Young Person Counsellor & Engagement worker

Full job description

Are you passionate and enthusiastic about empowering young people and helping them overcome barriers to success? Shropshire Youth Support Trust (SYST) is looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Youth Engagement Officer to join our team. With an annual salary of up to £28,000 pro rata, this position is 28 hours per week, and offering benefits such as 22 days Annual Leave (pro rata'd), pension scheme, staff discounts, health cash plan, a supportive culture that welcomes everyone, coupled with a range of benefits and learning & development opportunities.

About SYST: SYST, a registered charity since 2015, operates from The SYST Enterprise Centre in Telford. Our mission is to empower young people, particularly those facing multiple challenges such as mental health issues, NEET status, offending behaviours, and social exclusion. We run enterprise centres and hubs, delivering workshops, mentoring, and coaching to create opportunities for personal and financial independence.

Purpose of the Role:

To provide counselling, mental health support and encourage positive future outcomes to young people aged 16 – 25, . The project will be delivered from SYST’s Youth Hub in Telford and across the county of Shropshire. Through our bespoke support, we will offer Young People space to grow resilience and build their own Mental Health Toolkit to navigate the world. An exciting new project this role includes the involvement to shape the project according to the funding requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

The project will deliver a range of intensive, holistic, engaging, and wrap-around interventions, designed to empower and actualise potential. Support and activities will be delivered via a range of proven methods, e.g., 1:1 Coaching, Face to Face, Remotely, Video/ Digital, and a range of Workshops, to deliver a range of person-centred support including CBT, Counselling, Confidence Coaching, and MH Mentoring

Accountability

Reports to the Team Leader, Operations Manager and CEO.

Key Tasks

The role of the Young Persons Counsellor & Engagement worker is to provide a high standard of clinical counselling provision to children and young people aged 16 -25 years old.

Main Tasks:

• To collaborate effectively with young people, families/carers and with other professionals whilst working at the Relate centre and in a school context.


• To assess and engage young people and families/carers where there is a concern regarding common mental health difficulties.


• To deliver effective counselling with young people and parents/carers.


• Undertake initial assessments with young people and their parents/carers.


• To provide effective outcomes, and pathways for young people, measured within the project brief.


• Ensure the safeguarding of young people is a priority within the service and report any critical concerns to the Team Leader and DSL.


• To contribute to service development.


• To undertake clinical supervision.


• Maintain confidential records and work within the GDPR and BACP Code of Ethics.


• Work with the Safeguarding policies, procedures of SYST.


• Maintain and develop own professional practice and completion of mandatory safeguarding training.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Applicants must demonstrate that they currently use the skills outlined below or have used them previously in their employment, education, training, volunteering etc.

ESSENTIAL:

• Recognised counselling qualification to a minimum of diploma level 4 (preferably in children and young people’s counselling, additional specialist training may be available for the right person).


• Minimum of 2 years (FTE) experience of working with children and young people (preferably within the context of support, teaching, youth work, childcare).


• Minimum of 200 hours of supervised counselling (preferably at least 50 hours with children and young people).


• Experience of managing a caseload of clients accessing short- term and medium-term counselling sessions.


• Experience of undertaking clinical assessments actioning needs/risks and safeguarding matters appropriately and in a timely manner.


• Experience of working with a range of complex practice issues.


• Awareness & experience of working to safeguarding protocols.


• Successful partnership working and representing your organisation.


• Excellent organisational and management skills.


• Ability to work effectively within an organisational setting.


• Excellent communication skills - written and oral.


• Ability to work using initiative and decision-making qualities.


• Agrees with the aims of Relate and committed to anti-discriminatory practice.


• Good knowledge of ethical, legal and professional issues in working with children and young people.


• Committed to Equal Opportunities and anti-discrimination practice in employment and service delivery.


• Full driving license, willing to travel and access to a car.


• Work within and adherence to BACP Ethical Framework (or other recognised membership body).


• Willing to undertake mandatory safeguarding training.

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.