Volunteer Counsellor
Terrence Higgins Trust – Volunteer Role Description
ROLE TITLE: Volunteer Counsellor
LOCATION: Brighton (61 Ship Street, BN1 1AE) and online
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Luz Villarrubia, Senior Counsellor
PURPOSE
At Terrence Higgins Trust we know that equity, diversity and inclusion is critical to the work we do.
Terrence Higgins Trust is committed to achieving a great volunteering experience for all our volunteers. 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 to create an environment of inclusion and belonging within our organisation. Our work has to be internal first so it can impact on all that we do for all the communities who use our services.
Introduction to Role
The counselling team is looking for a qualified counsellor to provide short term counselling support to people living with or affected by HIV in Brighton & Hove.
This is a clinically rich role. Our service works with clients presenting with significant complexity, and volunteers are fully integrated into a skilled, reflective team, receiving regular external clinical group supervision and individual supervision free of charge.
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.
The type of tasks and activities you could be involved with
- Assessing clients’ suitability for counselling (when applicable)
- Providing short term counselling sessions (up to 12 sessions per person)
- Maintaining clients’ files and ensuring collection of appropriate information from clients
- Attending counselling supervision (individual and group) as agreed
- Working collaboratively with the senior counsellor, volunteer counsellors and other Terrence Higgins Trust staff and volunteers as appropriate
Hours of Work
- A minimum of three clients a week at agreed times
- Face to face sessions are delivered during working hours at Ship Street; video sessions (Zoom or equivalent) run at several times throughout the week, including some evening appointments
- Because we offer clients up to 12 sessions, we ask volunteers to commit to a minimum of 12 months so that clients experience consistency and planned endings
- Times to be scheduled to fit in with counselling room availability if needed
Person Specification
Essential skills and experience:
- Qualified counsellor, or working towards BACP accreditation or an equivalent professional qualification
- A minimum of 120 supervised counselling hours
- Ability to work within the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions
- Ability to deliver the service in a non-judgemental and non-discriminatory manner
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Commitment to personal and professional development
- Commitment to representing Terrence Higgins Trust in a positive and constructive way
Desirable skills and experience:
- Experience of working with complex presentations
- A good understanding of issues relating to HIV and the treatment of HIV
- Relevant counselling experience within a related field
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary agency
- Experience of maintaining a varied caseload
- Experience of providing counselling online and/or over the phone
Benefits
- Regular external clinical group supervision and individual supervision, free of charge
- Role training provided, including HIV awareness, data protection and safeguarding training
- Support and supervision from an experienced senior counsellor
- References given, subject to Terrence Higgins Trust policy
- Opportunity to develop and update skills and gain new experience with a complex and rewarding client group, within an established not-for-profit organisation
Geographical Area
61 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AE, with online counselling also provided.
Training & Support
Online induction and data protection training, plus HIV awareness and safeguarding webinars, and one-to-one support.
Selection Process
Application, interview, two references and an enhanced DBS check will be required.
Is a Criminal Record Check required?: Yes
Core Activities, all volunteers will be expected to:
- Complete an individual risk assessment as needed
- Promote and adhere to Terrence Higgins Trust’s Equality and Diversity for Inclusion Policy and Volunteer Code of Conduct
- Promote and maintain health and safety regulations, practices and conditions
- Behave in a responsible way regarding the security of buildings and their contents and the charity’s resources
- Complete all necessary paperwork and provide monitoring data as required
For Further Information Contact
Luz Villarrubia
Senior Counsellor
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 ambitious 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.