Volunteer Counsellor inStratford-upon-avon inStratford-upon-avon PUBLISHED 5 AUG 2024

The Shakespeare Hospice is offering volunteer placement opportunities for counsellors, either qualified or working towards qualification, who have attained a minimum of 50 hours experience and can commit to a minimum of a year.

Working with pre- or post-bereaved clients, the work is challenging but also hugely rewarding and you will be well supported at all times.

Although volunteer counsellors with the hospice give freely of their time, we can offer in return training, a sense of being part of a team, lovely surroundings and a contribution towards supervision once a month.

To support our Adult Counselling service on a voluntary basis, offering counselling to clients with complex end of life and bereavement issues, in order to meet the requirements as specified by NICE Guidance, 2004. This includes working with a range of mild to moderate mental health problems and psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, stress and adjustment to life events within a palliative care, life limiting illness and bereavement setting.

About us

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS FOR A VOLUNTEER COUNSELLOR

To offer psychological support to adult patients, carers and their families aged 18 years and over, who have been deemed eligible to access a service based on the relevant operational policy.

To offer a range of contracted short and medium-term counselling relationships and interventions informed by mainstream counselling/psychotherapy theory and evidence-based counselling techniques

To contribute to and participate in volunteer counselling team activities

Duties:

To hold and manage client caseload, of a minimum of 4 clients, as negotiated with the Service Co-ordinator

To contract and regularly review with clients the frequency and evolving goals for the counselling

To work, wherever possible, towards a planned and negotiated ending with clients

To participate in reviews with clients at 5 and 8 weeks, working towards an ending at 10 weeks with post bereaved clients. To consult with the counselling Coordinator should the volunteer counsellor feel that more sessions are required.

To consult with your Service Co-ordinator if a longer-term involvement with a client is being considered

To actively risk assess any concerns about health and safety, confidentiality, safeguarding, mental capacity and share those concerns with the line management and with external professionals with statutory authority where appropriate

To maintain appropriate professional records in line with the Hospice policy and procedure and make statistical returns as required. To ensure the confidentiality and safety of all client notes, this will be kept at the hospice.

To work within the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy

To participate in regular supervision in accordance with BACP guidelines

To attend regular team meetings and C.P.D events as appropriate

To participate in regular reviews of your role with the Service Co-ordinator, which will focus on all aspects of the counsellor role including clinical competencies and developmental goals

To participate in audit, evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence initiatives as appropriate

To maintain membership of BACP or other appropriate professional body

To attend all mandatory training sessions as identified by the organization (i.e. New Volunteers Induction Course, Fire, Manual Handling, Adult Safeguarding etc.)

To comply with the Hospice no smoking policy, and familiarize yourself with relevant organizational and service policies and guidelines

To inform the Service Co-coordinator of issues in your personal and professional life which may impact on your counselling role

To inform, in a timely manner, the Service Co-ordinator of a decision to end the volunteer placement to allow for the development of a planned exit strategy with clients and colleagues so that issues of continuity of care can be considered

Professional Issues:

New Volunteers Counsellors seeking to join the Adult Service will be required to complete a detailed application form, supply two written references and participate in an hour-long individual interview with two members of the selection panel

You will be offered a service agreement when joining the organization as a Volunteers Counsellor, and will report to the Adult Counselling and Bereavement Support Service Co-ordinator and be managerially accountable to The Head of clinical services

The Adult Counselling Service asks for a minimum commitment of one year post induction training

New Volunteer Counsellors will be required to sign a Declaration of Confidentiality

Indemnity Insurance is provided by the hospice to support your role as a Volunteer Counsellor

There is an expectation of a minimum of 80% attendance at the range of professional activities offered by the hospice

The Adult Service discourages Volunteer Counsellors from accepting gifts from clients as this may impact negatively on the therapeutic relationship. Where a client wants to donate an item or monies to the hospice, these should be passed on to a manager as soon as possible

Consent to use client material for non-hospice purposes must be obtained from the Service Co-ordinator in advance

A clear criminal records check (DBS) is required before starting to see clients.