JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION:

DATE:June 2017

POST:Young Persons Counsellor/Coordinator

CONTRACT:Permanent

HOURS:37.5 per week

SALARY: £30,000

HOLIDAY:33 days inclusive of bank and statutory holidays

RESPONSIBLE TO: Community Host and Alone in London Manager

RESPONSIBLE FOR:Trainee Counsellors

An enhanced DBS check is required as this position will involve directly working with vulnerable young people or adults at risk.

BACKGROUND

Depaul UK delivers a wide range of support and housing services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. We specialize in the provision of services that; prevent homelessness, increase the resilience of those we work with and energize opportunities for employment, education, training and volunteering in the communities we work within. Our organization reaches from Newcastle to London, Greater Manchester to Sheffield and Kent.

SUMMARY OF JOB

Working under the direction, guidance and support of your LineManager throughout you will be recruiting and coordinating trainee Counsellors and be responsible for a caseload of clients as well as share responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all clients, volunteers and staff in the service.

The post holder will be responsible for delivering Mind Connect Counselling service and will be responsible for the coordination for delivering Counselling pan London in the community and Sherborne House based on CBT models and / or Integrative and PersonCentered Models.

The post holder will be responsible for generating their own referral paths and drawing in other internal departments as well as external agencies. It will be expected that they will be able to develop and co-ordinate a programme of delivery for themselves. The post holder with support of Line Manager will also be responsible for recruitingand supporting trainee counsellors to provide choice and wider access to service users. It is also expected that the post holder will provide the majority of counselling sessions to young people and that this will be the biggest focus in the role.

The role has responsibility under Depaul UK commitment to successfully deliver the contracted outcomes.

KEY DELIVERABLES

  • Provide a flexible counselling service (including making initial assessments),routed in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model and / orintegrative and Person Centered Model to young homeless people with low Level mental health needs.
  • Be responsible for developing a plan to ensure that the service is accessibleto a range of young people in a variety of formats (i.e. outreach, drop in, 1-2-1 and group sessions) and deliver this plan in accordance with all fundingand contract requirements
  • Build partnerships with external agencies to ensure effective referral routesand marketing of the service
  • Develop and manage a programme to support young people to develop an Awareness group / peer mentoring group, inline with the Depaul Alone in LondonPolicies and Procedures.
  • Undertake thorough monitoring and evaluation of individual cases andoverall project delivery, and providestatistics and reports on outcomes for young people, inline with contract and internal requirements
  • Recruit, support and co-ordinate trainee counsellors on British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapist accredited courses, to provide a Counselling service to young homeless people with low level mental healthneeds
  • Contribute to Alone in London and Depaul UK projects (i.e. youth steering groupand peer mentoring programme), as appropriate.
  • You will liaise with Depaul UK internal departments including Finance, HR, Fundraising and Business Development as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the service.
  • You will deploy and supervise the work of the volunteers who add value to the work that we do.
  • You will undertake further duties as directed that commensurate to the role, in line with Depaul Policies and Procedures and as identified by your line manager.

Experience

Thinking Style, Analysis and problem solving:

  • Ability to analyze information in a logical and objective way, establishing trendsand patterns. Identifies potential business opportunities.
  • Quickly identifies thekey issues in complex situations. Takes a realistic approach to work relatedproblems by identifying possible causes and practical solutions.
  • Obtains andevaluates relevant data and information.
  • Makes sound judgment and decision when required.
  • Absolute attention to detail.

Structure:

  • Plans and monitors own work also Identifies priorities, targets and objectives.
  • Shows concern for minimizing errors and maintaining high standards of work.
  • Can meet deadlines and set appropriate milestones for self and others.

Relationships with PeopleSelf-portrayal:

  • Works to understand customers needs and seeks feedback on service quality.
  • Emphasises the importance of delivering a high standard of service and placeshigh value of satisfaction.
  • Develops and maintains relationships withothers outside of the organisation.
  • Seeks the input of internal members of staffin the organization and is co-operative with the team to achieve objectives.

Communication and interpersonal skills:

  • Able to communicate effectively at all levels, on behalf of and representing theorganisation.
  • Appropriately tailors written and verbal communication andpresentations to suit the needs of the situation and the audience. Writtencommunication is clear, concise and sensitive.
  • Presents arguments in apersuasive manner. Negotiates effectively internally and externally, showing a willingness to find common ground.
  • Develops and maintains relationships withothers outside of Depaul UK. Is co-operative with internal and externalteam members in order to achieve objectives.

People Management:

  • Manages the performance of counsellors by giving clear direction and regularfeedback on progress. Identifies individual and their skills needed to meetrequired demands effectively.
  • Establishes necessary training and professionaldevelopment needs, giving specific coaching as appropriate. Is supportive andencouraging to team members.
  • Creates an atmosphere of co-operation andteam work.

Behaviors & Emotions, Resilience:

  • Ability to maintain effective work performance while under pressure.
  • Ability tocope well in a demanding and stressful situation with difficult people, showingself control.
  • Copes well with change.
  • Willing to persevere to meet deadlines.

Initiative:

  • Is proactive in taking responsibility for everyday problems and more majorinitiatives.
  • Is resourceful and able to take the initiative. Does not always have to wait for direction and is willing to take own decisions without looking for approval from others if it benefits the service, however must keep Line Manager up to date throughout.

Results orientation:

  • Is self-motivated and perseveres to overcome obstacles. Sets highprofessional standards for self. Is motivated by achieving high quality results.
  • Sets clear targets and goals in all areas of work and puts in place systems formonitoring progress against these. Identifies the reasons for the shortfalls andensures that these are corrected.
  • Able to cope with demanding and stressfulsituations.

Summary of equal opportunities in employment

  • Depaul UK will seek to comply with the Race Relations, Sex and Disability Discrimination, Codes of Practice in Employment;within the framework of law and wherever practical aim to achieve andmaintain a diverse workforce which reflects the population of the localcommunities in which Depaul UK provides services;
  • Ensure that our employment policies and management practices enable theretention of a diverse staff group:
  • Recruit, develop and promote staff on the basis of a fair, objective andrigorous assessment of competence and potential;
  • Expect staff to treat all customers and each other fairly and with respect;
  • Provide diversity awareness training tailored to the needs of new staff,

Managers and ‘front line’ service providers;

  • Monitor recruitment, promotion, training, study opportunities, and the staffprofile by ethnic group, sex and disability to evaluate the diversity achieved;inform all our staff that they are required to follow the equal opportunitiespolicy at all times.

What we are looking for from you – Person Specification

When completing your application form please address all the points set out below.

  • Must hold a recognized counselling qualification at Diploma level (or

equivalent), and hold a current Accreditation with BACP (or equivalent)

  • Qualification in counselling supervision desirable
  • Experience of Group supervision desirable
  • Training and experience of providing CBT and / or Integrative and

Person Centered models in a 1-2-1 and group setting

  • Experience of providing support to vulnerable young people
  • Experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers / trainees
  • Experience of working to specific contract requirements and providing

statistics and reports inline with contract requirements

  • Experience of coordinating a number of people and activities to deliver

against specific contract requirements

  • Experience of developing relationships with internal and external

services to set up referral routes and joint working

  • Experiencing of supervising the work of counsellors
  • Experience of using Risk Assessments.
  • Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills
  • Experience of operating safeguarding requirements and procedures
  • Commitment to working in a manner, which promotes diversity and equality ensuring that everyone is treated with respect and dignity and no one, suffers from discrimination.
  • Commitment to promoting an environment, which has the highest regard for the Health and Safety of others.
  • Personal and professional integrity
  • High level understanding of professional boundaries and ability to maintain boundaries
  • Effective collaborative working
  • Ability to effectively reflect on own practices for ongoing learning and development
  • Respect for the values and ethos of Depaul and its founding partners.

What we will do to support you in this role

Will provide the following resources to assist in the successful achievement of the responsibilities outlined above:

  • A full induction and training to enhance the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills required’.
  • Training in the Depaul Endeavour model
  • Continuous support and supervision including reflective practice to develop your learning and skills as a practitioner.

Vincentian Values

The Depaul Group began in the UK in 1989 at the initiative of the late Cardinal Basil Hume, as a response to the needs of the growing numbers of homeless people on the streets of London.

Vincentian values are at the heart of what we do, they focus on:

  • A commitment to rights and responsibilities
  • A focus on putting our words into action
  • Taking a wider role in civil society
  • A belief in the potential of people

You can read more about St Vincent Depaul, Depaul UK and Depaul International on our website.

THE DISCLOSURE & BARRING SERVICE – DISCLOSURE

Depaul UK aims to promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Depaul UK welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Criminal records will be taken into account for requirement purposes only when the conviction is relevant.

As Depaul UK meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013 1198’. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions.

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.

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