Volunteer Counsellor
The primary purpose of this role is to provide professional counselling to people caring for a family member or friend to enable them to explore thoughts and feelings and develop coping strategies to deal with their current situation.
What You'll Do:
Core Tasks
- Providing 1:1 counselling to carers (a maximum of 3 carers per week, with 8 sessions per person)
- Providing at least 3 months commitment to the volunteering role to ensure continuity for carers accessing the service
- Maintaining records using Carers Together’ database in line with confidentially, data protection and information sharing policies and procedures
Why You'll Love It:
You will be able to gain experience in counselling, while helping unpaid carers from the local community be able to cope better with the day-to-day challenges of their caring role.
What You'll Learn:
You will learn about the specific challenges faced by unpaid carers, as well as practisicing the counselling skills you have learnt throughout your studies.
What We're Looking For:
Knowledge
Qualified to level 4 in counselling / at least second year of full counselling degree
Final year trainees may be considered subject to supervision and satisfactory references
Knowledge of a range of counselling approaches
Knowledge of the needs of vulnerable groups e.g. safeguarding
Understanding
Understanding of carers issues
Understanding of BACP guidelines and codes of practice
Understanding of the therapeutic relationship
The need to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients
Understanding of confidentiality
Understanding of equality and diversity
Qualities
Self awareness
Motivated and able to motivate others
Reliability and good timekeeping