Job Description

Reporting Relationship The line management reporting relationship of the counsellor/therapist will be to the Senior Counsellor/Therapist or designateKey Working Relationships The NCS Counsellor/therapist provides counselling and psychotherapy to adults in line with service policy and practice. Within the service key working relationships are with administrative staff, counsellor/therapist colleagues, senior counsellor/therapists, the Director of Counselling.

The counsellor/therapist is expected to engage as appropriate with a wide range of stakeholders with whom strong professional relationships need to be forged and fostered on an ongoing basis. Key stakeholders include:

• Service users
• GPs
• Members of community mental health teams
• Statutory and community partners

  Principal Duties and Responsibilities The Counsellor/Therapist will:

  Clinical

• Provide counselling and psychotherapy in line with NCS and HSE best practice, across the quantum of services provided by the NCS including provision of counselling to adults who have experienced childhood abuse, former residents of Mother and Baby Homes, individuals effected by issues in the cervical check screening programme, clients experiencing suicidal ideation/self-harm, bereavement, the Counselling in Primary Care service (CIPC) and other services as may be developed
• Establish appropriate counselling/psychotherapy contracts with clients in line with the NCS review model of service and engage in short, medium and long term contracts as appropriate
• Work within limits of professional competence in line with principles of best practice professional conduct and clinical governance.
• Provide a counselling / psychotherapy service across the geographical work area as required.
• Conduct assessments and individual and/or group counselling/psychotherapy with clients of the service
• Provide a blended model of service delivery encompassing in person, online and structured telephone counselling as appropriate
• Maintain assigned clinical caseload
• Ensure clinical practice is fully compliant with Children First Legislation and HSE Child protection and welfare policy
• Carry out psycho-educational and mental health promotion activities as appropriate.
• Inform facilitate and refer clients as appropriate in accessing healthcare and support services
• Inform clients about legal and psycho-social implications of attending the National Counselling Service
• Engage in case management supervision to ensure best practice within NCS policies and procedures and other clinical governance processes which may evolve with service developments
• Promptly bring clinical governance issues such as risk, child protection etc. to the attention of the Director of Counselling or designate as appropriate
• Participate in clinical administration duties as required
• Work as a member of an integrated team
• Provide case management supervision if required
• Prepare reports as required
• Engage in clinical audit, quality initiatives and service research and evaluation
• Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of counselling and psychotherapy by providing professional consultation, education, guidance and support to others as appropriate
• Communicate effectively and work in co-operation with other team members and agencies to ensure integrated service provision
• Contribute to, promote and safeguard the good reputation of the service
• Attend meetings/case-conferences as required
• Participate in service related working groups/sub-groups as required
• Work in an ethical and professional manner at all times
• Promote a culture that values equality, diversity and respect in the workplace

  Administrative & Accountability

• Ensure timely and accurate record keeping in line with service requirements
• Maintain contemporaneous client records, databases and submit statistics and activity data in accordance with HSE requirements and local NCS guidelines
• Ensure practice is fully compliant with the requirements of The Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Acts and other relevant legislation
• Utilise online systems required to carry out the role of Counsellor/therapist effectively such as CORENet Client Information System, Tusla Portal and other online systems as appropriate
• Provide statistical returns and additional data as required to support the effective administration and evaluation of the service
• Maintain compliance with statutory registration requirements and/or ongoing accreditation requirements of professional bodies recognised by the HSE
• Actively participate in development and continuing improvement initiatives of the service in liaison with the Director of Counselling / relevant others
• Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring, business proposals and service planning in conjunction with the Director of Counselling/relevant others
• Ensure compliance with all relevant HSE National Financial Regulations
• Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways and integrated care arrangements.
• Assist in ensuring that the service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in Information and Communications Technology
• Keep up to date with organisational developments within the HSE
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
• To support flexibility in responding to client access need e.g. outreach to remote areas, out of hours service provision as required
• To support service developments in responding to counselling and therapy needs e.g. provision of new programmes and service initiatives.Professional Development, Support, Education & Training
• Attend and actively contribute to relevant clinical and professional meetings
• Engage in regular case-management and managerial supervision with the Senior Counsellor/Therapist or designate
• Engage in regular external clinical supervision in accordance with NCS Policy
• Engage in the HSE performance achievement process in conjunction with your Line Manager and staff as appropriate.
• Actively participate in peer supervision with Counsellor/Therapist colleagues as appropriate
• Attend mandatory training programmes
• Direct personal professional development by ensuring they maintain and develop professional skill and knowledge
• Take responsibility for being informed of advances in professional knowledge and practice
• Participate in continuous professional development initiatives
• Support and contribute to research initiatives as required and appropriate.
• Demonstrate a willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role
• Be informed of and use evidence based literature and research to support effective practice

  Risk Management, Quality, Health & Safety

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards
• Adequately identifies, assesses, manages and monitors risk within their area of responsibility.
• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

  The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description and reporting relationship may be reviewed.

  The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

  Eligibility Criteria

  Qualifications and/ or experience 1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc.

  (a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

  (1) Hold a qualification at Level 7 or higher on the QQI framework in a human science discipline (medical, psychological, social, educational) or hold a qualification at Level 7 or higher in a health and social care profession.

  PLUS 2A OR 2B

  (2) A (i) Hold a degree or post-graduate qualification in counselling, or psychotherapy recognised by one of the following, as appropriate:, the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), or one of the five sections within the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP)

  And

  (2) A (ii) Have full accredited membership with one of the following: IACP or one of the five sections within ICP. Pre-accredited hours must include a minimum of 100 hours of one to one counselling/psychotherapy with adult clients under the supervision of an IACP / ICP accredited supervisor.

  Or

  (2) B (i) Are a full member of the Clinical or Counselling Psychology Division of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).

  HealthA candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

  CharacterEach candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

•  
•  
•  
•