Relief Counsellor

**Information**:
CrossReach, one of Scotland’s leading social care providers, is searching for a Children and Young People’s Counsellor to join our highly regarded schools counselling team. The demand for professional mental health support for children and young people in Scotland has never been higher. CrossReach’s Inverness Counselling Service reaches out to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people and their families across Inverness and beyond.
- Do you want to be part a close-knit, professional therapeutic team of staff and volunteers to proactively and ethically respond to clients’ needs?
- Are you keen to develop your excellent therapeutic skills?
- Do you want to nurture relationships with schools to showcase the positive impact that counselling and therapeutic work can have on clients’ lives?
- Do you want to provide top quality sustainable face to face and online counselling and therapeutic services across Inverness and beyond?

Employee benefits include:

- Pension Plan
- Statutory Sick leave entitlement
- Statutory Maternity leave entitlement
- Credit Union payroll scheme
- Holiday Pay Calculated on Average pay
- Access to training and career progression
- Access to CrossReach training

**Main Function**:
Working within CrossReach Counselling Services, you will work as part of a holistic team to deliver a service that ensures that the needs of our clients are fully met. You will be expected to assist in the development of a high quality counselling, therapy and support service, work to the highest professional standards and ensure that the aims and objectives of CrossReach Counselling Services are met.

You will promote a therapeutic environment and ensure that our services reflect CrossReach's Christian ethos and mission statement.

**Main Duties**:

- Provide therapeutic counselling to clients using an appropriate and recognised theoretical model.
- Hold professional clinical responsibility of own case load from initial referral to end of therapy and evaluation.
- Maintain accurate therapeutic records using CrossReach Counselling approved systems and processes.
- Liaise effectively with your Clinical and Business Support team.
- Attend and effectively contribute to both clinical and management supervision.
- Maintain CrossReach standards and be compliant with the relevant legislative, ethical policy and procedural requirements, especially in relation to Child and Adult Safeguarding and Protection and Data Protection legislation.
- Liaise with other professionals around safeguarding issues for adults and children.
- Together with the service manager, maintain and monitor standards required for COSCA Service Recognition and work within the professional ethical frameworks laid down by eg COSCA and BACP/BAAT etc.
- Commit to Continuing Professional Development, including reading up-to-date literature and research on relevant therapeutic and related topics in line with professional body requirements.
- Support continuous improvement to meet service objectives, by reflecting on challenges, sharing successful outcomes and learning that has taken place.
- Maintain own PSA/HPC registration.
- As we do our work in Christ’s name you must be respectful of our Christian Ethos and be able to work within it. You do not need to share our faith.

**Qualifications**:
**Essential**:

- Diploma in Counselling or other relevant qualification eg Art Therapy
- PSA/HPC registered

**Desirable**:

- ACTO approved online counselling qualification or evidence that you meet the BACP online competencies
- If working with CYP - A recognised qualification in CYP Counselling or evidence that you meet the BACP/COSCA CYP competencies

**Personal**:
As we do our work in Christ’s name you must be respectful of our Christian Ethos and be able to work within it.

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

**Skills and Abilities**:
**Essential**:

- Significant post qualifying practice hours
- Excellent communication and team working skills
- Computer literacy skills including use of Microsoft Office and the internet
- Ability to use supervision and supports effectively. Have a strong awareness of own emotions, with responsibility for and commitment to ensuring own self-care
- Ability to manage own workload

**Desirable**:

- Previous experience of working in the Social Work, Health, Education or Voluntary Sector
- Experience in working with staff and volunteers
- Experience of being able to work across a multi-disciplinary team