Counsellor / Psychotherapist

40,000.00 ~ 45,000.00 EUR annually

Location Ellen Hall, Inchicore Dublin Ireland

This job ends on 3 April 2025

About Us: At Dublin Simon Community, we’re dedicated to making home a reality. We empower individuals to access and sustain housing through services like prevention, addiction treatment, emergency response, and targeted interventions, in collaboration with our partners.

If you share our values and want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. We’re looking for client-focused, friendly, and adaptable individuals to join our team.

We prioritise best practices in HR, including staff training, communication, and involvement in decision-making, to create a supportive and effective work environment.

Job Purpose: To provide counselling to the clients of Dublin Simon Community & external services who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Working Hours: 30 hours per week, Tuesday to Friday

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Ellen Hall Inchicore

Reporting to: Counselling Service Manager.

Requirements Specific to the Role:

Clinical

• To conduct assessment and individual and/or group counselling/therapy with adults. The Counsellor is required to maintain a clinical caseload in proportion to other duties of the role. Assist in the development & delivery of group facilitation & training programmes.
• To establish appropriate contracts in relation to clients to facilitate the counselling process
• To attend for regular external clinical supervision in accordance with professional code of ethics and organisational policy.
• To inform and facilitate clients in accessing other appropriate mental health supports
• Facilitate informal drop-in counselling clinic programme as directed by manager.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of clinical practice in line with code of conduct, ethics and to operate within the organisations policies and procedures.
• Support clients who may be presenting with suicide ideation.
• To support suicide prevention freephone on an on call basis 5.30pm-10pm Mon-Fri & 4.00pm-10pm Sat and Sunday (Phone on call duty monthly)

Organisational

• To attend meetings, conferences etc., as required by counselling manager
• To liaise with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies
• In the exercise of his/her duties the counsellor therapist will endeavour to implement the aims, objectives and policies of the organisation.
• To assist in & undertake research projects as directed by counselling manager.

Administration & Accountability

• To prepare reports as required by the counselling manager.
• To engage in in-service and other relevant training opportunities and to keep up to date with new developments in the area of counselling
• To compile monthly statistics as required
• To implement counselling software systems as per service requirements
• To utilise impact measurement instruments as per service requirements.
• Service Development and Evaluation
• To play an active role in the promotion and development of the service
• To engage in clinical audit, quality initiatives and service evaluation
• To engage in administrative duties as required for the delivery of the service
• To liaise with referral agents and relevant others to ensure appropriate referral to the service, manage communication regarding queries about referrals etc.

Person Specification

Qualifications:

• Full or part time experience providing counselling in a social or care setting.
• Experience of counselling evaluation tools & management software applications.
• Experience of developing and delivering a range of clinical & psychoeducational groups.
• Experience of conducting client assessments

Knowledge/Skills:

• Understanding of the impact of childhood abuse and trauma
• Understanding of why and how people become homeless and the needs they have in order to exit their situation out of homelessness
• Assessing clients’ suitability for counselling/psychotherapy
• Working within a range of therapeutic approaches
• Providing short and long term therapy contract
• Working effectively and confidently with challenging client processes
• Working with traumatised clients in one-to-one and group settings
• Responding appropriately to a range of mental health issues
• Operating notification procedures in relation to child protection
• Assessing risk and manage it appropriately
• Incorporating relevant legislation, agreed policy directives and professional guidance into work practice
• Operating professional and personal boundaries
• Appreciation of the importance of professional and personal support system
• Working effectively as part of a team including working independently
• Managing client records effectively and to produce counselling reports as required
• To evaluate information and make effective decisions

Experience:

• Full or part time experience providing counselling in a social or care setting.
• Experience of supporting clients experiencing suicide ideation.
• Experience of counselling evaluation tools & management software applications.
• Experience of developing and delivering a range of clinical & psychoeducational groups.
• Experience of conducting client assessments
• Commitment to health & safety

Desirable for the role:

• Masters in counselling/psychotherapy
• Over one year full accreditation with accreditation body
• Full driving licence
• Ability to speak Polish or Russian would be an advantage.
• 12 months full time providing counselling in a homeless service. Experience of providing outreach and in reach informal counselling.
• Experience of facilitating groups to clients who are vulnerable to homelessness.
• Knowledge of the CAMS approach to suicidality
• Client Centeredness:
• Promoting choice, independence, health and well being.
• Focused on outcomes

Effectiveness & Professional Practice:

• Commitment to effective Professional Practice and adherence to code of ethics
• Planning and organising
• Analysis & problem solving
• Initiative and taking responsibility

Working Together:

• Leadership
• Influencing and negotiating
• Resilience and positive outlook

Please note: If you are unsure of any of the requirements, please contact the Recruitment Team at (01) 6354860. Shortlisting will continue throughout the recruitment process.

Apply for the position

Dublin Simon Community is an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.