Counsellor / Psychotherapist

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

Family Action is a registered charity, building stronger families since 1869.  Today we work with more than 60,000 families in over 150 community based services, as well as supporting thousands more through national programmes and grants.  We transform lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Project Indigo, an LGBTQIA+ youth project run out of Off Centre at Family Action that fosters a safe space and sense of community amongst LGBTQIA+ young people in Hackney.  We support young people aged 16 to 25 through offering them a weekly facilitated social space and 1-to-1 support and advice sessions.  Having run for almost a decade, Project Indigo is well known in Hackney, and works alongside local LGBTQIA+ projects, as well as mental health and youth services.  Project Indigo maintains a youth-led and person-centred approach, with this role being developed in consultation with our members to address the barriers they face in accessing sensitive therapeutic support.

We are seeking a motivated and empathetic counsellor/psychotherapist to offer therapeutic support to members of Project Indigo, our LGBTQIA+ youth group.  The counsellor will make a positive impact and expand Project Indigo’s offer to include 1-to-1 counselling, including sessions up to 24 weeks and therapeutic drop-ins.

Off Centre is a service that provides a range of targeted mental health focused support services to young people aged 16 to 25 who registered with a City and Hackney GP.  These include: individual, counselling and psychotherapy, individual and group art psychotherapy, key-work support, out of hours drop-in service on Thursday evenings, targeted provision for children and young people of African, Caribbean and mixed heritage (ACH), and an Information and Advice provision.

Main Responsibilities:

·       You will provide affirmative therapeutic support to our LGBTQIA+ young people who identify under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella or are exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity; including 1-to-1 therapeutic support, sessions up to 24 weeks and therapeutic drop-ins.

·       You will enrich Project Indigo’s holistic offer by providing a safe, confidential and affirmative therapeutic space for our members; supporting young people with a range of difficult life and/or mental health issues, which may include bereavement, domestic violence, relationship difficulties, sexual abuse and trauma.

·       You will maintain an in-depth knowledge of issues facing young LGBTQIA+ people, in particular trans and gender diverse people, and will have clinical experience working with this group.

·       You will maintain an understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities, as well as intersectionality and the multiple oppressions faced by our diverse group members, in particular racialised, neurodivergent and/or trans and non-binary people.

·       You will address the diverse needs of our young people by maintaining an intersectional and person-centred approach.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

·       You are BACP /UKCP (or equivalent) registered with proven experience of working affirmatively with LGBTQIA+ young people in a clinical setting and/or evidence of in-depth knowledge of how to support LGBTQIA+ young people, in particular trans and gender diverse young people.

·       You are empathetic with a good understanding of the social and political issues impacting LGBTQIA+ young people.

·       You identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community in line with Project Indigo’s peer-led service model.*

·       You have an understanding of risk management, with the ability to act in accordance with local and organisational safeguarding policies.

·       You have the ability to organise workload, meet competing priorities and flexibility to adapt to changing work schedules.

·       You have the ability to build positive relationships, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and teams.

·       You are committed to equal opportunities, diversity and equality.

·       You have the ability to align with and support Family Action’s mission and values.

·       Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

*In accordance with Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010, there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement for the successful candidate to identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Benefits:

-       an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holidays

-       up to 6% matched-pension contributions

-       flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment

-       enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions

-       eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers, and cycle to work scheme

-       investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

·       Closing Date : Thursday 24th October 2024 at 23:59

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Family Action has a Trans, Intersex and Non-Binary Inclusion Policy. Also, we welcome applications from disabled individuals, and those from ethnically diverse communities because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum scoring criteria and we will reimburse your travel cost if you attend an in person interview.