Job description
Group Conductor
Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy (Certificate), January Intake
January 2017to July 2017
The introductory courses – certificate level provide grounding in basic skills of listening and responding, and in ethics. The models used are person centred and psychodynamic. The courses are valuable as a foundation for further training and also as an enhancement of present skills for people who wish to stay in an existing profession. The Certificate in Counselling Skills has an intake in October, January and August. The October intake runs over 30 weeks ending in July. The January intake runs over 20 weeks from January to July with 3 weekend modules. The August (Modular) intake runs for 2 weeks full time in August and 4 weekend modules.
This post is for an experiential group conductor on the January intake. This takes place once weekly over two terms and 3 weekend modules as per the course flyer.
Purpose of post
To conduct groups that are experiential in nature. The purpose of the experiential group is to explore what is of concern to individual members and the group as a whole in the here and now, in a manner that is appropriate and educational for students on the Introductory Courses. The groups are not confidential and group conductors are required to maintain contact with the Programme Manager and Seminar Leader regarding their groups.
Accountability
Appointees are ultimately accountable to the Director of Training and are required to work with the Programme Manager on the day to day running of the course.
Tasks and responsibilities
- To conduct experiential groups. At the weekends there is a large group.
- To meet with the seminar leader and other group conductor weekly between the seminar and the experiential group for a handover (approximately 15 minutes).
- To ensure students develop skills and attitudes appropriate to the course requirements.
- To participate in the assessment process of students as and when relevant.
- To write to students who have been absent inviting them back into the group to discuss concerns and to inform the Programme Manager of the absence.
- To inform the Programme Manager of any concerns regarding students.
- To work as a member of a team (consisting of Programme Manager, Seminar Leaders and Group Conductors) on behalf of the students.
- To attend 3 staff meetings held each academic year. These meetings will be at other times to the group times and advance notice will be given. Attendance at these meetings is required.
- To work ethically, observing boundary issues responsibly and sensitively.
- To maintain the educational task of the experiential group and ensure its contribution to the development of skills and attitudes for students on the Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy Course.
- To undertake any additional tasks or responsibilities as reasonably required by WPF Therapy and the Programme Manager.
Person specification
Experience and knowledge
- To have experience of conducting groups analytically, preferably in a variety of settings and with different sized groups.
- To know and understand the differences and similarities between training groups and therapy groups and how the experiential group forms part of the students training.
- To know how to assess students' abilities from their participation in an experiential group in terms of skills and attitudes appropriate for students on counselling skills courses.
- To know how group dynamics contributes to the training of students on the Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy course.
- To know how the experiential groups fit into the overall training on counselling skills and attitudes courses.
- To be proficient in Microsoft Office.
Skills and abilities
- To be able to run experiential small and large groups for students on the course.
- To be able to contribute to the assessment of students.
- To be able to liaise with other staff and managers appropriately.
- To work as part of a team and as part of an organisation.
- To be able to work effectively as co-conductor of the large group.
Attitudes
- To support and empower students' understanding of individuals’ internal worlds, interactions and group dynamics.
- To address issues of prejudice and discrimination as and when they arise.
- To adhere to the WPF Therapy’s Equal Opportunities policy and Codes of Practice.
- To work within the ethos of the WPF Therapy. To aim to ensure that, as far as is possible, equality of opportunity is available to all who work within WPF or use its services. To seek to promote equality of opportunity where you have influence, including WPF Therapy’s constituent bodies and the professional organisations on which WPF Therapy is represented.
Qualifications
The appointee must be a qualified and experienced group-analytic psychotherapist registered with UKCP. The appointee is expected to arrange supervision on the group as required by the various ethical standards. This will be discussed individually at interview.
Seminar times
This is a part time, seven month Programme running from January to July and consisting of 20 weekly sessions and 3 weekend modules.
Course sessions (one per week)
Wednesday evenings
Group time is 8.10pm – 9.30pm
Plus 3 weekend modules
(Saturdays & Sundays 10.00am-4.00pm)
Module 1: 4th & 5th February 2017
Module 2: 18th & 19th March 2017
Module 3: 17th & 18th June 2017
Terms dates
Term 1: Wednesday 11th January 2017—Friday 24th March 2017 (Reading Week: Monday 13th February—Friday 17th February)
Term 2: Wednesday 26th April 2017—Friday 7th July 2017 (10 weeks)
(Reading Week: Monday 29th May—Friday 2nd June)
Remuneration
£29,445 per annum pro-rata.
Actual salary - £2083.77 paid over 7 months.
Application procedure
Applicants are asked to submit:
1.an up to date curriculum vitae
2.a statement setting out how they meet the Person Specification and giving evidence
3.the names of TWO referees
Selection will be based on the application and an interview.
Deadline for applications
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Interviews
TBC
December 2016