Volunteer Online Counsellor

Volunteers can help us to enable our clients to overcome challenges, empower positive change and transform their lives. By contributing your time and skills, together we can help offer even more life-changing supports to the most vulnerable in our communities.

We are looking for qualified counsellors to join our specialist counselling team on a volunteer basis. This is an ideal opportunity for newly qualified counsellors looking to gain valuable experience, or for those who are building up their hours towards accreditation.

We invest in our volunteer counsellors by providing full training and regular, ongoing support and supervision from our counselling team. You will also receive expenses as per our volunteer policies to support your monthly clinical supervision with an independent supervisor of your choice. As a volunteer your insurance cover is also provided.

What you will be doing

• Providing online and telephone one-to-one counselling to people affected by epilepsy, including parents and carers
• Assessing the appropriateness of counselling for service users by providing emotional needs assessment sessions as well as using evaluation tools
• Ensuring that confidential and accurate records are kept on our CRM database
• Managing risk and safeguarding issues in accordance with appropriate legal, ethical and organisational requirements

The skills you need

• Qualified counsellor with a minimum of a Level 4 Diploma in Counselling having completed BACP accredited training or equivalent (unfortunately we are unable to offer student placements at this time)
• Integrative or person-centred approach with the ability to provide counselling in a sensitive, confidential and non-judgemental way with the ability to demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and managing risk
• A member of a registered professional body such as the BACP, IACP or COSCA
• Able to commit to monthly clinical supervision
• Have experience of offering counselling remotely (online and telephone) and able to provide online and telephone counselling via Microsoft Teams from a private location with a stable WiFi connection
• Able to work inclusively and demonstrate an understanding of equality and diversity issues

What's in it for you

• The opportunity to build practice counselling hours
• Develop your skills, knowledge and become part of our specialised team supporting people affected by epilepsy CPD opportunities and ongoing training opportunities
• Financial contribution towards your monthly clinical supervision (in line with our Volunteer Expenses Policy) with an independent supervisor of your choice
• Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance for your support of Epilepsy Action clients is provided

Disclaimer

This role requires an enhanced criminal records check and costs for this will be covered by Epilepsy Action. A copy of our criminal records check policy and our policy statement of the recruitment of ex-offenders can be found in the volunteering FAQs section of our website https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/volunteer

Link to application form:  Volunteer Online Counsellor | Epilepsy Action Volunteering

If you have any questions or would like to chat informally about this volunteer role please contact us on counselling@epilepsy.org.uk