Prison Addiction Counsellor — Drive Recovery & Change

Uniting Holding; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Merchants Quay Ireland is seeking an Addiction Counsellor to deliver one-to-one and group counselling in Wheatfield Prison as part of the Irish Prison Service. You will work within MQI and IPS guidelines, developing care plans and contributing to multidisciplinary team reviews.

The role requires two years in addiction services, accreditation (ACI/IACP) or equivalent, and a relevant degree in addiction studies or social care, with strong IT skills and experience in workshops and care planning.

Qualifications

• Two years experience, or equivalent part-time, in an addiction service or similar setting.
• Accredited counsellor with ACI, IACP or equivalent body.
• A relevant third level qualification in addiction studies or social care.
• An excellent understanding of issues relating to substance use, engagement with the criminal justice system, homelessness, dual-diagnosis and progression pathways towards community-based support services, housing, and training.
• Ability to develop professional relationships with clients, IPS colleagues and external agencies.
• Proficient IT skills.
• Experience in developing and delivering workshops.
• Experience and skills in developing Care Plans.

Responsibilities

• The direct delivery of counselling services for persons with drug and /or alcohol problems in prison. This includes one-to-one and group work.
• To operate within professional and ethical guidelines as outlined by the Irish Prison Service and relevant professional accreditation bodies.
• Comprehensively assess people referred within the prison service.
• Facilitate one-one counselling and group work.
• Deliver specific substance use interventions using models i.e. CBT, CRA, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, relapse prevention & overdose prevention, as well as crisis interventions.
• Attend clinical team meetings when required.
• Develop comprehensive care plans in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team and ensure regular review of individual treatment plans and goals identified.
• Ensure individual confidentiality in the context of multidisciplinary teamwork and the limitations of confidentiality as detailed within MQI’s Confidentiality Policy.
• Provide information/statistics regarding the details of counselling i.e. high-quality case notes, goals, duration, discharge and referral summaries etc.
• Refer to other agencies where appropriate. This can be within the prison and the community and is dependent on shared care plans and integrated care pathways.
• Provide information and advice supporting health promotion and the reduction of risks associated with substance use and dependency.
• Observe IPS and MQI health and safety policies and guidelines.
• To notify your line manager as soon as possible where there are reasonable grounds for a child protection concern per current legislation, MQI’s Child Protection Policy and any requirements that may be set down under Irish Prison Service child protection procedure.

Skills

Counselling

Group counselling

Communication

Workshops

Care Plans

Education

Addiction studies (degree)

IACP/ACI accreditation

Tools

IT skills

Job description

Merchants Quay Ireland is seeking an Addiction Counsellor to deliver one-to-one and group counselling in Wheatfield Prison as part of the Irish Prison Service. You will work within MQI and IPS guidelines, developing care plans and contributing to multidisciplinary team reviews.

The role requires two years in addiction services, accreditation (ACI/IACP) or equivalent, and a relevant degree in addiction studies or social care, with strong IT skills and experience in workshops and care planning.