CAYSH

Who we are

Job Description

Job Title

Young People’s Counsellor / Mental Health Practitioner

Salary

£29-32,000

Location

Peripatetic 

Hours of work

37 hours per week including evenings and weekends

Responsible to

Head of Operations

Responsible for

N/A

Role Summary

This a new role developed in partnership between CAYSH and Off the Record to offer counselling/mental health support to young people living in CAYSH supported accommodation and consultation/support to staff concerned about a young person’s mental wellbeing. The post holder would be employed by CAYSH & report directly to the Head of Operations but with clinical supervision provided through Off the Record.

Key Relationships

• Head of Operations
• Operations managers
• Statutory stakeholders within the mental health sector

Key Responsibilities, Tasks and Activities

1. To establish a counselling/mental health support service for young people aged 16-25 living in CAYSH supported accommodation including setting up referral pathways, safeguarding protocols and monitoring systems.
2. To offer individual counselling/mental health support (face-to-face and via telephone/video) to young people aged 16-25 living in CAYSH supported accommodation. This will include initial assessments, on-going work and crisis/holding sessions.
3. To monitor the effectiveness of interventions offered through the routine use of outcome monitoring tools reviewed directly with young people.
4. To maintain high levels of safeguarding awareness and to respond to risk and safeguarding issues as they arise
5. To maintain accurate and up to date records of all counselling sessions on all relevant data systems.
6. To attend regular fortnightly clinical supervision.
7. To offer ad hoc consultation and support to CAYSH staff concerned about a young person’s mental wellbeing.
8. To liaise with other mental health professionals and services as necessary and appropriate.
9. To attend regular line management supervision to enable smooth running of the service.
10. To attend other organisational meetings as appropriate.
11. To contribute to the formulation and development of mental health policy and procedures within CAYSH.
12. To actively implement the CAYSH’s equalities and diversity & user engagement policies.
13. To work as a member of the CAYSH staff team and assist in other tasks within as necessary and where possible within the hours available.

Continued Professional Development

We expect the successful candidate to undertake available training courses and research to enhance personal knowledge, skills and experience.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience in working with young people

• Experience of delivering both face-to-face and telephone and/or video-based counselling

• Awareness of safeguarding responsibilities and the issues related to delivering services to young people and vulnerable young adults

• Experience of using routine outcome measure in clinical practice

• Understanding of and commitment to, anti-discriminatory practice

Key competencies / skills and attitude

• Very strong ability to actively engage with a wide range of young people and an understanding of the issues young people face in their lives.

• Excellent core counselling skills and an ability to work consistently with high levels of empathy and unconditional positive regard.

• Ability to undertake counselling assessments, including risk assessments and to provide short–term counselling to young people in crisis

• Commitment to working collaboratively with young people as full partners in any approach & to supporting user engagement

• Ability to create systems and procedures to support the operation of this new service

• Ability to maintain accurate records and statistics including database entry

• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, working within the BACP Ethical Framework, whilst responding to complex ethical dilemmas

• Ability to provide consultation/support to staff concerned about a young person’s wellbeing

• Willingness to contribute to new initiatives and ways of working

• Ability to work as part of a team and to attend and contribute to team and organisational meetings

Qualification

• Professional counselling qualification to diploma level or equivalent. Training/experience in CBT particularly welcome.

• BACP/UKCP accredited or eligible for accreditation

• At least 250 hours clinical experience of which at least 100 must be with young people

Other

• An understanding and commitment to the CAYSH Competency Framework
• An understanding and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity 
• An understanding of individual responsibility in complying with the Health and Safety policies and arrangements.
• Valid UK driving licence (desirable)
• This role is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

The job description is subject to change pending review by the role holder and their line manager

Applicants who submit a CV will be asked to complete an application form, if shortlisted. The application form is a requirement because it asks for specific information that is not usually found in a CV, such as details of criminal convictions and association with existing CAYSH employees.

The job description sets out the main purpose and duties of the role, whereas the person specification describes the essential criteria applicants must meet, in order to do the job effectively, including experience, knowledge, skills and qualifications.

We strongly recommend that applicants state how they meet the essential criteria, by providing supporting evidence from current and previous employment, voluntary work, education and training.

The shortlisting panel will assess the supporting statement and decide which applicants to invite for interview.

Applicants are asked to provide contact details of referees, who are known in a professional capacity. In accordance with data protection, references will only be sought if an offer of employment is made. 

Shortlisted applicants will be advised how to request reasonable adjustment, prior to interview / selection testing.

In order to monitor fairness and equal opportunities, applicants are asked to complete the monitoring section of the application form. This information will be treated in confidence and will not be used for shortlisting purposes.

Applications that are not successful in the shortlisting process will not receive written notification.