Community Counsellor

THE ROLE: Part-time (7.5 hours per week) / Fixed term until 31 March 2025 / Job description and application pack are available to download from our website.

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

YMCA Dialogue is a BACP Accredited service, providing counselling since 1994. Dialogue has built an excellent reputation in the community working closely with partner services, professionals and commissioners and the service has developed and expanded over the years, now operating across the whole of Sussex. We are deeply committed to meeting the individual needs of the young people we work with as they prepare them to meet the challenges of growing up and moving toward adulthood.

We are looking for a creative and dynamic qualified counsellor to join our team of therapists as a Community Counsellor based in Haywards Heath. We are seeking someone who has experience working with children and young people between the ages of 11-18 years old. 

Our counsellor’s offer assessments and counselling sessions to children and young people within the newly commissioned ‘blended’ tier 2 Counselling Service for young people aged 11-18 with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The role represents the operational face of the service in community settings and the post holder will be required to support children / young people accessing provision within the emotional well-being pathway.

Working pattern is one week day, 09.00-17.00, there is flexibility with the day and can be discussed at interview. 

ABOUT YOU: We know there are great candidates who have important skills we have not mentioned. If that is you, please do not hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself and why perhaps you are looking to take the next step.

We are recruiting a qualified counsellor, who has experience working with children and young people, delivering face to face counselling and carrying out assessments with young people to include working with high risk and complex issues. You will have a graduate or post-graduate level Counselling Diploma, or equivalent, and a minimum of two years post-qualifying experience. You will also need to be BACP Registered/Accredited or registered with another recognised professional body (e.g. HPC, UKCP). You will be able to work within the framework of an 6-session model and carry out individual assessments, offer face-to-face counselling or online counselling and group work to children and young people.

The successful applicant will have experience of managing risk, with effective communication around safeguarding procedures. You will also have experience of multi-disciplinary team working and knowledge of local statutory and voluntary agencies. You will also have experience of using electronic database for case management notes and administrative tasks to include monitoring and evaluation. 

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion about this post, please contact Tracy.Partridge@ymcadlg.org. Should you require any assistance with our application process, please email us at Recruitment@ymcadlg.org

CLOSING DATE: 2 June 2024 at midnight. We reserve the right to close this advert early if a successful candidate is found. Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK.

An inclusive workplace - We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.

Accessibility - If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure (including the Children’s barred list and the Adults’ barred list) via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).