Young Person's Counsellor

We are seeking to appoint a counsellor to work within our psychological wellbeing teams in Lochgilphead providing evidence-based treatments for children and young people presenting with psychological and emotional issues. This will mainly involve individual one-to-one work and may include involvement in the provision of group interventions.

You will manage your own caseload within the speciality area using specialist techniques and maintain clinical related records using our bespoke electronic note-keeping programme. You will work collaboratively with other agencies and mental health professionals to provide a service to young people. You will also contribute to service development and will participate in service evaluation within the area as directed.

There will be a service manager who will provide support and guidance in your work. There will also be “back-office” support providing you with assistance in carrying out your responsibilities.

A current driving license is desirable.

**PERSON SPECIFICATION: YOUNG PERSON’S COUNSELLOR**

**ESSENTIAL**:
**Training & Qualifications**
- Diploma level (or equivalent) qualification in counselling, psychotherapy, or counselling-psychology which has been accredited by a recognised professional body (BACP, BPS, UKCP or similar)
- Member of BACP or equivalent.
- Hold or be working towards BACP accreditation as a counsellor.

**Experience - Knowledge & Skills**
- Experience of working with children or young people in a formal setting; e.g. a school, out-of-school.
- Knowledge and awareness of the issues relevant to working within an educational and learning context.
- Knowledge of responsibilities in terms of Safeguarding and Child-Protection
- IT competence
- Ability to organise own clinical/administrative duties
- Willingness and ability to collaboratively with others within a school setting
- Ability to monitor own competency and limitations and the ability to seek appropriate advice at an early stage.

**Personal Qualities**
- Approachable, have good listening skills and a manner that encourages a climate for safe and trusting relationship
- Enthusiasm for working with children and young people.
- Patience, tolerance and sensitivity
- A mature and non-judgemental outlook
- Possess an understanding of the key issues impacting on young people’s lives today
- Ability to collaboratively work with and alongside other services and agencies in a collegial manner, whilst maintaining appropriate levels of confidentiality, to help effect support for the child and young person.
- Awareness of need for professionalism at all times, in behaviour, maintaining confidentiality, appropriate dress, punctuality and reliability

**Other**
- An enhanced CRB disclosure will be required.

**Physical, mental, emotional and environmental demands of the job**

**Physical**

The post-holder must:

- Undertake travel to counselling locations as required
- Be able to cope with unpleasant behaviour including physical and verbal aggression and occasionally to work in conditions sub-optimal for clinical activity.
- Utilise standard keyboard/IT skills
- Be able to sit in confined spaces and to concentrate for long periods whilst undertaking clinical sessions with young people. This involves multi-tasking, observational skills and concurrent intellectual analysis under pressure of time.

**Mental effort**
- Sustain concentration for long periods of time on information from a number of sources, such as clinical sessions with clients, clinical meetings, service planning meetings, telephone consultation with staff and other professionals
- Lengthy and frequent concentration periods involve observational and multi-tasking skills with concurrent intellectual analysis under pressure of time.
- Workload can be unpredictable e.g. attendance at meetings is often required at short notice and at times, clients or staff may need to be seen urgently.

**Emotional**
- Required to deal with highly distressing, chronic and /or deteriorating conditions, where progress may be very slow and require long term commitment.
- Deal with clients and families distressed by the effects of severe physical or mental health problems
- Deal with young people exhibiting high levels of distress and describing in detail harrowing and traumatic life events.
- Deal with psychological problems in young person’s experiencing adverse life experiences, irresolvable life circumstances and intractable life problems.
- Access appropriate support to ensure that the effects of any such exposures are not detrimental to an effective clinical role.
- Required to help other professionals, care staff and relatives deal with highly distressing situations.

**Environmental**
- The post holder should expect some exposure to hazards such as verbal and possible face to face aggression.

Salary is dependant on whether the role is term time only.

Term Time salary starting at - £22,510

Part Time & Term Time

**Job Type**: Part-time

**Salar