Counsellor / Psychotherapist

Name of Employer: Donegal Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre

Address: 2A Grand Central, Canal Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal F92PN40

Job Title: Counsellor/Psychotherapist

Reporting to: Manager / Clinical Lead

Hours of Work: 20 per week

Salary Range: between 26,915.20 to 28,256.80 p.a. for a 20-hour work week dependent on qualifications and experience.

Work Location: In person

The Donegal Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre offer FREE one to one counselling, support, advice and advocacy to those aged 12+ who have been affected by recent & historic sexual violence in a confidential, safe and friendly environment. We provide support and assistance to clients through SATU, Garda & Court Accompaniments, information about legal processes, providing info and support for victim impact statements and liaising with garda / PSNI. We also provide educational and information workshops / trainings on trauma, disclosure and consent to other service providers, community organisations and the wider public.

Overall Purpose of the Job:

• To provide face to face counselling, support and a crisis response telephone service to clients contacting the DSA&RCC.
• To work as part of the team of staff, volunteers and management of DSA&RCC in the provision of a professional high-quality service.

Areas of Work:

• Providing outreach services as required
• Face to face counselling and support to clients
• Telephone support and crisis response to clients
• Attendance at supervision as necessary depending on number of hours worked
• Networking and building relationships with similar focused projects
• Maintaining and collating statistics
• Share in the responsibility of maintaining a support team which integrates paid, voluntary and trainee counsellors and other support workers
• Attendance at meetings relevant to the position of counsellor and an employee of the DSARCC.
• Attendance at management meetings in accordance with the guidelines of the organisation
• Maintaining client records in accordance with the code of practice of DSA&RCC and RCNI guidelines.
• Liaising where appropriate with other relevant professionals, at all times guaranteeing the clients confidentiality
• Provide a service that is guided by the code of ethics and practices according to the National Network of Rape Crisis Ireland
• As an employee of the DSA&RCC share in the responsibility of co-creating a centre of support and healing.

Management Structure:

• The employment contract for the post of counsellor will be with the Donegal Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre Ltd.
• Clinical supervision will be funded by the organisation and provided by an accredited Supervisor.
• Support and supervision will be provided by the Management of DSA&RCC for non-client and client support work.

Personnel specification:

Qualifications:

• The Counsellor must hold a relevant professional qualification, e.g., in Counselling or Psychotherapy. (Minimum Diploma level)
• 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 survivors of sexual violence, rape and Adolescent abuse or Domestic Abuse.
• Experienced in providing individual counselling appointments to adolescents and young people.
• Must be knowledgeable of the principles of sound therapeutic practices with survivors of sexual violence.
• 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 his/her own initiative.

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Onsite free parking
• Regular access to a variety of training opportunities
• Annual leave

Application question(s):

• Are you 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?

It is a mandatory requirement that all applicants have legal permission to work in the Republic of Ireland. It is the applicants' responsibility to evidence their legal permission to undertake paid employment in the Republic of Ireland as this is a condition of employment.

The applicant should also have a full valid driver’s license from the Republic of Ireland or the UK

Please note, the Organisation may close this post prior to the expiry of the deadline if a sufficient number of applications are received. If you are interested in applying for this position, it is recommended that you submit your CV at your earliest convenience to info@donegalrapecrisis.ie.

Closing Date for applications is EoD on 31st of August 2024