Making a lifetime of difference to children in schools
Place2Be, 13/14 Angel Gate, 326 City Road, LondonEC1V 2PT
Tel: 020 7923 5500 Email:

July 2013

Dear Applicant,

Parent Counsellor–Blyth, Northumberland hub

Thank you for your interest in the above post. Please find enclosed:

  • Terms and Conditions of the post
  • An Introduction to Place2Be
  • The job description and person specification for the post
  • Personal Details Form for Applicants
  • Equal Opportunities form

Please send yourCV and Supporting Statement(of no more than 500 words) clearly showing how you meet each selection criterion in the person specificationand stating which specific role you are applying formarked for my attention no later than 9am on Friday26th July 2013.Interviews commencing on the 31th July 2013

You do not need to provide your date of birth on your CV or the years you went to school or any other training establishment.

Please return your application by email only to in Microsoft Word format.

Please ensure that you have also completed and sent to us Personal Details and Equal Opportunities Forms. You can do so by returning this entire Job Pack with two forms completed electronically, you will find them at the end of this document.

If you are a current member of staff or our volunteer please note that you are required to notify your line manager and obtain a letter of recommendation supporting you in applying for this post. Please submit the letter together with your application and not separately.(applications without a letter of recommendation will not be considered as full).

Thank you for your interest in Place2Be and we look forward to receiving your completed application.

With best wishes,

Caroline Walpole

Lead Recruiter

Parent Counsellor –Blyth
NorthumberlandHub
Terms and Conditions

Below is a general outline of the Terms and Conditions for this post. Full terms and conditions would be included following any offer of employment.

Type of Appointment

Permanent,Part Time

Location

0.5 days,New Delaval Primary School, Blyth

Probationary Period

6 months’ probationary period with a formal appraisal in the sixth month.

Salary

£2692 pro-rata per annum from FTE of £26,923 per annum

Hours of Work

0.5 days (3.6 hours) per week. Working day, preferably Wednesday

Inductions

Please note that the successful candidate, as part of Place2Be induction, will be required to attend a compulsory four-day Staff Inductions programme in London.

Annual Leave

A full time equivalent allowance is 25 days per annum plus bank holidays. The pro-rated allowance will be calculated once the candidate is appointed and the start date is known.

Annual leave has to be taken during school break times only. Please note that employees with more than 3 years of service are eligible to 27 days of annual leave pro rata and those with over 5 years of service are eligible to 30 days of annual leave pro rata.

Pension

Employees are eligible to join Place2Be pension scheme after three full months of service. The Place2Be contributes 3% of your salary into the scheme; employees may contribute as from 3% of their salary per financial year. A free session is available with our financial advisers to help plan your pension needs.

Childcare Vouchers

We run an approved childcare voucher scheme which offers income tax and National Insurance contribution savings when paying for child care.

Cycle Scheme/Season Ticket Loans

We offer interest-free loans for buying a season ticket or purchasing a bicycle to assist our staff with reducing the cost of travelling to work.

Eye Care Vouchers

We provide eye care vouchers entitling you to a free annual eye test. This scheme fulfils our legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act for staff using Display Screen Equipment. If staff require glasses because of their use of a DSE then an additional voucher pays for a basic pair of glasses.

Training and Development

Place2Be offers a central development programme for all staff and provide a range of training opportunities as part of employee’s individual personal development plan.

Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 – section 8

Under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 you will be required to prove your eligibility to work within the UK. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

PVG Scotland/DBS

An offer of employment for this post will be subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure clearance through PVG Scotland (Disclosure and Barring Service in England and Wales).

References

References will be taken up from your two most recent employers. Any offer for this role is conditional on both references being satisfactory.

Job Description

Job title:Parent Counsellor

Location: Blyth, Northumberland Hub

INTRODUCTION

Place2Be is the leading UK provider of school-based emotional and mental health services. Founded in 1994, Place2Behas school-based teams inover 170 schools in the UK, supporting 64,000 children. The award-winning charity seeks to improve the prospects of children aged 4-14 years, by tackling the complex social issues that result in educational disadvantage.

We provide early intervention mental health support, without stigmatising children or families and at a point where they need it most. Our work effectively removes the emotional barriers to learning and prevents the downward spiral that can lead to low aspirations, poor educational achievement and truancy/exclusion from school. It helps improve children’s attainment and builds their resilience, providing them with brighter prospects and hopeful futures.

A Place for Parents is a counselling service offered to parents and carers in schools where Place2be is located. It offers a safe and confidential space in which parents /carers can discuss personal issues and concerns and how this impacts on their parenting and the relationship with their children. In providing accessible mental health support for the parent our goal is to increase their parenting capacity, and therefore positively impact upon the mental health of their whole family.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Responsible to:

Hub Manager.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Raise awareness and identify users
  • To raise awareness of the service with parents living within the school’s local community
  • To identify parents who may benefit from A Place for Parents, through liaison with School Project Managers and Hub Managers working with families either based within the local community or in local children’s centres.
  • To hold initial discussions with potential service users (i.e. parents) to see if A Place for Parents may be suitable and of interest.
  1. Referral and Assessment
  • To hold initial referral and assessment interviews with parents to measure the baseline (i.e. pre-intervention) situation.
  • To assess the needs of each parent and determine if A Place for Parents one-to-one intervention is appropriate or if an external referral would be more appropriate.
  • To hold a post-intervention assessment interview with the parents to gauge the impact of the intervention and agree any further work/support that may be required (including other agency support).
  1. Clinical work
  • To deliver individual counselling sessions (50 minutes in duration) with parents, building on the experience and understanding of The Place2Be’s work with children and parents.
  • To maintain appropriate records and notes of the work undertaken and ensure that these are monitored according to relevant policies and procedures.
  • To attend regular supervision meetings with the Hub Manager.
  • To lead or co-facilitate group parenting programmes for parents living within the local community, where appropriate.
  1. Development activities
  • To work with others involved in Service Development to identify learning from delivery of the service and inform further roll-out of the service to other Place2Be hubs.
  • To identify the need for and provide input to the production of any promotional literature that can be used across Place2Be to promote A Place for Parents to parents, schools and other agencies.
  • To provide work shadowing opportunities for new staff joining Place2Be to undertake parent work in other hubs.
  1. Managing relationships
  • To provide regular updates to the Head of Operations and Hub Manager
  • To input to the overall development of A Place for Parents and the Early Years Service through Service Development meetings and liaison with other Parent Counsellors
  • To maintain good relationships with the school’s staff
  • To work closely with the Hub Manager to identify and liaise with relevant community –based professionals working with families, e.g. Health Visitors
  1. Project management and reporting
  • To promote equal opportunities and an open approach in all areas of work, bearing in mind the need for confidentiality.
  • To work within a budget and keep accurate records of resources that are used as part of the project.
  • To work with the Service Development team to assess pre- and post-intervention data to determine the impact of the service on users.
  • To prepare a report on the project each term.
  • To attend Place2Be management meetings and meetings as required.

Flexibility

The job description is a general outline of the job duties and responsibilities and may be amended as The Place2Be develops and the role grows. The post-holder may be required to undertake other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

Job Pack PC Northumberland June 2013 Page 1 of 14

Making a lifetime of difference to children in schools
Place2Be, 13/14 Angel Gate, 326 City Road, LondonEC1V 2PT
Tel: 020 7923 5500 Email:

PERSON SPECIFICATION

PARENT COUNSELLOR

The person specification outlines the main criteria for the post and short listing will be based on the following criteria. Please ensure that your supporting statement clearly shows how you meet the criteria using experience gained either in paid or voluntary work.

CRITERIA / Essential / Desirable / Application (A)
Interview (I)
A trained therapist or counsellor with at least two years post-qualifying experience of therapeutic work with adults and families. /  / A & I
A recognised professional qualification in counselling or therapy. /  / A
Accreditation with a professional association relevant to counselling or psychotherapy, e.g. BACP, UKCP, HPC. /  / A
Ability to demonstrate an understanding a range of therapeutic disciplines. /  / A & I
Experience of group facilitation /  / A & I
A flexible, creative and problem-solving approach to work. /  / A & I
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence, encourage and generate enthusiasm amongst those who work with you and the confidence to build and maintain relationships with internal and external agencies. /  / A & I
Maturity of thinking with proven strong management skills and experience. /  / A & I
Ability to manage referrals and maintain an accurate, confidential system of records. /  / A
Flexible team player, with an ability to work under pressure and prioritise workload. /  / A & I
Experience of the school/children’s centre environment with the ability to evaluate situations and systems /  / A & I
A broad knowledge of issues facing parents with children under five years in age /  / A & I
Computer literate, familiar with Windows, Word and managing email. /  / A
An understanding and awareness of The Place2Be’s equal opportunities policy and a personal commitment to equality of opportunity. /  / A
Ability to demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, anti – discriminatory practice in service delivery. /  / A & I
Ability to work outside office hours and travel within the UK. /  / A & I
Own transport required. /  / I

Personal Details Form for Applicants

Please complete ALL sections of the form even if some information is included in your CV.Place2Be is committed to Equal Opportunities within its employment practices. The enclosed Equal Opportunities Form will be removed before shortlisting and will remain confidential to the Human Resources Department.

Post applied for / Hub/ Area
Closing date / Where did you find out about this vacancy?
Please give reference number if known / BACP BAAT BADT BAPT Guardian Other
Please give details:

Place2Be

Have you previously applied for any jobs within Place2Be? / Yes
No / If yes please give details:
Post / Hub/ Area / When
Have you ever worked or volunteered for Place2Be? / Yes
No / If yes please give details:
Post / Hub/ Area / When

Your contact details

Surname / Name
Address
Postcode
Home tel: / Mobile tel:
Work tel: / Email:

Professional Membership

Registration body / Registration number / Membership status / Are you accredited? / Expiry date

References

Please give the name and contact details of two referees who can comment on your work experience, competence, personal qualities and your suitability to the post. One of these must be your current or most recent employer. Please note that we will only take up references if a conditional offer of employment is made.

1. Name / Position
Address
Telephone Number / Email:
Relationship to you
2. Name / Position
Address
Telephone Number / Email:
Relationship to you

Criminal Record

Do you have connections in your personal life with any individual (relative, household member or friend) who could present a risk to children or who has been convicted of a criminal offence which would deem them unsuitable to work with children? YES/NO
Have you, as an adult, had involvement with a local authority, in relation to care proceedings or child protection proceedings in your family? YES/NO
Have you ever been arrested, cautioned for or convicted of a criminal offence or other offence which would show in a CRB enhanced disclosure?YES/NO*
*Note: If YES, please give details and an explanation of the offence and sentence or penalty imposed (including suspended sentences, warnings etc) in a separate file marked ‘confidential’ including an explanation of how you have consequently demonstrated you are a suitable person to work directly with children.
As the position will involve access to children, the position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986 and you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau which will show all records. Please contact us if you would like further information.
Any position offered would be conditional on the receipt of an enhanced CRB which satisfies the criteria of Place2Be. A copy of the CRB Code of Practice is available on the CRB website.

I declare that the information I have given is accurate and true and any false or misleading information given on this form may lead to my employment being withdrawn and consequent criminal proceedings.

Unsuccessful application details will be retained for monitoring purposes and for the provision of future potential opportunities and other communications. If you do not wish to receive any further information you may make a request at any time via email,for the attention of the Resourcing Officer, to

Signed Date

Ensuring Equality in Recruitment and Selection for Paid and Unpaid Positions

The Equal Opportunities Commission, Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission strongly recommend that monitoring is effectively carried out and Place2Be fully supports this.

Place2Be actively monitors the selection process to ensure that no one applying for a post within Place2Be receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, marital status, gender, disability, race, ethnic or national origins, age, sexual orientation or religious or political opinion. Equality of opportunity, fairness, acceptance of differences and the rights of individuals, including the right to work in an atmosphere free from intimidation, are important values held by Place2Be and we are committed to tackling them in all aspects of our work.

In order to enable us to regularly monitor and assess whether equality of opportunity is being achieved, please complete this form and return it with your application form.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. As this role meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, applicants offered employment/placement will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure check from the Criminal Records Bureau before appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions and a check of the list of those Barred from working with children or vulnerable adults. It is a criminal offence for anyone on the barred list to attempt to procure employment working with children. Any disclosure revealing such an attempt will be provided to the Independent Safeguarding Authority and may result in criminal charges and/or conviction.

Completing the following form will enable us to carry out the effectiveness of our monitoring policy. The information will be separated from your application as soon as it is received. It will not be passed onto anyone involved in shortlisting or appointment to this post.

Post Applied For

Are you?

Male Female

Are you?

<20 21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44

45-49 50-54 55-59 60+would prefer not to say

The Disability DiscriminationAct 1995 defines a disabled person as someone with a physical or mental illness impairment which has a substantial and longterm adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal, daytoday activities.

Do you consider yourself to have a disability which may affect your employment/placement?Yes No

If Yes, Please provide details

What adjustments would need to be made to assist you in carrying out the duties of this post, if appointed?

Would any adjustments need to be made to the interview process to assist you in your application? Yes No

If yes, please provide details:

What is your Ethnic Group?

Please choose one section from (a) to (e) and then put a cross or tick in the appropriate box to indicate your cultural background (as recommended by the Commission for Racial Equality).

(a) White(d) Black or Black British

BritishCaribbean

English African

Scottish Any other Black background,

Welshplease state

Irish

Any other White background,

please state

(b) Mixed(e) Chinese or Chinese British or other

White and Black Caribbeanethnic group

White and Black AfricanChinese

White and AsianAny other, please state

Any other Mixed background,

please state

(c) Asian or Asian British

Indian

Pakistani

Bangladeshi

Any other Asian background,

please state

Job Pack PC Northumberland June 2013 Page 1 of 14