Catalyst Counselling Practitioner, Woking / Hybrid

Catalystsupport; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity in Surrey is seeking a Catalyst Counselling Practitioner to ensure thorough assessments for counselling suitability. This role involves supporting clients with mental health needs and collaborating with a team to provide effective counselling services. The position is hybrid, requiring flexibility in working hours, including evenings.

Qualifications

• Qualified counsellor with a minimum Level 4 diploma.
• At least one year of post-qualification counselling experience.
• Member of BACP.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough assessments to determine client suitability for counselling.
• Support volunteer counsellors and Clinical Service Manager.
• Manage client records and liaise with other agencies.

Skills

Knowledge of working with clients who have drug/alcohol/mental health and trauma

Ability to manage diary appointments

Ability to keep accurate records

Education

Level 4 diploma in Counselling

Accredited counsellor

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Email and Outlook

Job description

Job title: Catalyst Counselling Practitioner

Organisation: Catalyst is a charity – Supporting wellness together, we promote people’s mental health, physical health and overall wellbeing by providing support to the whole person in Surrey and surrounding area.

Main purpose of job: Ensure thorough and robust assessment of suitability for counselling.

Department: Catalyst Counselling Location/Branch: Woking / Hybrid

Role reports to: Client Service Manager – Lorraine Balaam Hours– 11 hours per week to include Wednesday afternoons and some evenings

Some flexibility required on ability to change day or time working with notice

Fixed Term contract: End Date – 31st December 2025 Salary: £27,000 – 28,000 FTE

Key Accountabilities for

• To support the Clinical Service Manager with an oversight of the functions and operations of the service so we can offer a robust and professional counselling service.
• To support the volunteer counsellors and Clinical Service Manager in relation to the functions of providing the Catalyst Counselling contract and Catalyst policies and procedures that underpin our governance and in line with BACP
• To support Catalyst Counselling Coordinator and Administrator during peak times and absences.

Purpose of tasks: To ensure the client’s context understood in depth and ensure client is suitable for counselling

• Calling clients for assessments
• Verifying the client is within remit and suitable for counselling within our service
• Assessing client risk and act where necessary
• Signposting to another service or discharge the client if unsuitable
• Following up and liaising with other agencies when required
• Exploring client history in enough detail to accurately assess but without risk of re-traumatisation
• Completing assessment documents appropriately
• Advising the client we will contact them as soon as we have an appropriate counselling slot
• If the client is slightly outside of remit but is currently working on reduction, re-assessing the client after an agreed period of time
• Completing consent form, Outcome Star and care plan
• Uploading assessment documentation to database and updating database records following assessment
• Advising service manager of any concerns raised
• Updating administrator of assessment attendances and outcome
• Carrying out triages for clients

General terms of reference:

In carrying out the above duties the post holder will:

• Work collaboratively across the organisation to offer support to all main functions
• Be committed to the role and support Catalyst to be the most efficient it can be
• Be someone who believes in fairness and conducts themselves with integrity
• Work flexibly across operational sites, including working from home arrangements in agreement with your line manager, as required which may include evening and weekend work
• Be motivated to improve personal performance, outcomes, contribution, knowledge and skills
• Be professional when partaking in Management, Trustee Board and other work related team meetings; appraisals, workforce development and supervision processes
• Keep abreast of developments in services, legislation and identify good practices where appropriate
• Contribute to maintaining safe systems of work and a safe environment for all staff on site or working remotely
• Represent Catalyst at external agencies/meetings and support our values and the culture of Catalyst
• Assist in ensuring GDPR compliance throughout the service
• Adhere to health and safety compliance, ensuring timely and accurate record keeping
• Adhere to confidentiality policy
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of the post

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at a basic level. Please note past drug and/or alcohol or criminality history will not necessarily discount you from undertaking this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications and experience

Qualified counsellor (minimum Level 4 diploma in Counselling)

Minimum of one year of post-qualification counselling experience

Accredited counsellor

Ability to work via face-to-face, telephone and online

Professional Registration

Member of BACP

Knowledge and skills

Knowledge of working with clients who have drug/alcohol/mental health and trauma in a therapeutic working relationship

Proven history of being able to engage with this client group

Ability to manage diary appointments and effectively manage own time

Ability to keep accurate and factual records

Knowledge of appropriate services for onward referrals

Information Technology

Proficient in Microsoft Word, use of email, Outlook, and Excel

Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the service

General

Ability to work flexibly across the week, including one evening per week

Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently

Clear understanding of confidentiality

Commitment to and understanding of Equal Opportunities

Ability to work on own initiative

Ability to work efficiently and methodically