Volunteer Counsellor

Our Counselling East team are looking for dedicated volunteer counsellors (qualified or in training) to join our Sunflower Garden team.
Sunflower Garden works with Edinburgh based children and young people aged 5 to 18 and their families who are affected by drug and/or alcohol. At Sunflower Garden, children and young people benefit from having a safe and confidential space where they can start to tell their stories, process their experiences and find new ways of coping. We also offer counselling to parents and carers where this would be helpful for the family.

We understand that the support we provide needs to be specific to the needs of each child/young person and adult, so we offer a range of tailored therapeutic support such as: Counselling (including art and play therapy), 1-to-1 Therapeutic Support and Group work.

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity starting August / September 2024?
Do you have previous work experience with children and families (not necessarily in a therapeutic context)?
Have you’ve been working therapeutically with adults and would like to move into working with children?
Do you have an interest in counselling parents so that they can better support their children?
Do you want to be part of an expert therapeutic team, working in a supportive environment and proactively responding to the mental wellbeing challenges faced by children in Edinburgh?
Do you want access to in-house specialist therapeutic training?
Would you like to access free in-house clinical group supervision?
Do you want the opportunity to be one of the first to hear about CrossReach Counselling career opportunities?

Students wishing to seek a placement with us need to be on a Counselling diploma, Play or Art Therapy course and have already started their first placement with the aim of having a minimum of 50 placement hours by August 2024.
Please note that we cannot guarantee the specific age of clients that you will work with, but we will do our best to accommodate where possible.

We’d prefer that you have an understanding of, or experience of, working within substance use field as well as have knowledge of attachment and child development.

Role & requirements
- To deliver counselling/therapy and keep client notes up-to-date
- No. of clients will be discussed at interview, but we hope that volunteers would be willing to see approx. 3 clients a week
- We hope that volunteers will stay with us for one year or longer, post training and induction
- Undertake induction training and play an active part in your support meetings
- Attend external individual supervision, as per the requirements of your regulatory body
- Be a member of a recognised professional body (e.g. BACP; COSCA, HCPC)
- We seek an openness and respect towards CrossReach’s Christian Ethos
- Take part in our monthly creative group supervision sessions

What you can expect from us
- An induction to CrossReach; our Counselling services and working with our clients
- Reasonable out of pocket expenses paid upon receipt
- Invitation to regular in-house CPD opportunities
- Support from a member of the clinical team who will provide regular check-ins
- To be part of an expert therapeutic team, working in a supportive environment
- Be one of the first to hear about CrossReach Counselling career opportunities
- Monthly group supervision sessions run by qualified supervisors

Interview Dates: interviews will happen week beginning 13th & 20th May Inductions will take place in early August dates to be confirmed

CrossReach Counselling is an organisational member of COSCA and adheres to COSCA’s Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice.

As we are a Christian organisation, you must have respect for all aspects of Christian worship.

This post requires you to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme and undertake the necessary vetting checks.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert prior to the closing date. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.