Volunteer Counsellor

The demand for professional mental health and well-being support in Scotland has never been higher. Here at CrossReach Counselling Services Scotland, we are well-positioned to meet this national challenge.

Our CrossReach Counselling volunteers work across a range of specialities and locations; face-to-face, online and over the phone. We work in supportive, holistic teams that deliver exceptional Counselling services to clients when they need it most, whilst consistently working to the highest professional and ethical standards.

We are urgently seeking professional counselling volunteers to join our Perinatal Counselling Teams across Scotland.

• Do you want to be part of an expert therapeutic team, work in a supportive environment and proactively respond to the mental well-being challenges faced by communities across Scotland?
• Do you want access to an extensive programme of in house specialist therapeutic training, including Adult Generic, Perinatal Mental Health, Substance Use, Children & Young People, Safeguarding and Workplace Counselling?
• Do you want the choice to work remotely and/or from our premises based in Moray, Inverness, Glasgow or Edinburgh?
• Do you want the opportunity to be one of the first to hear about CrossReach Counselling career opportunities?

If the answer is yes and you are qualified with a Diploma in Counselling or equivalent

• Can you contribute, at least 3 volunteer hours per week, to delivering Counselling/Therapy, Training or Supervision?
• Do you hold membership (or are you working towards membership) of a recognised professional body on a PSA accredited register e.g. HCPC, COSCA, BACP, BABCP or UKCP?

• Do you want to work online: Have you completed an ACTO approved online training course or have evidence that you meet the BACP online competencies? Can you work from home (with access to a laptop/PC, phone and a secure Wi-Fi connection)

If the answer is yes and you are a student:

• Are you working towards completing a Diploma in Counselling or equivalent?
• With your completed qualification, will you be eligible to work towards membership of a recognised professional body on a PSA accredited register e.g. HCPC, COSCA, BACP, BABCP or UKCP?
• Have you completed your fitness to practice certificate and seeking a placement?
• Do you have at least 3 volunteer hours per week you could contribute to delivering counselling?

• Do you want to work online: Do you have sign off from your training institution that you are distance counselling ready and can evidence you meet the BACP online competencies? Can you work from home (with access to a laptop/PC, phone and a secure Wi-Fi connection)

Main Duties

• To provide a professional counselling service to clients
• To operate and work within CrossReach Counselling Services policy and procedures, including Confidentiality, Data Protection, Health and Safety and Safeguarding
• To liaise effectively with your colleagues (e.g. service manager and administrative support)
• To complete mandatory training provided by CrossReach
• To constructively contribute to supervision as per Service Supervision Agreement

Qualifications

Essential:

• Qualified with a Diploma in Counselling, Therapy or equivalent (or in training and working towards achieving this).
• Membership of (or working towards membership of) a recognised professional body on a PSA accredited register e.g. HCPC, COSCA, BACP, BABCP or UKCP
• For those working remotely, to have undertaken a minimum of 80 hours CPD with an ACTO online training provider and/or completed sufficient training to demonstrate competence to meet BACP telephone and e-counselling competence. For students, distance counselling readiness sign-off from your training institution

Desirable:

• Qualified and experienced supervisors
• COSCA-Acredited trainers
• Specialist experience and training qualification in the following fields; substance use, trauma, perinatal, children and young people, couples/relationship.

Personal

• Membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme
• We seek openness and respect towards CrossReach's Christian Ethos

Skills & Abilities

Essential:

• A strong awareness of own emotions, with responsibility for and commitment to ensuring own self-care
• Ability to work from home (with access to a laptop/PC, phone and a secure Wi-Fi connection) and/or in Moray, Inverness, Glasgow or Edinburgh City Centre