Counsellor

**TERMS**
- 8 hours per week
- 1-year fixed term contract - with intention to extend depending on availability of funding
- Salary depending on experience from £29K FTE
- Remote and in-person working
- Willingness to work in Stevenage Centre and/or Haven First premises in Stevenage, Hitchin and other North Herts localities.
- Willingness to work some evenings
- Employer pension contributions on eligible pay
- Membership of employee assistance programme
- 25 days per holiday per year pro rated plus bank holidays
- Access to TCF subsidised CPD events
- Payment for Enhanced DBS check
- Fortnightly/monthly in-house supervision
- Use of telephony system (Horizon) for TCF work only
- All clinical work is covered by TCF organisational professional indemnity
- Probation period: 3 months

**THE COUNSELLING FOUNDATION **is a modern charity with a well-established reputation in the field of counselling and psychotherapy for over 40 years. Our mission is to deliver affordable psychological therapy, to train psychotherapists and provide services to organisations and the NHS.

We are an organisational member of BACP and our training courses are accredited and validated by BACP. All staff, honoraries, volunteers and therapists in training are thus accountable to the ethical requirements of these organisations and to their complaints procedures.

There are 3 strands to the services we provide:

- Provision of charitable subsidised counselling
- Provision of short-term work to NHS clients, EAP clients and other contracts
- Counselling Training programmes including short personal development courses

**THE COUNSELLING FOUNDATION **is proud of our welcoming culture and commitment to client care. We committed to promoting equality of opportunity throughout the organisation and encourages diversity.

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

We are looking for a clinician who is passionate about provision of care outside the private sector and has the energy and enthusiasm to support us in our growth and innovation in client care.

You will work as a practitioner assessing clients for suitability for counselling and delivering counselling support to clients, particularly those with complex needs and/or clients from Haven First homeless charity, whilst working closely with the wider clinical team and partner organisations to ensure appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place.

We are receiving an increase in the number of individuals with complex needs referring into our service. Apart from emotional support, many suffer simultaneously from physical, social and financial difficulties thereby exacerbating their problems. This inhibits their ability to cope, often making them vulnerable to crisis. Many have a history of abuse, domestic violence, substance misuse, family and relationship difficulties, poverty, social isolation, homelessness, unemployment and some have a history of offending/anti-social behaviour. In addition, some clients have learning and physical disabilities.

As a counsellor in our service, you will be at the centre of continuing to bring our response to the current mental health crisis to life. You will be supported by the Clinical Manager, Clinical Director and wider clinical team. Above all, you will be passionate about joining a charitable organisation that embraces diversity and innovation and strives to connect and contribute to our local communities by offering a safe space, providing supportive and emphatic counselling to individuals who struggle to access emotional help.

**ACCOUNTABILITY**

The Counsellor reports to the Clinical Manager

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- To deliver a mix of clinical assessments plus written assessment reports to be presented at intake meetings and one-to-one counselling sessions from our charitable service and other contracts in particular the Haven First contract
- To report and manage clinical risks and escalations promptly and in line with TCF policies and procedures
- To manage and resolve issues of late and non-payment as appropriate
- To attend fortnightly/monthly clinical supervision
- To work in accordance with all TCF policies and procedures
- To complete client and counsellor reports as needed
- To be familiar with processes and procedures outlined in the Clinical Handbook
- To engage in Continuing Professional Development
- To adhere to BACP’s Ethical Framework

**PERSON SPECIFICATION**

**Essential**
- BACP/UKCP/NCS accredited therapist or working towards accreditation
- A strong understanding and experience of working with people who have experienced chronic and complex mental health problems including trauma (physical, psychological or social), addiction, substance misuse, certain psychiatric conditions
- Knowledge and experience of working with trauma-informed practice and how it can successfully be used as an intervention
- Developed skills in assessing risk and a working knowledge of managing complex risk assessment in practice
- Significant counselling experience