Volunteering

An exciting opportunity with a proactive community charity committed working to improve wellbeing and looking to recruit two trainee children counsellor placements

Background

This is a counselling placement opportunity to support the wellbeing work of a village charity Friends of Histon & Impington Community also known as HI Friends in the villages of Histon and Impington.

HI Friends at present has a Wellbeing Team which includes a part time Mental Wellbeing Worker who supports the needs of the wider community. The Mental Wellbeing Worker also provides one to one and group counselling at the local secondary school and has provided one to one and group counselling to children at the two local primary schools for the last three years.

The placement counsellor(s) will take over the counselling work in the two primary schools and will work closely with the Mental Wellbeing Worker in this role.

The role

HI Friends is keen to support the needs of local primary aged children through the use of counselling and the role is part of a developing and proactive strategy to encourage healthy wellbeing and help with early interventions.

The role(s) will be based at  both the Histon & Impington Park Primary and Brook Primary Schools. Both schools are part of the Cambridge Primary Educational Trust.

The placement counsellor will be working with children in an age range from 4 to 11 (reception to year 6). There will be opportunities for community outreach work working in partnership with local stakeholders and the HI Friends Mental Wellbeing officer.

Key role information

• Number of hours – negotiable but ideally 5 per week
• Remuneration – this is not a paid position but the cost of supervision and support materials will be covered
• Compliance – Enhanced DBS required and appropriate Public Liability insurance
• Qualification – You need to be engaged in a recognised counselling or psychotherapy qualification at minimum level 3, and membership of an appropriate  professional body required

Key responsibilities

• assessing child’s needs as requested by school’s management / dedicated school contact
• communicating with parents as required and appropriate  
• running one to one therapy sessions at a regular time and place
• making use of creative arts, like drawing, clay, sand, movement, music, and therapeutic storytelling when appropriate
• communicating with children and making therapeutic connections
• promoting positive change in the child by helping them to help themselves
• working closely with HI Friends Mental Wellbeing worker

Qualities needed

• sensitivity and understanding
• excellent verbal communication skills the ability to understand people’s reactions
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• to be flexible and open to change
• good thinking and reasoning skills

Applicant information

If you would like to talk about the role please contact Sophie Howell: sophie@hifriends.org.uk who will then contact you to arrange a convenient time to talk.

Please send a CV and covering letter indicating how you meet the key responsibilities and qualities outlined for the role.

Please email completed applications to sophie@hifriends.org.uk 

Two relevant references will be required.