Job Description - Head of Counselling
Reporting to: CEO
Location: Remote with some travel required
Responsible for: Counsellors, including Students and Volunteers
About Us
We offer free mental health support and counselling to people over the age of 18 who relate to the rock and alternative music scene with which the UPRAWR brand has become synonymous. Over the years we’ve seen mental health become a prominent issue within our musical community and feel strongly that more should be done to offer help and support. We strive to provide a free and fast service that feels completely non-clinical. We want to reach everyone in our community and try to reflect the same diversity and values in our counsellors too. Our motto is 'this is the alternative community helping the alternative community'.
Our counsellors work online and also face to face in our converted recording studio therapy rooms in Birmingham.
Job Purpose
• To manage and develop the counselling service
• To be a member of the senior leadership team and provide regular insights on the service including strengths and opportunities
• To model what is expected of an UPRAWR therapist and ensure a high standard throughout the service.
• To be a key contact to clients, outside agencies and stakeholders.
Main Duties
• To oversee all operational activity and the end to end client procedures
• To ensure all new client enquiries from mailbox, therapy request form and website are logged and responded to with in 24 hours.
• To provide practical support to therapists in order to continually develop and extend their skills and to facilitate their daily work.
• To line manage paid therapists, volunteers and students
• To oversee formal monitoring of therapy sessions via feedback surveys, following up any areas of concern, areas of good practice or new notable patterns
• To oversee the completion of CORE10 assessments and any other relevant measurement tools
• To ensure CRM is being fully utilised and good levels of training and compliance across full team to ensure data quality
• To set standards for and monitor therapy record keeping ensuring that records are of high quality and fit for purpose.
• To disseminate materials, advise on practice, research and continued professional development.
• To work effectively with the Senior Leadership and therapy team, acting as a key link to support staff to integrate new policies and developments into their daily practice and effectively manage change.
• To highlight any funding or development opportunities and work with the CEO accordingly.
• To manage the full recruitment process of new therapists, including volunteers and students from interview to induction
• To oversee the full student placement process including liaising with course provider, report writing and any other administrative tasks
• To manage own time within the requirements of the services day and caseload priorities, including any administrative tasks.
• To be aware of and adhere to all policies and plans relating to the post and to develop and monitor policies as needed.
• To receive regular supervision from a designated clinical supervisor.
• To be responsible for updating professional knowledge and requesting additional training or support as needed.
• To act as safeguarding lead for the service
• To be insured and registered with the ICO
UPRAWR Mental Health Foundation operates in a demanding and often changing environment. Members of staff must be flexible, adaptable and willing to cope with changing circumstances and opportunities. This list of duties and responsibilities must therefore, be taken as a guide rather than being comprehensive.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
• Qualified Therapist Status
• Professional membership to BACP or equivalent body
• Have an understanding of, and be interested in rock and alternative music culture
Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• Evidence of excellence in therapy delivery using skills which lead to excellent results and outcomes.
• Evidence of contribution to leading the improvement of therapy delivery.
• An ability to create, sustain and develop high quality team working.
• Have a developed, extensive and deep knowledge and understanding of the needs of the of client population gained through experience and involvement in wider professional networks.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Excellent ability to observe, assess and evaluate a range of situations.
• Good interpersonal skills with proven ability to establish and maintain effective and supportive relationships with peers, colleagues, students, the wider multi-disciplinary team and external agencies.
• Ability to plan, organise and manage own workload and to demonstrate the required maturity, initiative, flexibility and professionalism to work independently and under own initiative including when under pressure.
• Experience of handling sensitive situations such as complaints or issues with fitness to practice
• Safeguarding
• Data protection and confidentiality
Desirable Criteria
• Evidence of high level CPD relating to the student/service user population.
• Sustained track record of successful performance as an outstanding therapist.
• Knowledge of current relevant legislation.
Organisational Standards
Professional Duties
• Participate in the review of the Foundations Policies, Procedures and Processes
• Participate in arrangements for the performance development review process
• Participate in arrangements for further training and professional development
• Keep up to date with changes or developments within your professional area
• Fully participate in the induction and training programme provided by the UPRAWR Mental Health Foundation
• Contribute to the professional development of other staff, including the induction of new staff, volunteers or students.
Equality and Diversity
• Promote equality of access to therapy for all groups with a positive attitude
• Employ support strategies that will empower disabled people
• Show awareness of knowledge and display non-discriminatory behaviours at all times in relation to culture, race, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexuality, and age
• Recognise the importance of inclusion by using appropriate means of communication at all times
• Be flexible, trying to meet the changing needs of both disabled people and environment.
Safeguarding
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
• Ensure you have fully read and understood the UPRAWR safeguarding policy
• Report all incidents or concerns to your line manager
• Maintain a high standard of record keeping in line with UPRAWR Mental Health Foundation policies and procedures.
Confidentiality
• Respect confidentiality.
• All personal information about people using the foundations services to which you have access should be treated as confidential. Information about the people’s needs, progress and assessment should only be shared with the team to aid support
• Take reasonable steps to ensure your IT equipment is secure