Information

Sunflower Garden works with children and young people aged 5 to 18 based in Edinburgh who are affected by drug and/or alcohol use within their family. The staff group is multi-disciplinary, with backgrounds in social work, education, health and counselling. At Sunflower Garden, children and young people benefit from having a safe and confidential space where they can explore their emotions, thoughts and feelings whilst developing positive coping strategies. All of our work is aimed to support children in the best way possible.

We understand that the support we provide needs to be specific to the needs of each child/young person and so we offer a range of tailored therapeutic support such as:

• Counselling (including art and play therapy)
• 1-to-1 therapeutic support
• Group work

 

•  Do you have previous experience with children? (not necessarily in a therapeutic context)
• Do you want to be part of an expert therapeutic team, work in a supportive environment and proactively respond to the mental well-being challenges faced by communities across Scotland?
• Do you want access to in house specialist therapeutic training?
• Do you want the opportunity to be one of the first to hear about CrossReach Counselling career opportunities?

 

If the answer is yes and you are qualified with a Diploma in Counselling or equivalent

• Can you contribute volunteer hours to delivering counselling/therapy to three clients per week, recording client notes and attending supervision?
• Can you commit to a minimum of nine months within the Sunflower Garden service?

 

If the answer is yes and you are a student:

• Are you in your second year of a postgraduate diploma course in Counselling?
• Have you completed your fitness to practice certificate and a minimum of 50 placement hours?

 

It is preferred but not essential that you have an insight of, or experience of, working within substance use field and also have knowledge on attachment and child development.

Please ensure that you clearly state your qualifications and your experience when filling out this application.

• Interview Dates for Volunteer Counsellor Roles are: Monday 8th ; Thursday 11th ; Monday 15th & Monday 22nd November 2021
• Induction Dates for Volunteer Counsellor Roles are: Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd January 2022

Main Function

Our CrossReach Counselling volunteers work across a range of specialities and locations; face-to-face, online and over the phone.  We work in supportive, holistic teams that deliver exceptional Counselling services to clients when they need it most, whilst consistently working to the highest professional and ethical standards.

Main Duties

• To provide a professional counselling service to clients
• To operate and work within CrossReach Counselling Services policy and procedures, including Confidentiality, Data Protection, Health and Safety and Safeguarding  
• To liaise effectively with your colleagues (e.g. service manager and administrative support)  
• To complete mandatory training provided by CrossReach
• To constructively contribute to supervision as per Service Supervision Agreement

 

Qualifications

Essential:

• Qualified with a Diploma in Counselling, Therapy or equivalent (or in training and working towards achieving this). 
• Membership of (or working towards membership of) a recognised professional body on a PSA accredited register e.g. HCPC, COSCA, BACP, BABCP or UKCP
• For those working remotely, to have undertaken a minimum of 80 hours CPD with an ACTO online training provider and/or completed sufficient training to demonstrate competence to meet BACP telephone and e-counselling competence. For students, distance counselling readiness sign-off from your training institution

Desirable:

• Qualified and experienced supervisors
• COSCA-Acredited trainers
• Specialist experience and training qualification in the following fields; substance use, trauma, perinatal, children and young people, couples/relationship.

 

Personal

• Membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme
• We seek openness and respect towards CrossReach’s Christian Ethos

 

Skills and Abilities

Essential:

• A strong awareness of own emotions, with responsibility for and commitment to ensuring own self–care
• Ability to work from home (with access to a laptop/PC, phone and a secure Wi-Fi connection) and/or in Moray, Inverness, Glasgow or Edinburgh City Centre