Volunteer Counsellor (Merton)

Via; Croydon; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Via is seeking Volunteer Counsellors to support its counseling service in Merton. This role offers an opportunity to develop therapeutic skills within the drug and alcohol field and to accrue valuable counselling hours towards future accreditation. Candidates should be passionate about helping those facing substance issues and should have a positive, non-judgemental attitude.

Qualifications

• Trainees must be in their final year of study or equivalent.
• Students should have significant appropriate training and counseling hours.
• Membership in a governing body like BACP or UKCP is required.

Responsibilities

• See a minimum of three clients and a maximum of six clients per week.
• Keep accurate records of your work as per Via policy.
• Participate in meetings and training as necessary.

Skills

Empathy

Positive attitude

Desire to learn

Education

Final year undergraduate degree or equivalent

Postgraduate level in counselling or psychotherapy

Membership with BACP or UKCP

Job description

Location: Merton
Days: 1 day per week

About Via in Merton

Via has a long history of delivering treatment services in London, the South East and East of England. Via is proud to be the lead provider in the new partnerships responsible for treatment services as well as performance and quality standards in the borough of Merton. Working in partnership with other agencies, our substance misuse services enable us to deliver a fully recovery-focused model of treatment that is forward-looking, innovative and committed to the achievement of positive outcomes for all our service users. Via Merton is running the drug and alcohol service since 1st of April 2018. We have a dedicated team of substance misuse practitioners who work alongside other professionals including doctors, nurses, and in the London Borough of Merton.

About the counselling service

Our counselling service provides people with the opportunity to meet in private with a counsellor for approximately 12 weekly fifty-minute sessions which is reviewed to discuss issues and concerns, which are currently making life difficult. These could include any of the following and more: addictions, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, panic attacks, self-harm, relationship difficulties, loss of purpose or meaning, family difficulties, loss and bereavement, anger, depression, trauma etc.

How you can help

As a Volunteer Counsellor, you'll:

• See a minimum of three clients and a maximum of six clients per week.
• Keep accurate records of your work in line with Via policy.
• Feedback any issues to your line manager/supervisor.
• Attend training in agreement with your clinical supervisor.
• Follow all Via policies and procedures.

You'll also be invited to participate in meetings and carry out other tasks where necessary to support the needs of the counselling service.

The role would be ideal if you're looking to develop your therapeutic experience in the drug and alcohol field and accrue counselling hours towards your future accreditation with BPS, BACP or UKCP.

What skills do you need?

The role would be ideal for someone looking to develop their therapeutic experience in the drug and alcohol field and accrue some counselling hours towards your future accreditation with BPS, BACK, UKCP. While some knowledge of the sector is desirable, we are specifically looking for people who have a passion for the work that we do. A positive attitude and the desire to learn are essential, as is a non-judgemental and supportive approach to people who are facing problems with drugs and alcohol.

To ensure good practice standards and to maximise the safety of both the therapists and the clients at Via we require all students to confirm and adhere to the following:

• Trainees are in their final year of an undergraduate degree or equivalent, or are at a postgraduate level. Alternatively, students should be in their third year of a Diploma, BSC,or MSC in counselling or psychotherapy training.
• If students are not in the third year of their Diploma, Bsc, or Msc in counselling or psychotherapy training, trainees need to be in their second year (at least) but have undertaken (or be prepared to undertake prior to seeing clients) significant and appropriate training.
• Trainees are expected to be a member of one of the counselling governing bodies BACP or UKCP.
• Trainees may need to have conducted a minimum number of counselling hours
• Trainees are working or intend to work towards counselling or psychotherapy accreditation
• Previous details of supervisor and present college tutor information should be sent to Via and agreed that Via can ask supervisor and tutor for references.
• In some cases, at the discretion of the service, students may need to provide their own clinical supervision