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Job description

Under the direct line management and clinical supervision of a qualified and accredited practitioner, the Counsellor will provide time limited counselling interventions and co facilitate structured psychoeducational groups for adults and children within community based services. The role involves working with service users affected by self harming behaviours and/or substance misuse, supporting individuals experiencing mild to moderate emotional and psychological distress alongside associated psychosocial difficulties that may be co existing with or attributable to self harming behaviours and/or alcohol and/or drug use. The post holder will work within agreed integrated care pathways, deliver high fidelity, evidence informed interventions in line with service specifications, maintain accurate and up to date clinical records, and contribute to the delivery of a high quality, safe, effective, and compassionate service. Upon successful completion of the preceptorship programme and achievement of relevant professional accreditation, the role will align to a Band 5 Counsellor position.

Responsibilities

• Deliver individual counselling interventions for service users impacted by self-harming behaviours and/or substance misuse, applying evidence-informed modalities including Motivational Interviewing and person-centred, CBT/DBT-informed approaches.
• Support clients experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, including anxiety, low mood, and trauma related presentations, alongside issues that are co existing with or attributable to self harming behaviours and substance misuse.
• Support clients to understand and explore self-harm and substance use, motivation for change, emotional regulation, and coping strategies.
• Under the supervision of designated senior clinical staff, complete brief standardised psychosocial assessments and work collaboratively with service users to agree appropriate counselling goals.
• Monitor engagement, progress, and outcomes, identify and respond appropriately to risk and escalate any immediate concerns to designated senior staff.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• To be flexible as the role may involve travelling and working at various locations and times.
• Possess a full current driving licence and access to a car. Consideration will be given to alternative travelling proposals in respect of applicants with a disability who cannot hold a driver’s licence.
• A professional diploma in Counselling, covering psycho-dynamic, CBT and humanistic models of intervention or a person centred approach.
• Accreditation with voluntary assured professional standards governing bodies (e.g., BACP, NCPS Professional Registrant Accreditation, UKCP or equivalent).
• Or commit to accumulating sufficient supervised practice hours alongside submitting a portfolio of evidence towards achieving full accreditation within one calendar year of taking up post
• Experience providing counselling or structured emotional support (either paid or in a voluntary capacity), with a minimum of 300 post qualified supervised counselling hours.
• A strong commitment and passion for working therapeutically with adults impacted by self-harm and/or addiction, supporting individuals experiencing emotional distress and psychosocial challenges linked to substance misuse and self-harming behaviours.
• Ability to understand and apply core principles of CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing (MI) within a supervised therapeutic setting.
• Experience or demonstrable understanding of non-abstinence, recovery-oriented approaches to substance misuse and self-harming behaviours.
• Understanding of counselling ethics, confidentiality, and professional boundaries.
• Understanding risk management and safeguarding in a self-harm and/or substance misuse context.
• Demonstrable written, verbal, and IT skills to enable accurate clinical documentation and reporting.

Further Information

Work location: Southern and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Areas