. I will ensure that links with internal and external partners are maintained: to deliver the best service interventions for all clients
19. I will follow all YOU safeguarding procedures and processes and am responsible for reporting within those safeguarding processes
20. I will ensure all work is carried out in-line with national best practice at all times
21. Working with the management team I will share my skills and knowledge to ensure that colleagues and volunteers are skilled to support all clients
22. I will work with the management team and undertake any other reasonable tasks in relation to my role to ensure delivery of an outstanding, client-led service