Part-time Children and Young Person's Counsellor

Role:               Children and Young Person’s Counsellor

Based:            Black Country area – Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton

Rate:                   £11,551.20 actual salary

Start Date:      ASAP

Duration:        Fixed term until March 2025

Hours:             15 hours per week – 2 days per week

Our client, a specialist Domestic Violence charity based in the Black Country is looking to recruit a Children and Young Person’s Counsell to provide person centred age, appropriate therapeutic interventions to Children and Young people (5-18) identified by defined referral routes e.g. Paediatric Sexual Assault Referral Centre (PSARC). The position is located within the Counselling and Wellbeing Service and will play a vital role in helping Children and Young people cope and recover from their experience and avoid negative impact in later life.

Synopsis of duties:

• Assess Children and Young people referred to the Counselling and Wellbeing service for eligibility and suitability for counselling and identify appropriate counselling modality to suit the needs of the child/ young person. Where unsuitable identify alternative assistance with the allocated CHISVA/ CHIDVA) to ensure ongoing help and support.
• Provide person centred age, appropriate therapeutic interventions to Children and Young people ages (5-18). Be responsible for a client base of 8-10 Children and Young people per week at locations that suit them e.g. schools, community venues. This includes making contact with child, parents, schools and other professionals when assessing and organizing suitable appointments and any follow up actions.
• Engage positively with parents/ others including professionals  as appropriate explaining the processes of counselling and potential after effects for the child/ young person to ensure time and space is allowed for expression and reflection. 
• Accurately record all activity on systems as evidence of work, professional connections and appropriate referrals. These notes may be used for safeguarding referrals, case conferences and or serious case reviews and must meet professional standards in note taking.
• Complete general administrative tasks as necessary to ensure a quality service and accountability.
• Ensure all work is compliant within professional standards for counselling (BACP) and specifically the ethical framework for practice for Children and Young people and practice adheres to safeguarding policies and procedures. .
• Notify the Counselling and Wellbeing Manager any issues that arise during the counselling session that requires notification via multiagency referral form (local authority safeguarding procedures) and ensure that any risk is reduced and protective factors in place before the end of the working day.
• Prepare children/ young people for exiting counselling ( coping strategies, resources, help around them)  and ensure transition/ engagement with the CHISVA/ CHIDVA or other professionals where appropriate
• Attend clinical supervision in line with professional standards and ensure that you maintain your own wellbeing to ensure that you are fit to practice.
• Attend and participate in on going Continuing Personal Development (CPD) in line with professional standards, identifying and managing your own training needs.
• Maintain professional accreditation to ensure consistent quality and standards are being met within your practice.
• Support the Counselling and Wellbeing Manager to develop the service expanding resources, developing new service offers that will benefit the Children and Young people.

Essential Requirements:

• An education to degree level or Diploma minimum Level 6 in Counselling Children and Young People and/or Psychotherapy
• A minimum of 250 hours face to face counselling experience
• Membership of recognised relevant professional body such as BACP, UKCP or similar
• Experience of managing a caseload
• Experience of working with families with complex needs, such as mental health and substance misuse
• Experience of working with children/young people, acknowledging safeguarding concerns and responding appropriately

Supporting Futures Consulting acts as both an employer and an agency.