Area Counsellor Specialist

This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced and growing organisation.

Were looking for an Area Counsellor Specialist/Psychotherapist/Psychological therapist (equiv NHS AFCBand
7)

Do you want to help aspiring counsellorslearn and grow? Weve got an exciting fulltime opportunity for an experiencedregistered Counsellor, Psychotherapist or Psychological therapist who isinterested in a supervisory role, working across our Via services.

This well supported post is ideal for therapistsseeking to step into a leadership position whilst continuing to grow diverse skillsthat contribute to trauma-informed working.

The role will provide leadership and play a key role in shaping culture and processes. Therole is predominantly based in Gloucestershire but with additional oversightofother via counselling services nationally. As part of a multi-disciplinary team, the postholder will support our volunteer counsellors to provide safe and effective interventions through regular supervision, work alongside other psychologicalprofessionals to deliver a stepped care model for those experiencingpsychological distress, and support the counselling service to grow and innovate.

At Via, our mission is to provide the best health and wellbeing support to as many people as possible, helping them to change their lives for the better.

Last year, we supported over 11,000 people across the UK affected by alcohol and drug use.

Everything we do is driven by our values:

Care. Care for people is at the heart of everything we do.

• Be human. We are accessible, genuine and humble. Always learning.
• Do the right thing. Were open, honest and inclusive. We get things done.

We want to recruit the very best talent. We believe in nurturing a positive workplace culture where our colleagues feel valued, recognised, empowered, and supported.

Role Purpose

To deliver an effective counselling service as an integral part of wider service provision, collaborating with local and national colleagues to ensure a local offer that is responsive, dynamic and flexible to need.

Supported by central Via Clinical Department (including clinical supervision) to provide and facilitate high quality talking therapy assessment and interventions across designated Via services as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Be responsible for supervision of volunteer counsellors and other less experienced psychological professionals, acting as a professional lead for pre-registration counsellors, trainees, and students, in designated Via services.

Key duties and activities of the role

Clinical:

• Provide specialist assessments drawing on complex data from a variety of sources.
• Formulate and implement plans involving the psychosocial treatment and/or management of problems, utilising joint working where appropriate, based on an appropriate conceptual framework and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy (e.g. NICE guideline recommended interventions).
• Provide advice and consultation on clients psychological care to colleagues and to other, non-professional carers.
• Support the application of psychological principles in care delivery, using theory, evidence-based literature and research.
• Undertake risk assessment and management relating to psychological interventions and ensuring appropriate action in accordance with legislation, professional and organisational requirements and best practice guidance.
• Record, monitor and report on clinical work and communicate (in accordance with organisational requirements), in a skilled and sensitive manner, clinical information (including assessment, formulation, treatment plans and progress) to a variety of recipients (e.g. people who use services, their significant others, other professionals, formal panels, statutory and voluntary organisations) orally, in writing and electronically.
• To engage in regular clinical professional supervision from the service HCPC registered practitioner psychologist, or alternative agreed qualified psychological professional if necessary.

Leadership:

• Provide clinical supervision, guidance and professional oversight for volunteer counsellors, trainees, students, other less experienced psychological professionals, and other practitioners, within designated services and as needed, ensuring compliance with national internal and external best practice.
• Ensure assessment, screening of service user suitability for counselling, and allocation is undertaken, including directly delivering this.
• o record and oversee the recording of service user contact with the counselling service.
• Provide service level operational leadership for designated VIA counselling volunteer services, as needed.
• Facilitate psychological therapies service-related evaluation, policy and service development, as well as wider research.
• Act as an effective conduit for communication between senior managers, partners, key stakeholders, and the designated therapy team.
• Be involved in relevant audits/performance indicators and…