Southwest Counselling, supported by HSE Social Inclusion Psychology Services, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, seek applications for the following positions

A Staff Grade Psychologist - One year fixed term contract

South West Counselling are open to a secondment arrangement where appropriate.

Closing Date Friday 1st November 2024

Location of Post 

South West Counselling are seeking a staff grade psychologist to work in close partnership with Social Inclusion, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare. The office base for this post is Heron House, Blackpool, Cork. However, the candidate will be required to travel to various locations in Cork (and occasionally Kerry) as part of their clinical remit.

Reporting Relationships 

The post-holder will report operationally to Mr. Jimmy Mulligan, CEO, South West counselling and will be line managed / clinically supervised by Dr. Jennifer Hayes, Principal Psychology Manager Social Inclusion, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare or by another senior psychologist within the service. Full training and Support will be provided to the candidate.

Details of Service 

This post is hosted by South West Counselling and supported by Social Inclusion Psychology Services, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.

SouthWest Counselling Centre was established in 1994 to provide affordable counselling to the people of County Kerry and surrounding areas. SouthWest Counselling Centre offers a range of therapeutic services: one-to-one counselling for children (Play Therapy), adolescents and adults, parenting support, working in a systemic manner with parents and children.

Our offices are in Killarney and provide outreach services in, Tralee, Listowel and Valentia.

Social Inclusion Psychology services provide a range of psychological services as part of the broader HSE Social inclusion team. South West Counselling and Social Inclusion recognise that clients from marginalised communities, such as Refugees, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and International Protection Applicants (refugees and those seeking asylum) are more likely to have additional physical and mental health needs and do not always have equity of access to required supports due to the barriers that they face.

The working culture within South West Counselling and Social Inclusion, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare strives to be rooted in inclusivity, equality, social justice and compassion both within the working environment between colleagues, as well as in our service and interactions with clients. There is a theoretical and operational understanding that our clients face additional barriers to service access than the general community and as such a flexible, practical and solution focused approach to the work is to the fore with considered emphasis and advocacy on increasing access and benefit from supports and services.

Due to an increase in war and persecution globally there has been significant forced displacement of people seeking International Protection with unprecedented numbers arriving to Ireland seeking safety and protection. There is a significant need for increased psychology resources to meet the psychological needs of forced migrants living in Cork and Kerry. This includes IPA’s, BOTPs, refugees resettled as part of the resettlement project. This is a rapidly and constantly changing picture with fluctuating numbers.

The post holder will become an important part of the existing Psychological team responding to the needs of force migrants in Cork and Kerry, with specific emphasis on the needs of people in the Cork area. This is an exciting opportunity to join this response project and work with a dynamic team / organisations who are to the fore of advocacy and support for those seeking protection in Ireland. The psychology team currently consists of 1 principal manager, 1 principal specialist, 1 senior psychologists. Thre is also funding to hire a senior psychologist.

Purpose of the Post

The purpose of this post is to support, drive and deliver the psychological services currently being implemented to support forced migrants in Cork and Kerry over a 12 month period. This forms part of the broader psychosocial response that is being delivered by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare. The post holder will join existing staff in the HSE and work closely with a robust and experienced psychology team which is already fully operational and driving the response. The post holder will be based in Cork and will play a key role in the ongoing development and delivery of the psychological response in Cork and Kerry to assist International protection Applicants. The overall goal is to improve psychological outcomes for clients.

Please see full Job Description attached below.

Application Information

Please forward an up to date CV along with a cover letter to Mr. Jimmy Mulligan, CEO South West Counselling, jmulligan@southwestcounselling.ie

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 1st November 2024