Volunteer School Counsellor

YMCA Dialogue is a BACP Accredited service, providing counselling services in schools since 1994. Dialogue has built an excellent reputation with schools, professionals and commissioners and the service has developed and expanded over the years, now operating across Brighton & Hove, East and West Sussex and Surrey. We require all our counsellors to abide by the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. All counsellors are expected to be a member of the BACP (or student member if training), or other appropriate professional body (e.g. UKCP).

We are looking for two qualified counsellors, one for each of the below schools: 

College of Richard Collyer Horsham, West Sussex

As a Volunteer Counsellor you will provide a high standard of clinical counselling provision to children and young people within a school or community setting.

In this role you will see up to three clients a week in their designated school setting (that is, three clients a week as allocated by the Dialogue Counsellor in the school).

Top Responsibilities

• Work within all YMCA DLG policies and procedures at all times and to abide by the Code of Conduct.
• Follow YMCA Dialogue Safeguarding Procedures
• Attend regular clinical supervision with a Dialogue designated supervisor.
• Always read the assessment before meeting a client for the first time.
• Keep suitable case records according to Dialogue policy and using the designated Dialogue systems, comply with legal and other requirements, ensuring that all project case records and files are maintained and securely held.
• Carry out administrative tasks associated with the counselling service; including monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Bring any concerns to the Dialogue School Counsellor and the School Project Manager, or Therapeutic Services Manager.

Top Criteria

• Counselling or Psychotherapy qualification, minimum Level 4.
• BACP Membership; Student, Registered or Accredited. Or other professional body e.g. UKCP
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Sound understanding of Child Protection & Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding issues, policies and procedures.

Commitment and Expectations

• In school/college placements to not take holiday during term time.
• Attend as many team meetings and CPD events as possible.
• Agree to a minimum time commitment of one full academic year in a School or College placement.
• Give a minimum of three months’ notice when wishing to leave the Service and to abide by the policy when leaving as set down in the Dialogue Guidelines.
• Complete all mandatory trainings within the first six months of volunteering. Safeguarding Children e-learnings Level 1 and 2 must be completed before seeing clients.
• Attendance on the Safeguarding Policy into Practice workshop within three months of starting.

Steyning Grammar School Steyning, West Sussex