Community Counsellors

Recruiting Organisation: YMCA DownsLink Group                   

Working hours: 22.5 hours a week
Salary: £30,210 per annum, pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Location: Crawley

YMCA DownsLink Group is a charity working to transform the lives of vulnerable young people, working to prevent youth homelessness and provide a home to 763 young people every night. They reach a further 10,000 young people and their families through our other key services, such as counselling, support and advice, mediation and youth work. This is challenging yet rewarding work that helps the young people they support to belong, contribute, and thrive.

YMCA Dialogue is a BACP Accredited service, providing counselling services in schools since 1994. Dialogue has built an excellent reputation with schools, professionals and commissioners and the service has developed and expanded over the years, now operating across Brighton & Hove, East and West Sussex, and Surrey. Schools are deeply committed to meeting the individual needs of students as they prepare them to meet the challenges of growing up and moving toward adulthood.

The Role:

They are looking for creative and dynamic Community Counsellors who are able to work up to 22.5 hours to join YMCA Dialogue in West Sussex Community Counselling project on a permanent basis.

• You will offer assessments and counselling to children and young people within the newly commissioned ‘blended’ tier 2 Counselling Service for young people aged 11-18 with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• This will include working with high risk and complex issues.
• The role represents the operational face of the service in community settings and the post holder will be required to support children / young people accessing provision within the emotional well-being pathway.
• You will work within the BACP Ethical Framework and to uphold the clinical standards that are expected from a BACP Accredited Service.
• You will also work within the framework of an 8 session model.
• You will ensure high-quality delivery of the service.

The expected working pattern will be discussed at interview. This is a hybrid role and involves a combination of working on site in and around the Crawley area and from home.

Who You Are:

They are recruiting qualified counsellors, who have experience in working with children and young people with two years post qualifying experience.

• You will need to be BACP Registered/Accredited or registered with another recognised professional body (e.g. HPC, UKCP).
• You will be able to work within the framework of an 8-session model, and carry out individual assessments, offer face-to-face counselling or online counselling and group work to children and young people.
• The successful applicant will also be able to work with the project administrator and counselling coordinator to assist in the Triage and duty call process.
• The postholder have a good understanding of Child Developmental processes and Child Protection & Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding issues and procedures.
• You will have experience of managing risk with effective communication around safeguarding procedures.
• You will also have experience and/or knowledge of local statutory and voluntary agencies.
• You will have experience of using electronic database for case management notes and administrative tasks to include monitoring & evaluation
• Candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK.

Great candidates may not fit everything that have been described above, or who have important skills that have not been mentioned. If that is you, please do not hesitate to apply and tell them about yourself.

How to Apply:

You can apply via website link here.

Please download a job pack from the same page for more information about other benefits offered.

If you would like an informal discussion about this post, please contact tracy.partridge@ymcadlg.org

Please note this is a rolling advert; applications will be reviewed regularly and interviews arranged on a rolling basis.

YMCA DownsLink Group welcomes applications from all sections of the community. They value diversity and promote inclusion, which they demonstrate through their activities, as well as in their policies and working practices. Reinforced by their culture and values, they seek to create an inspiring and inclusive place to work.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

For questions regarding this role or to request another application format: please email at recruitment@ymcadlg.org

Closing Date: 11 Sept 2022