Counsellor, Mental Health, Healthcare

Position: Counsellor )
Reports to:

Counselling Team Co-ordinator / Director of Services

Hours:

28 hours per week

Location:

Belfast Trust area Campaign Service/Cause:

Therapeutic Services Remuneration: £32,643 - £34,666 pro-rata (FTE 35 hours) Overall Purpose of Post This post forms part of Cancer Focus Northern Irelands Counselling service. The postholder will be responsible for providing a professional Counselling Service to individuals whose lives have been affected by cancer.

Key Responsibilities To develop and deliver a counselling service to Cancer Focus NIs clients using a blend of face-to-face and remote sessions. To assess the needs of clients and provide appropriate therapeutic interventions to meet these needs, primarily through one-to-one counselling. To plan and implement therapeutic interventions or re-refer to other services as appropriate. To maintain records in accordance with recording procedures.

To evaluate the effectiveness of counselling through regular review and audit. To evaluate own work and contribute to the evaluation of the effective delivery of the service. To support collection of case studies to ensure service users views help to inform future service provision and influence wider strategic objectives. To adhere to the code of ethics and practice of a professional counselling body such as the BACP Ethical Framework.

To attend regular external supervision, towards which an employer contribution will be paid. To work as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team and liaise with relevant staff as appropriate. To participate in ongoing training and continuous professional development as facilitated by Cancer Focus NI. To participate and contribute to educational programmes for other health professionals as appropriate. To promote existing Cancer Focus NI services (e.g. Counselling, Family Support, Nurseline, Support Groups, and the Bra-Fitting Service) as appropriate.

To assist in the development of appropriate resources for both patients and health professionals. To comply with all Cancer Focus NI policies and procedures. To carry out any other duties that may be required by Cancer Focus NI. This

Job Description is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the charity at any time after discussion with the post holder. This post may require some evening work, so an element of flexible working is required. Person Specification Counsellor The below specification shows the essential skills, abilities, knowledge and/or qualifications required to be able to carry out the duties of this post.

Therefore, please address in a covering letter, each criterion listed in the specification, drawing upon all of your experience, whether at work of on a voluntary basis.

Essential Criteria Qualifications Professional qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy (minimum Level 4 Advanced Diploma or equivalent) Professional Registration and Accreditation as a practitioner with BACP, IACP, UKCP or equivalent; or meet all the criteria to apply for accreditation/ meet the criteria for future entry at SCoPEd Column B Have completed training in remote counselling such as How to do Counselling Online by the Open University and BACP, or be able to evidence that training in online/phone work has been part of initial training.

Experience Minimum of 2 years post-qualification supervised clinical practice, accumulating to at least 200 hours of post-qualifying supervised practice Experience in working with statutory and voluntary agencies

Experience of carrying out client assessments

Experience with administrative systems, including the use of relevant ICT packages. Skills Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and appropriate boundaries in all work-related matters Ability to manage and monitor a caseload with competing priorities Ability to work with complex needs Ability to ethically work with risk and safeguarding issues Excellent communication skills Ability to build good working relationships with individuals and organisations.

Personal Qualities Flexible attitude towards working hours to meet clients needs and as demanded by the requirements of the job Ability to work well within a team Ability to use own initiative Enthusiasm, drive, and commitment to continuous improvement. Desirable Criteria Qualifications Health professional qualification Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling. Experience Experience as a counsellor working in a cancer specialist environment

Experience of working with cancer patients

Experience of facilitating groups. Additional Information Terms and Conditions of Employment Successful applicants must provide proof of their right to work in the UK. (This will be evidenced in the first instance by being in possession of a British or Irish passport or a valid UK Work Permit). The activities of this role meet the Access NI definition of regulated activity relating to working with adults and children as outlined in the Access NI Code of…