YOUTH COUNSELLOR

The Youth Counsellor will work closely with the Youth Mentor Training Co-ordinator, to include Lighthouse's Endeavour Project work, and will act as one of the first points of contact for children and young people aged 12-21, as referred into Lighthouse.  They will undertake assessments and provide short-term counselling and other interventions to this client base.  

Applicants are required to: 

• Hold a Professional qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy (minimum Advanced Diploma or equivalent), with 200 hours post-practice experience.
• Hold accreditation with the BACP or IACP or can demonstrate that they are in the process of seeking the same
• Have training and experience of working with children and young people (aged 12-21).
• Experience and ability to assess, manage and work therapeutically with crisis, risk and complex presentations.
• Able to deliver a wide range of interventions, from very brief (1-3 sessions) to medium term.
• Knowledge of safeguarding requirements and policies, in accordance with current NI legislation
• Experience of liaising effectively with voluntary and statutory bodies.
• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with children and young people (both face to face and in writing).
• Have experience of delivering or co-facilitating group work programs for young people aged 12-21).
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with significant experience of building, managing and sustaining relationships with a wide range of people from multi-disciplinary backgrounds.
• Be self-motivated with ability to be a flexible and cooperative member of the team.
• Have the ability to assess and balance risks associated with delivering activities for children and young people.
• Have good organisational skills with an ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines and work effectively under pressure.

Only those who clearly demonstrate on application that they can meet the essential criteria will be interviewed and, in the case of a high volume of applicants, we reserve the right to also use desirable criteria, for the purposes of shortlisting for interview.