Addiction Counsellor - Donegal

Cpl Group; Ulster; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent contract

35-hour week

Work-life balance

Pension scheme

Paid sick leave

Paid maternity leave

Bike-to-work scheme

Professional development

Job summary

Cpl Healthcare partners with a leading nonprofit in the Northwest to provide wraparound addiction counselling and recovery support to individuals experiencing homelessness and trauma in Letterkenny and Co. Donegal.

The role offers a chance to work within a supportive, multidisciplinary team to empower clients toward recovery, with a client-centred approach and strong emphasis on housing stability and community integration.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in a counselling setting with addiction focus.
• Experience with harm reduction approaches and recovery-focused interventions.
• Strong understanding of substance misuse, homelessness, dual diagnosis, and community-based recovery pathways.
• Experience developing and reviewing care plans.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and advocacy skills.
• Must have a full clean driver’s licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic addiction counselling and recovery-focused support to service users.
• Build trusting relationships with clients who have experienced homelessness, trauma and addiction.
• Deliver interventions using harm reduction principles and person-centred approaches.
• Develop and implement individualised care and recovery plans.
• Advocate for service users and support access to services and resources.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure coordinated, holistic support.
• Liaise with external agencies, housing providers, rehabilitation services and healthcare professionals.
• Support service users to engage with housing stability and community integration.

Skills

Counselling experience

Advocacy skills

Interpersonal communication

Independence with multidisciplinary

Education

NFQ Level 7 Counselling/Psychotherapy

Tools

Full clean driver’s licence/vehicle access

Job description

Addiction Counsellor

Homeless Services | Letterkenny and Co. Donegal

Cpl Healthcare is proud to partner with a leading non-profit organisation in the Northwest that provides vital support to people who have experienced long-term homelessness, chronic trauma, mental health challenges and addiction.

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Addiction Counsellor to join a dynamic, recovery-focused team delivering high-quality, wraparound support services to individuals with complex needs.

About the Role

As an Addiction Counsellor, you will play a key role in empowering service users to move towards recovery, stability and improved wellbeing. Working within a supportive multidisciplinary team, you will provide person-centred addiction counselling and support using a harm reduction and recovery-oriented approach that meets individuals where they are in their journey.

You will have the opportunity to build meaningful therapeutic relationships, advocate on behalf of clients and support them both within their homes and throughout the wider community. This role offers the chance to work with some of the most vulnerable individuals in society while helping them achieve positive, lasting change.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic addiction counselling and recovery-focused support to service users.
• Build trusting, supportive relationships with clients who have experienced homelessness, trauma and addiction.
• Deliver interventions using harm reduction principles and person-centred approaches.
• Develop and implement individualised care and recovery plans.
• Advocate for service users and support access to appropriate services and community resources.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure coordinated, holistic support.
• Liaise effectively with external agencies, housing providers, rehabilitation services and healthcare professionals.
• Support service users to engage with pathways towards housing stability, community integration and long-term recovery.

About You

To succeed in this role, you will have:

Essential Qualifications

• A professional qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy at a minimum of Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

And

• Accreditation with one of the following professional bodies:
  • Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP)
  • Irish Association of Alcohol and Addiction Counsellors (IAAAC)
  • A recognised body within the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP)

Essential Experience & Skills

• A minimum of 2 years' full-time experience in a counselling setting where addiction formed a significant part of the work.
• Experience using harm reduction approaches and recovery-focused interventions.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Substance misuse and addiction
  • Homelessness and social exclusion
  • Dual diagnosis and complex mental health presentations
  • Community-based rehabilitation and recovery pathways
  • Housing and training support services
• Experience developing and reviewing care plans.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and advocacy skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proven ability to develop positive working relationships with clients, colleagues and external agencies.
• A full clean driver's licence and access to a vehicle.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Permanent contract with a 35-hour working week.
• Excellent work-life balance.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Pension scheme.
• Paid sick leave.
• Paid maternity leave.
• Bike-to-work scheme.
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.
• A supportive, values-driven working environment.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals facing some of society's most complex challenges.