Sessional Counsellor - Rural Community Hub

Introduction Start Up Stirling is looking for a sessional counsellor to join our established community counselling service in Callander, delivered as part of a rural community hub. The hub brings a range of services together in an accessible community setting, including the foodbank, Citizens Advice and a regular community lunch. Our counselling service has been running successfully for nearly two years and provides flexible emotional and psychological support to people who might otherwise experience barriers to accessing counselling.

Counselling is offered on a flexible, open-ended basis, rather than as a fixed number of sessions. The service combines pre-arranged appointments with opportunities for drop-in support, allowing the counsellor to respond to the needs and circumstances of individual clients. The role is currently available for up to four hours per week and is paid at £35 per hour, plus agreed travel expenses.

This could particularly suit a counsellor seeking to develop their experience, or an established counsellor looking for a small number of additional hours and an opportunity to work within an innovative community-based model. You will work alongside, and become part of, a welcoming multidisciplinary community hub while retaining appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality around the counselling relationship.

• Is BACP registered, or registered with an equivalent recognised professional body
• Holds an appropriate recognised counselling or psychotherapy qualification
• Is able to work independently and maintain appropriate professional, ethical and safeguarding standards
• Is comfortable working flexibly, including with both appointments and drop-in clients
• Has an interest in working with people experiencing poverty, social disadvantage or other barriers to accessing traditional counselling services
• Is able to build relationships with colleagues and other services within a community setting
• Is committed to providing an inclusive, non-judgemental and accessible service
• Experience of community-based counselling or working with people experiencing financial hardship would be helpful but is not essential as some training will be provided.
• We are open to applications from recently qualified practitioners who are interested in developing their practice in this area, provided they have some experience of working independently.
• All candidates must have appropriate external supervision arrangements in place.

This is an opportunity to join an established service which takes a flexible approach to counselling, recognising that different things work for different clients at different times. You will have considerable autonomy in your work while being part of a wider community hub providing practical, social and emotional support.

• Hours:
  
  Up to 4 hours per week, usually Wednesday, on a 12 month rolling contract.
• Rate: £35 per hour
• Expenses:
  Travel costs paid
• Location:
  
  Callander
• Contract:
  
  Sessional