Counsellor

Service: Health and Recovery Services

Location: Midwest

Duration: Fixed Term Contract for 12 months

Hours: 40 hours per week

Published: 31st January 2025

Application Closing Date: 21st February 2025 at midday

NOVAS is a not for profit organisation and Approved Housing Body. We work with single adults, couples and families who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. We provide a range of support services and accommodation. We have over 300 staff, and more than 30 services in Limerick, Dublin, Clare, Kerry, Cork and Tipperary including residential homeless services, social housing and community based services for tenancy sustainment, homelessness prevention, mental health and recovery.

NOVAS is excited to announce the opening of new gender specific support services, incorporating a women’s wellness centre, a recovery house and access to counselling services. These new services will complement the existing services available to women in the Midwest and seek to improve access to addiction and recovery based services as their key priority.

The day service for women will provide a single access point to support in the areas of addiction, health, gender-based violence & coercive control, legal issues, life skills, education and employment supports. The service will be a non-judgemental and will be a safe space for women, which provides access to key working, counselling, psychoeducational and prosocial groups on site as well as support to access GP, general and mental health nursing and other specialised supports as required.

The NOVAS Recovery House will offer people leaving residential treatment an opportunity to build on their Recovery Capital in a peer-led environment, free from substances and alcohol. This programme will allow clients to learn more about their experience of trauma, triggers and trauma-induced behaviours, with a focus on building life skills and preparing clients for living independently, building meaningful and safe relationships and connections in their communities. The NOVAS approach to life skills is holistic and person-centred, supporting clients to achieve their full potential. This includes building capacity around sustaining housing, maintaining positive health, education, employment and training, relationships and justice issues.

We are actively seeking to recruit two Community Addiction Workers and a Counsellor who will be part of the team responsible for setting up and operating the new service based in Limerick City but serving women across the Mid-West.

NOVAS is a Trauma Informed practice organisation and the principles of collaboration, diversity, respect and trust are embedded in our way of working together. Our services are provided through support of our partners in local government through the Local Authorities, HSE, and other donors and funders

Essential Criteria and Knowledge 

(Please see Job Description for complete Person Specification)

The appropriate candidate will have:

A qualification or post-graduate qualification at Level 8 in counselling, addiction counselling or psychotherapy recognised by one of the following, as appropriate:, the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI) or one of the five sections within the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP)
OR
A qualification at Level 7 or higher on the QQI framework in a human science discipline (medical, psychological, social, educational) or hold a qualification at Level 7 or higher in a health and social care profession.
AND
hold a qualification or post-graduate qualification in counselling, addiction counselling or psychotherapy recognised by one of the following, as appropriate: the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI) or one of the five sections within the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP).

Candidates must also have:

• Have full accredited membership with one of the following: IACP, ACI or one of the five sections within ICP. Pre-accredited hours must include a minimum of 100 hours of one-to-one counselling/addiction counselling/psychotherapy with clients under the supervision of an IACP/ACI/ ICP accredited supervisor.
  OR
  be a full member of the Clinical or Counselling Psychology Division of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
• Experience and knowledge of working in two or more of the following areas: Homeless sector, Tenancy Sustainment, Family Support, Residential Care, Mental Health, Challenging Behaviour, Substance Misuse, Community Engagement, and Disability Support.
• Understanding of the needs of vulnerable people who are homeless, with focus on the specific needs of people with complex needs.
• Knowledge of the Dual Diagnosis Model of Care Strategy.
• Full drivers licence and use of own car.

We offer a competitive benefit package including 26 days annual leave pro rata, access to further education supports and contributory pension.

If you would like to work for NOVAS, an application form and job description can be found on the careers section of our website www.novas.ie/careers-with-novas. If you require any further information or wish to submit a completed application form, please email recruitment@novas.ie