Senior Addiction Worker/Counsellor - Part Time

Information

"Many thanks for your continued support with our child - we really feel it has made a difference and they have made it clear they want to continue."

 

CrossReach Counselling offers a one-to-one counselling service to individuals, families, children and young people in a safe and confidential environment.

As a Senior Addictions Worker/Counsellor you will be delivering specialist and professional counselling, under clinical supervision, to an agreed caseload of clients affected by drug/substance misuse.

What do I need?  A qualification at Diploma level in Counselling and ideally a qualification in Social Work, Health Education, Art Therapy or similar.  To do this role you will also need a strong ability to engage and form therapeutic relationships with our clients plus a knowledge and understanding of issues relating to them i.e. offending behaviour.  The post holder will need the ability to manage own workload as well as personal resilience with the ability to know when your own issues are triggered by therapeutic work/work situations.

Salary is pro rata of 38.5 hours per week.

Main Function

1. To work as part of a team delivering a specialist and professional counselling service to people affected by drug/substance misuse.
2. To provide counselling under clinical supervision for an agreed caseload of clients.
3. To work with colleagues to constantly increase the effectiveness/quality of the service delivered.

Main Duties

SERVICE DELIVERY

1. Respond to referrals and enquiries received from potential clients, agencies and the general public.
2. Undertake initial assessments and offer open-ended counselling with regular reviews to an agreed caseload of clients at Simpson House and other locations as required including HMP Edinburgh.
3. Undertake administrative tasks relating to client work including making up client files, case note recording, telephone and written correspondence with clients, filing of current and closed case files and completion of relevant forms e.g. monthly workload sheets, closure forms, SMR.
4. Work to legislative, ethical, policy and procedural requirements including:

• CrossReach policies and procedures (HR, Health and Safety and Operational)
• Simpson House service specific procedures
• Simpson House Counselling policies and procedures
• BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Other relevant policies and procedures to uphold best practice including child protection and vulnerable adults.

1. Undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development including maintaining interest in the latest literature regarding drug use and related topics and providing training/talks to others as required.
2. Liaise with other voluntary, statutory workers and stakeholders as required.  Build and maintain knowledge of related services for clients.
3. Use communication systems to good effect including email, pigeonholes, meeting agendas and notice boards.
4. Embrace monitoring and evaluation systems including client evaluation questionnaires.
5. Undertake other tasks as agreed through Performance Management System and/or requested by the Manager, Simpson House Counselling/ Manager, Simpson House.
6. To demonstrate and share Christian love and support including sharing with others the leading of worship in accordance with CrossReach policy and by ensuring all staff meetings are opened with prayer and Bible reading.

 

SUPPORT AND SUPERVISION

1. Report to Manager, Simpson House Counselling.
2. Actively participate in line management supervision and Performance Management System.
3. Make good use of individual clinical supervision (min 1½ hours/month in line with BACP requirements) and group supervision where provided.
4. Attend and be involved in staff meetings.
5. Seek additional support and information from Manager, Simpson House Counselling/Manager, Simpson House as required.

Qualifications

Essential:

A recognised counselling qualification at Diploma level (sufficient for the candidate to be eligible for individual accreditation with BACP or COSCA)

Desirable:

Further qualifications in Social Work, Health, Education, Art Therapy or similar.

Personal

Ability to manage own workload whilst demonstrating a supportive, cooperative, creative and effective approach to team working.

Personal resilience and an ability to know when your own issues are triggered by therapeutic work/work situations and take necessary action to resolve/work constructively with such issues.

To be able to work with empathy, genuineness and acceptance.

As we do our work in Christ’s name the job you have applied for requires you to have a Christian faith and be able to work within and uphold our Christian Ethos (this is an ongoing occupational requirement under the Equality Act 2010).

This post requires you to either complete a Disclosure or be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme and undertake the necessary vetting checks.

Skills and Abilities

Essential:

1.  A strong ability to engage and form therapeutic relationships with people affected by drug/substance misuse.
2. Ability to use supervision and supports effectively.
3. IT skills – including email, internet, Microsoft word.
4. Commitment to continuing professional development.
5. Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to the client group inc: 

• Drugs/substance misuse
• Offending behavior
• Blood borne viruses
• Mental health/dual diagnosis
• Other generic and specialist counselling themes

Desirable:

1. 200 hours post qualifying counselling experience under clinical supervision
2. Previous experience of working in the Social Work, Health, Education or Voluntary Sector.
3. Knowledge of related services for clients.
4. Individual accreditation with BACP or COSCA.