Volunteer Counsellor
Terrence Higgins Trust
Volunteer Role Description
Counsellor - Brighton
Terrence Higgins Trust is committed to achieving a good volunteering experience for all of our volunteers. We believe in equal opportunities and welcome applications to volunteer from all. We particularly welcome applications from our service users and those who have benefited from our services. Where Criminal Disclosures are required we will review all cases on an individual basis and a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to volunteering with us.
Introduction to role:
The counselling team are looking for a qualified counsellor to provide short term counselling support to people living with HIV or affected by HIV.
The type of tasks/activities you could be involved with:
- To assess clients’ suitability for counselling (when applicable)
- To provide short term counselling sessions (up to 12 sessions per person)
- To maintain clients’ files and ensure collection of appropriate information from clients
- To attend counselling supervision (individual and group) as agreed
- To work collaboratively with the senior counsellor, volunteer counsellors and with other Terrence Higgins Trust staff & volunteers as appropriate
Desirable skills/experience sought:
- Qualified counsellor (can be working towards BACP accreditation or equivalent professional qualification)
- Having provided a minimum of 120 supervised counselling hours
- Relevant counselling experience within a related field
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary agency
- A good understanding of issues relating to HIV and the treatment of HIV
- Experience of maintaining a varied caseload
- Ability to deliver service in a non-judgemental and non-discriminatory manner
- Commitment to personal and professional development
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Commitment to representing THT in a positive & constructive way.
- Experience providing counselling online and/or over the phone
- We currently deliver face to face sessions during working hours from our offices in Ship Street and zoom (or equivalent) sessions at several times throughout the week. Please feel free to contact us to discuss this as this might be changing.
Benefits:
- HIV awareness, data protection and safeguarding training provided
- Reimbursement of out of pocket expenses where possible
- Support and supervision
- References given subject to Terrence Higgins Trust policy
- Opportunity to develop and update skills and gain new experiences
- Regular external clinical group supervision and individual supervision free of charge.
Desired commitment:
- Flexible – up to three clients a week at agreed times
- We hope volunteers will stay for 6+ months to get the most out of the role
- Times to be scheduled to fit in with counselling room availability if needed
Geographical area: 61 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AE (online counselling currently being provided)
When required: As soon as available.
Training & support: Online induction and data protection training plus, HIV awareness and safeguarding webinars, one-to-one support provided
Restrictions (e.g. age, gender, sexuality, HIV status, access):
Must be over 18
Selection process: Online application, DSE assessment, reference, training, interview.
Is a Criminal Record Check required? Yes
Core activities, all volunteers will be expected to:
- Promote and adhere to Terrence Higgins Trust’s equal opportunities policy, confidentiality policy and volunteer code of conduct
- Promote and maintain health and safety regulations, practices and conditions
- Be responsible in volunteering activities with due regard to the security of the building and its contents and the charity’s resources
- Complete all necessary paperwork and provide basic monitoring data as required
- Take part in group support sessions and supervision as required for the role
- Attend meetings, conferences and undertake training as appropriate
For Further Information Contact:
Luz Villarrubia
Senior Counsellor
Terrence Higgins Trust is a registered charity (reg. no. 288527). Company reg. no. 1778149.
Registered office: 439 Caledonian Road, London, N7 9BG
Registered in England, Scotland and Wales. A company limited by guarantee.
Terrence Higgins Trust was set up in 1982 following the death of its namesake, Terry Higgins, the first named person to die of an AIDS-related illness in the UK. As an organisation we are working toward ambition goals: (1) to end the onward transmission of HIV in the UK by 2030; (2) provide support for people living with HIV; and (3) fight HIV-related stigma.
Volunteering at Terrence Higgins Trust
Today, volunteers continue to be an integral part of the work that we do across the UK. Volunteers help out in most teams within the charity and from 2022-2023 they contributed nearly 13000 hours supporting national projects.
Help us build our vision of a world where people with HIV live healthy lives free from prejudice and discrimination, and where good sexual health is a right and reality for all. Let's work together to try and become the first country in the world to end new cases of HIV by 2030.
Anyone aged over 18 can volunteer with us as long as they fulfil the role description and meet the volunteer requirements.
If you are successful in your application you will need to complete your volunteer training which includes an online volunteer induction, a data protection course and a safeguarding course as well as role specific training within your team. You must aim to complete your training before you can begin volunteering with us.
If you are unsuccessful in your application you can discuss other volunteering opportunities with the Volunteer Office.
Some volunteer roles may have rolling recruitment. If we receive sufficient applications we reserve the right to close recruitment early. We therefore advise you to apply for any roles you are interested in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Safeguarding
At Terrence Higgins Trust we are committed to the safeguarding and protection of the vulnerable adults and young people with whom we work and we will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with these groups are recruited to work for us. Certain posts are therefore subject to a range of vetting checks including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in England and Wales or Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check in Scotland.
Having a criminal conviction and/or any other information divulged on the DBS/PVG check would not necessarily prevent you from working for the charity, but any recruitment decision will be dependent on the nature of the position sought and the circumstances and background of the offence(s).
EDI Directorate
At Terrence Higgins Trust we know that equity, diversity and inclusion are critical to the work we do. We are striving to be an anti-racist, anti-sexist organisation and are committed to having a workforce with people from different backgrounds. It is the responsibility of each one of us in the Charity to create an environment of inclusion and belonging within the organisation. Our work has to be internal first so that it can impact on all that we do for all the communities who use our services.