Counselling Volunteers

Counselling Volunteers offer therapeutic support to young people who request counselling at Brook. The service is delivered in a way that meets the client’s needs by providing a safe and confidential setting so that clients can feel free to discuss any difficulties that they may be experiencing. 

Working with the client in a non-judgemental, genuinely empathic way, the Volunteer Counsellor should demonstrate their respect for the client’s values, personal resources and capacity for choice within their cultural context. The counsellor should work towards empowering the young person so that they can resolve their own difficulties and make their own decisions rather than advise or directly help them.

We expect Counselling Volunteers to commit to 1 day of volunteering per week for at least a year, to ensure consistency with the client, and to make sure that you and Brook get the most out of the role. You will receive all necessary training on sexual health and relationship topics, and will be supported by the Counselling Team with one-to-one line management and group peer supervision. We will reimburse out of pocket expenses, i.e. transport and lunch. You will need to complete a DBS check, the cost of which will be covered by Brook.

Why be a Counselling Volunteer?

This role could benefit you in many ways, such as:

• Providing insight into a national charity which supports hundreds of thousands of people every year
• Giving you increased sexual health knowledge
• Developing your skills and knowledge to support your CV
• Providing you with accredited training on a wide range of sexual health and wellbeing topics
• Giving you the opportunity to make positive impact to your community and meet likeminded people
• Providing experience in youth and/or sexual health counselling
• Increasing your confidence

Key responsibilities

Counselling Volunteers are expected to:

• Uphold Brook’s values
• Adhere to the volunteer agreement and code of conduct
• Complete all mandatory elements of their volunteer induction, including training
• Provide face to face counselling for young people in accordance with all of Brook’s policies and procedures to improve their wellbeing, employing a holistic approach
• Potentially commit to a regular counselling time slot on a weekly basis for the duration of the role
• Provide an initial assessment of clients and agree a contract in accordance with Brook policies and procedures
• Ensure clear boundaries with clients displaying a commitment to privacy and confidentiality within the context of Brook’s Protecting People Policy
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team, to share information and make appropriate referrals when necessary, following Brook’s safeguarding procedures
• Maintain effective and appropriate record keeping, following Brook’s policies and procedures, including monitoring reports
• Attend all counsellor meetings, peer supervision sessions and 1-2-1 line management meetings and supervisions as required
• Provide feedback on experiences, lessons learned and case studies
• Complete additional volunteer tasks which arise for your team

Person specification

We recognise our Counselling Volunteers will come from diverse backgrounds with a range of skills and experiences.

When applying, potential volunteers will need to demonstrate that they:

• Have strong communication skills (especially in relation to topics relating to sexual health)
• Live, work or study in specified location
• Are committed to volunteering within their local community
• Have experience of working with young people and awareness of issues effecting young people
• Have knowledge of relationships and sexual health or an interest in learning about RSE, including young people’s rights in relation to RSE
• Provide relevant qualifications or fitness to practice confirmation from their university/college counselling course
• Provide evidence of BACP membership and make a commitment to work in line with the BACP Ethical Framework for Counsellors and Psychotherapists
• Are committed to completing mandatory training requirements and induction plan
• Have an open minded, customer focused attitude with a passion to make a difference
• Have a ‘hands on’ approach and a ‘can do’ attitude
• Understand professional boundaries and can work in a sensitive, confidential and non-judgemental way
• Are able to use your initiative
• Have good interpersonal skills and are able to work as part of a team
• Are reliable and punctual, with good organisational skills
• Have good IT and written skills, and are able to write basic reports
• Can maintain strict confidentiality concerning all Brook matters
• Are committed to the aims, values and purposes of Brook’s work