Community Counsellor at YMCA DownsLink Group

YMCA Community Counselling Dialogue offer free short-term face to face, group and online therapy for young people aged 11 - 18 who live or have a GP in West Sussex. We offer a range of talking therapies, group sessions for young people who are struggling with their mental health. We see young people in different locations in the community such as youth centres, children and family centres and our own buildings. Our online counselling takes place over an electronic therapy platform.

We are recruiting for a qualified counsellor to join our team of therapists as a Community Counsellor based in Littlehampton. You will be passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people.

Your contracted base will be our main office in central Hove, and you will deliver services in Littlehampton, West Sussex.

Key responsibilities

- Offer assessments to children and young people within the Tier 2 Counselling Service
- Manage a caseload of children and young people, delivering counselling within the West Sussex Dialogue service model
- Work with the project administrator and project manager to ensure high quality delivery of service
- Work systemically, e.g. liaise with and include parent/carers, educators, health professionals when appropriate and as agreed by the client
- Manage the tight time boundaries of the role and the often complex and varied workload
- To develop and co-facilitate groups for children and young people in the service
- Work at all times within the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions and follow YMCA Dialogue safeguarding procedures and policies
- Maintain individual membership of the BACP and to become a Registered Member (or other professional body such as HCPC)

Qualifications, knowledge, and experience

- Experience of working as a Counsellor post-qualified at diploma, graduate or post graduate level or equivalent, including working with risk issues
- You will have a BACP Membership; BACP Registered or Accredited. Or other professional body e.g. HCP
- You will also have a sound understanding of child protection and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues, policies, and procedures
- An in depth understanding of counselling theory and practice and working to short-term models
- You will have proven experience in safeguarding children and young people, responding to, managing, and referring safeguarding issues
- You will be familiar with using creative therapeutic approaches, along with experience of working with children and young people aged 11-18 in community settings

Please note we are also recruiting for a School Counsellor in Bognor Regis, (7.5 hours per week – term-time only / £34,475 per annum, pro rata / permanent / working one day per week 8.30am-4.30pm - working day to be discussed at interview) and there is an opportunity to combine this Community Counsellor role to make a two-day role. If you are interested in both roles, please let us know in your application.