Senior Counsellor

**Information**:
**CrossReach Perinatal Service offer perinatal counselling and therapy to families and new and expectant parents. We offer support to those experiencing anxiety, depression, loss of confidence or any other disturbing feelings before or after having a baby. We offer the use of our CI registered crèche where service users can safely leave pre-school age children for up to two hours while attending their appointment.**:
You must be prepared to work from home and at our Edinburgh city centre premises on Queen Street and Palmerston Place. At the current time, we are operating primarily online and over the phone with some limited practice possibly starting in our city centre premises imminently.

As the Perinatal Service Senior Counsellor you will carry a small client caseload yourself (three clients at most), will be responsible for overseeing a team of counsellors carrying their own caseloads and, depending on your skillset, will also, ideally, be involved in training delivery and clinical supervision. Knowledge and experience of the perinatal field and/or working with families is desirable although not essential. It will be necessary for you to be a strong self-motivator and be able to work to a broad remit where priorities can change on a daily basis.

Consideration will be given to flexible working and a job share and your preferred choice will be discussed in more detail at interview.

**Main Function**:
Working within CrossReach Counselling Perinatal 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 and work to the highest professional standards of COSCA, BACP or BAAT and ensuring that the aims and objectives of CrossReach Perinatal 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**:

- Hold specific responsibilities for the day-to-day operation of the service and to hold clinical responsibility in relation to referral assessment and allocation of clients.
- Manage the clinical aspects of the client waiting list and referrals to the service. To take a lead role in assessing new referrals into the service, conducting initial assessments and allocating clients to counselling staff and volunteers, and to hold a small client caseload.
- Contribute to developing policies and procedures and work within the policies procedures and guidelines set down by CrossReach including human resources policies, health and safety guidelines, and child protection guidelines.
- Provide clinical and management supervision for staff and volunteers as appropriate and liaise with other professionals around safeguarding issues for adults and children.
- To assist in developing expertise and links within the field of infant mental health.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of training and personal growth opportunities for volunteers within the Centre.
- Assist the service manager to promote fundraising, publicity, social media and training and education in the area of perinatal mental health.
- Together with the service manager, monitor standards required to maintain COSCA Service Recognition and work within the ethical framework laid down by COSCA and BACP/BAAT.
- Liaise with relevant professional, statutory and voluntary organisations as required.
- Any other duties as requested by the Counselling Manager.
- 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.

**Qualifications**:
**Essential**: Diploma in Counselling/Art Therapy

**Desirable**: Qualification in Training & Clinical Supervision

**Personal**:
The post holder must have the ability to be a strong self motivator and be able to work to a broad remit, where changing priorities can be a daily occurrence.

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 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.
- Experience in clinical supervision.
- Good communication and team working skills.
- Basic computer literacy skills including use of Microsoft Office and the internet.

**Desirable**:

- Experience in delivering training, and managing staff and volunteers.
- Experience of working with mothers and children, and being able to work across a multi-disciplinary team.