Purpose:

To support the CYP counselling co-ordinator and help with the delivery of a specialist counselling service in Buckinghamshire to provide high quality, supportive and appropriate services to children and young survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. This role involves building and working as part of the SAFE! and Sexual Assault and Abuse Support Service, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes (SAASSBMK) organisations to make a positive impact and collaborative team working between the two organisations.

The postholder will champion supporting children and young people who have experienced abuse and trauma and will operate as part of a team of clinical counsellors, delivering clinical interventions for children and young people within a school setting or the centres counselling rooms. This will include carrying out assessments and individual therapy to children and young people from a diverse range of backgrounds. The counsellor will also support psychological wellbeing and may be required to become involved in other projects such as workshops.

This post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. We strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the community we work in and encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people. If we can make this easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please do get in touch by phone (01908 201971) or email (recruitment@saassbmk.org.uk).

Service Background:

Support after Abuse and Sexual Harm (SASH) Buckinghamshire is a partnership project providing support to children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse or sexual harm. This project brings together specialist and established services from SAASSBMK and SAFE!. We provide support to Children, and Young People aged 5 to 18 years by delivering a responsive, individually tailored specialist support service in Buckinghamshire to those who have been affected by rape, sexual assault, and domestic abuse.

Our counselling is delivered by SAASSBMK and coordinated by the CYP Counselling Co-ordinator. All our counsellors are qualified and experienced in supporting young people to process their experiences. Young people are offered up to 18 weeks of counselling either in school or in our offices in Aylesbury, both face to face and online. We use a trauma informed approach alongside psychoeducation to help young people understand, process and make positive steps forward in their life.

Main responsibilities:
Service Delivery & Development

•To process referrals and carry out comprehensive CYP assessments and risk assessments and then formulating bespoke care plans to ensure service user receive timely flexible support.

•To consult with teachers and parents to assess needs and suitability for therapeutic interventions.

•Management of own caseload of up to 6 service users, this could be centre based, in school, outreach locations or via online/telephone.

•To support the CYP counselling co-ordinator in the management of the Children and Young People counselling waiting list.

•Contribute to the provision of an ongoing, rolling programme of training for counsellors and support the CYP counselling co-ordinator in the development of counselling volunteers’ knowledge, skills, and competence by helping to organise and deliver on-going training to help motivate and maximise the effectiveness of the team.

•To be involved in the development of relevant policies and procedures for the service and to abide by them

•To ensure there are suitable and welcoming spaces for the counselling services to be delivered from.

•To support with the review of Children and Young People Counselling sessional worker’s expenses and invoices to approve for payment.

•Implementing and monitoring systems to ensure that the Children and Young People counselling service is meeting the requirements of its funders including completion of monitoring requirements within given timescales.

•Be responsible for recording, monitoring and reporting on clinical work and communicating complex clinical information to the CYP Counselling co-ordinator.

•To ensure effective management of service user appointments and that these are communicated to the service user and/or the school as required, including any absences or delays.
Reg CIO: 1175021

•To ensure effective management of risk, escalating any risk or safeguarding concerns to the CYP Counselling co-ordinator and Safeguarding Lead and/or school safeguarding team as required

•To ensure regular completion and accurate recording of outcome tools such as YP-Core and Before and After Questionnaires.

•To identify, support and complete Service User referrals to external services where appropriate.

·To develop, foster and maintain excellent relationships with all relevant organisations, including attending professional meetings, CIN an CP network meetings to promote the understanding of the trauma impacts and representing the voice and needs of the CYP.

•To adhere to the BACP ethical framework

•To undertake other tasks within the spirit of the job as deemed appropriate by SAASSBMK

•To collect maintain, analyse and report quantitative and qualitative data and ensure prescribed outcomes and delivery

•To take immediate safeguarding action where necessary and act as a Designated Safeguarding Officer for the organisation.

•Ensure service user records including the database and documentation are up-to-date, accurate, and kept confidential in line with SAASSBMK’s policies and procedures and GDPR requirements.

•To work within relevant ethical frameworks including the BACP, SCOPED framework and the National Service Standards of Rape Crisis England and Wales, The Survivors Trust and the Male Survivors Partnership.

•To model and promote SAASSBMK’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

•To engage local communities through effective communication, transparency, and collaboration to promote recovery in all aspects of the service.

•To work with other agencies to ensure the child’s voice is heard

General Responsibilities

•Monitor, maintain, plan, and prioritise own workload.

•Attend regular line management, clinical supervision, training and team meetings and events as required.

•Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.

•Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.

•Actively support and promote inclusion, diversity, and equality of opportunity in the workplace.

•Treat confidentially any personal, private, or sensitive information about service delivery, individual organisations, service users and staff, in line with SAASSBMK’s policies.

•Carry out occasional evening and/or weekend work as required

•Carry out duties as may arise, develop, or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position to contribute to the smooth functioning of the organisation.

Person Specification
Essential

Knowledge
Minimum of Level 4 Diploma in Counselling and specifically trained to work with CYP

BACP Membership or other equivalent body

An excellent understanding of the needs of young people and families with children affected by sexual violence and domestic abuse

Knowledge of adult and children safeguarding protection, procedures and legislation, and experience of managing safeguarding issues

A good understanding of data protection and confidential working practices and how these apply to this role

Experience
Experience of working with parents, children and young people facing multiple and complex challenges in a professional or voluntary capacity, including risk assessment and supporting people in emotional distress

Experience of maintaining clear boundaries

Skills
Excellent prioritisation, planning and managing own workload

Good organisational skills, including collating and processing information for statistical purposes

Excellent team working skills and ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, partners and other agencies

Good verbal and written communication and listening skills

Full and clean driving licence and ability to travel across Buckinghamshire

Personal Qualitites
Kind, compassionate and non-judgemental

Committed to working within the ethos of SAASSBMK’s core values, including the commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

A positive and creative approach to tackling tasks and problems

Commitment to professional development and willingness to undertake training required for the role.

Desirable

Experience
Development and implementation of new policies or processes and demonstrating the impact of such initiatives

Experience of managing volunteers

Skills
Strong IT skills, including the ability to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and databases

Ability to develop and deliver training