Independent EAP Counsellor; County Laois, Ireland

Position: Independent EAP Counsellor (County Laois, Ireland)
TELUS Health is empowering every person to live their healthiest life. Guided by our vision, we are leveraging the power of our leading edge technology and focusing on the uniqueness of each individual to create the future of health. As a global-leading health and well-being provider – encompassing physical, mental and financial health – TELUS Health is improving health outcomes for consumers, patients, healthcare professionals, employers and employees.

TELUS Health is an Employee Assistance Programme provider supporting client companies and their employees, offering both emotional and practical support. We have opportunities for qualified counsellors to join our Affiliate Counsellor Network and receive referrals to provide face to face counselling for our clients.
** About the role
*** Managing online referrals promptly and accepting/declining cases within agreed time frames
* Contacting clients to arrange the first appointment within agreed time frames
* Offering short term counselling to clients from 3 to 8 sessions (differs on a case to case basis)
* Providing written/verbal feedback and case notes in a timely manner
* Reporting back to our Case Management Team in the event of risk.
** Qualifications, Supervision, Insurance and Therapeutic Venue
*** Registered or accredited by a professional counselling body including IACP, PSI, ICP, APCP, IAHIP or equivalent.
* If not accredited, you must be qualified to Diploma level and a registered member of a professional counselling body, with 3 years’ post qualification experience, and have accrued at least 450 counselling hours.
* You must be able to work within a theoretical approach that is appropriate for our short-term counselling model and within an EAP context
* You must be able to demonstrate sufficient regular professional clinical supervision.
* Professional indemnity insurance of at least €1,000,000.
* Regular professional clinical supervision
* You have access to a suitable dedicated consulting room that does not double as living accommodation. The entrance to the consulting room must be discrete and not via any personal living area e.g. access to the consulting room should only be via a hallway and should not be accessed via any personal living accommodation such as a kitchen or living room.

The ambience of the consulting room should be neutral, i.e. limited and appropriate personal items e.g. family photos, religious symbols etc.
* Suitable waiting area to accommodate clients arriving early. If a waiting area is unavailable, appointments must be managed to ensure client’s comfort and confidentiality, e.g. appropriate spacing of appointment times, or clear instructions if they arrive early for their appointment (e.g. wait outside or in their car until the appointment time), and why this is necessary.
* Answerphone with outgoing message clearly identifying yourself as a counsellor.

** Training and Experience
*** Skilled in assessment of presenting issues and determining appropriate support plan
* Experienced in short term (limited session) counselling interventions with a focus on solutions and effective coping skills/problem management.
* Previous experience of working for an EAP is preferred however, other appropriate short-term experience may have been gained, for example, in private practice, G.P surgeries, student counselling service or workplace counselling, etc.
* Awareness of organizational dynamics and the issues of working life.  One key aspect of employee assistance counselling is the focus on how an individual’s problems may impact their performance and/or conduct at work.
* Ability to refer Clients on to other therapeutic support, knowledge of local resources.
* IT literate – able to work with Microsoft Word, email and TELUS Health online systems.

** Ability to work with TELUS Health clinical and Case Management procedures
*** Understanding and agreement to work within our Case management procedures including ‘at risk’ cases, extra sessions and contracting privately.
* Understanding of the relationship between the Clinical Affiliate and the Case Management team in terms of professional responsibility.
* Ability to work with email-based counselling…