Job Title: Adolescent Counsellor

Location: Office Based - Main Letterkenny Base with possible outreach locations as required

Hours: 20 hrs per week

Salary: €28,256.80 p.a. pro rata

Annual Leave: 5 weeks p.a plus pro rata gift hours over Christmas and Bank Holidays dependent on agreed days worked with management. All leaves are allocated pro rata dependent on start date.

Our Organisation

Donegal Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre has been supporting and empowering survivors of sexual violence in Co. Donegal and surrounding areas since 1997. We enable survivors to take control of their recovery in a person-centred way, improving mental and physical wellbeing, and raising future aspirations. We provide independent, free and confidential services in an environment where survivors can receive trauma-informed, specialist support from our experienced and friendly team of staff and volunteers.

Job Description:

Reports to: Manager, Donegal Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre

Main Duties and Responsibilities to include:

• Engage with vulnerable, adolescents and young people in a therapeutic manner.
• Use a youth-centred approach to support the adolescent to make positive changes through one-to-one therapeutic support.
• Offer support to parents/families and/or carers to develop and maintain a supportive and empowering relationship based on mutual respect and trust.
• Carry out ongoing periodic evaluations as well as a final review at the end of the counselling program.
• Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on client’s needs, and abilities.
• Carry out review appointments with the adolescent and their parent/s or guardians.
• Facilitate Parental Support.
• Offer counselling to adults when it is required by the service.
• Maintain up-to-date records of all counselling appointments.
• If requested, to participate in staffing the telephone helpline resource, deal with callers to the Centre and provide general information as necessary to callers/visitors.
• Keep an accurate record of all counselling appointments and details on the database.
• Liaise and consult with other professionals and agencies.
• Partaking in the Centre’s development.
• Observe strict confidentiality in respect of all RCC clients and records and to keep all records (including handwritten notes) relating to RCC clients at the Centre only.
• Attend monthly clinical group supervision appointments as well as individual clinical supervision as per Centre guidelines.
• Attend one to one regular line management support and supervision with the Centre Manager/Sr. counsellors
• Attend monthly team meetings and any other meetings requested by the Centre Manager.
• Maintain full accreditation with the Irish Association of Counselling and Therapy (IACP), the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP) or an equivalent accrediting authority such as IAPTP.
• Will engage in ongoing professional development activities.
• Operate within policy, legal, ethical, and professional boundaries when working with families.
• Deliver educational programmes and/or workshops/talks to relevant groups as requested by the Centre Manager.
• Participate in fundraising and promotional activities.
• Required to conduct other activities as assigned by the Centre Manager as may be reasonably required.

Personnel specification:

Qualifications:

• A recognized qualification at minimum Level 8* or higher qualification on the NQAI framework in Counselling and/ or Psychotherapy. A recognised Level 7 in Counselling and / or Psychotherapy obtained pre-2018 along with accreditation will be accepted.
• In addition, the Counsellor must be fully accredited by the Irish Association of Counselling and Therapy (IACP), the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative
• Psychotherapy (IAHIP) or an equivalent accrediting authority.

Knowledge & Skill Requirements:

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in working with adolescent survivors of sexual
• violence, rape and Adolescent abuse or Domestic Abuse.
• Experienced in providing individual counselling appointments to adolescents and
• young people.
• Fulfil obligations as per The Children First Act 2015, in line with DSARCC’s Child Protection Policy.
• Must be knowledgeable of the principles of sound therapeutic practices with survivors of sexual violence.
• Skills for assessing highly complex cases and applying appropriate therapeutic interventions in collaboration with clients.
• Work in accordance with the Counselling Service’s Policies, Procedures and Guidelines to ensure consistent delivery of services and compliance with legislation in the following areas: Health and Safety, GDPR and Child Protection etc.
• Ability to foster good working relationships with the psychotherapy team, external agencies, and clinical network for the client
• Ability to fulfil obligations as per the Children First Act 2015
• Maintain professional and personal boundaries
• Ability to reflect on their practice in order to facilitate personal learning, professional
• development and service improvement.
• Must understand victimization and demonstrate practices sensitive to sexual violence issues in therapy.
• Extensive knowledge of the areas/issues relating to sexual violence.
• Ability to develop good relationships with clients and establish trust from the outset.
• Empathic and compassionate.
• Good communicator, verbal and written.
• Computer literate at ECDL level.
• Strong problem-solving skills required and must be a common-sense thinker who can be a quick decision maker when necessary.
• Capable of working as part of a team, but it is also important that the job holder can work on their own initiative.

To Apply:

Please send your CV to info@donegalrapecrisis.ie

Note: Garda Vetting is required (of the successful candidates) for all positions.

Donegal Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre is an equal opportunities employer, meaning we do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or physical/mental disability. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace for all. We offer additional support to those with additional requirements.

Please let us know if you require support ahead of your interview.