Placement Counselling Project Lead

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Placement Lead Application Form

JOB DESCRIPTION

Hours:                 28 hrs over 4 days

Salary:                 £36,421 (to be calculated pro-rata to hours worked)

Location:             Across Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire where required

Holidays:             26 days plus statutory holidays per annum (to be calculated pro rata to hours                                              worked)

Term:                   Fixed term until 31/03/2025 (potential to extend dependent on funding)

Reports to:         Counselling Manager

Closing Date: Noon – Friday 4^th August 2023

Interviews Tuesday 15^th August 2023

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

An exciting opportunity to co-ordinate the delivery and growth of the Placement Counselling Service to ensure compassionate, safe, effective, and efficient delivery of high-quality care of clients through Volunteer/student counselling provision. Work with the Counselling Manager to ensure that the Placement Counselling provision meets contractual obligations and requirements.

Management and Leadership

• Co-ordinate the day to day running; development and future planning of the Placement Counselling service that Axis provides directly to clients within the Placement Counselling Service, ensuring an equitable, pro-activate and safe service.
• Screen, recruit, induct, support, and line manage placement counsellors, promoting best practice and the mission, vision, and values of Axis.
• Forge relationships/develop partnerships with academic stakeholders to promote the service. Ensure service meets individual student placement criteria; providing Student assessments, feedback and evaluation as required. Attending meetings as required.
• Keep individual Placement Counsellors/Volunteer Counsellors HR records up to date on HR system
• Responsible for ensuring adequate supervision of Volunteer/Student counsellors, and internal clinical Supervisors. Ensuring that all Volunteer/Student Placement counsellors and Supervisor’s follow the Organisation’s administration systems and internal methods of work.
• Support and facilitate reflective practice, problem solving and personal development of the Placement Counselling team.
• Ensure Volunteer/Student placement counsellors complete mandatory training and access additional training where required or appropriate.
• Raise the profile of Axis and the Placement Counselling Service
• Prepare narrative, examples of best practice and case studies in line with contractual arrangements and internal arrangements, and for the development of bids and tenders as requested.
• Working with Counselling Lead to undertake regular monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the clinical delivery of the placement service and, where appropriate, make or recommend changes.
• Participate in internal and external meetings as required, and attend training events, conferences, and other functions as necessary.
• Contribute to regular qualitative reports on the Placement Counselling Service for the Counselling Manager
• Attend and contribute to Senior Operational Management Team Meetings, representing the Placement Counselling Service.
• Attend Trustee meetings if required.
• Handle any clinically related complaints that may arise or escalate these where necessary.
• Deal with Placement counselling staff grievances within their team or escalate these where necessary.
• Promote the principle of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Actively participate in the Safeguarding SPOC (Single Point of Contact) team including participation on the on-call rota (including out of hours cover)
• Actively participate in Safeguarding and risk management decisions
• Attend weekly safeguarding meetings.
• Ensure that all safeguarding concerns are dealt with in a consistent manner, in line with Axis’ policies and procedures; and that there is always a Safeguarding SPOC on-call during the allotted hours.

Therapeutic service development

• Co-ordinate the day to day running of the provisions provided by the Placement Counselling Service.
• Have active oversight of all clients entering and leaving the Placement Counselling Service.
• Develop relationships with potential referral partners.
• Assess gaps in service delivery and make recommendations.
• Identify and, in conjunction with the Counselling Manager and/or CEO and local partners, develop opportunities to extend and/or develop the Placement Counselling Service to meet identified needs.
• Keep up to date or create policies and procedures to maintain and continually improve the standards of clinical and therapeutic practice at Axis in line with the organisation and BACP ethical framework and embed this across the Placement Counselling Service.
• Work with the Counselling Manager and/or CEO on grant applications or funding appeals to help develop the Placement Counselling Service.

Training, research, trading and promotion

• Develop and deliver training both internally to staff and volunteers as well as externally as required to other agencies, stakeholders and interested parties, plus contribute to Axis’ development of training and education programmes.
• Be aware, use and share evidence-based approaches to trauma, relevant to the therapeutic development of the Placement Counselling Service and contribute to research in this area, where feasible
• Keep up to date with research and opinion in counselling, therapy and mental health.
• Have an understanding of current educational issues in relation to diploma, degree or postgraduate courses in counselling/psychotherapy.

• Where feasible and necessary, create volunteer roles to support the Placement Counselling Service.
• Formulate ideas for the development of Axis, and the Placement Counselling Service.
• Work with other members of the SMT to update and maintain the information on Axis’ website, twitter and other social media platforms.
• Attend promotional events.

 

Personal development and support

• Identify and attend appropriate training opportunities.
• Actively participate in own caseload and clinical supervision.
• Undertake Designated Safeguarding Lead training and keep up to date.

 

Other

• Manage own caseload of clients including conducting assessments.
• Manage and mentor supervisees
• Daily use of IT, such as Salesforce, Teams, Outlook and other Microsoft Office products
• Undertake any other duties that fall within the nature of the role, and as required by the Counselling Manager, CEO or Board of Trustees.
• Work within the policies and procedures of Axis Counselling
• Promote the values of Axis Counselling
• Work flexibly as a member of the team and be responsive to changing needs.

The post will be reviewed six months and following consultation with the post holder duties may change or be developed subject to available funding and the needs of the service.

Please note that the post holder must have a Full driving licence and a vehicle available for work.

 Placement Counselling Lead – Person Specification

(This form indicates how the different requirements may be assessed during the selection process).

Essential / Desirable A – Application form        I – Interview     E= Essential    D=Desirable	Essential/ Desirable	Method of Assessment
		A	I
Qualifications and training
Recognised professional qualification (Minimum Level 4 Diploma) (training to inc. approx. 420 hours learning/ 20 hrs personal counselling/ 100 hrs supervised practice)	E	x
Registration/Accreditation with UKCP/BACP/BPC	E	x
Experience
A minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience as a counsellor/ psychotherapist	E	x
Experience working with volunteers and/or placement counsellors	D	x
Experience of supervising and managing teams	E	x
Experience of working towards achieving individual and team objectives	E		x
Some experience of managing service development in a similar environment	E		x
Appropriate experience of writing and presenting reports	D	x
Experience of reviewing, amending, developing and implementing policies and procedures	E		x
Extensive knowledge of a range of therapeutic theories, practice and interventions	E		x
Extensive knowledge of clinical supervision theory and practice	E		x
Knowledge of issues affecting the mental health of individuals	E		x
A proven track record in the Counselling and Supervision Arena	E	x
Knowledge of sexual abuse or sexual assault therapy/ service	E		x
An appropriate theoretical understanding of group therapy	D		x
Sound understanding of teamwork and team building	E		x
Extensive knowledge of safeguarding issues	E		x
Good understanding of recruitment processes	D		x
Skills and experience
A participative leadership and management style	E		x
Effective oral and written communication skills	E	x
Well-developed interpersonal skills	E	x
Effective people management, negotiation and interpersonal relationship skills	E		x
Good time management with ability to multi-task	E		x
Ability to undertake assessment of clients	E	x
Coordination and decision making (able to organise, plan and prioritise own work)	E		x
Ability to manage change	E		x
Knowledge and experience in using IT (including Salesforce, Teams, Outlook and other Microsoft Office packages)	E	x
Equal opportunities
Commitment to incorporating equal opportunities and diversity principles in all aspects of work	E		x
Special requirements
Eligible to work in the UK	E	x
An Enhanced DBS check	E	x
Willing to access training related to duties	E	x
Able to travel as required	E	x

Placement Lead Application Form