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CAT Therapist to lead counselling service for vulnerably housed and homeless people - Volunteering Role

Intro to this role from Janet Toye – CAT Psychotherapist about to retire:

You will find below an advertisement for a volunteering role within the homelessness sector with some professional expenses paid.  It will mainly be of interest to those who have time and space in their professional lives to work with a client group who are rarely to be found within mainstream counselling/psychotherapy services in the NHS, and who certainly cannot afford private therapy.

As one who started the service and worked in it for ten years after retirement from the NHS I recommend it as an excellent setting in which to practise CAT.  As a therapist one can concentrate on psychological issues with confidence that support on matters such as benefit problems, physical health, access to alcohol substance misuse services, custody disputes etc. can be provided by support staff either at Steppin Stone itself or at Julian Housing, the resettlement programme.

The term ‘lead counsellor’ has been used to date even if the holder of the post is a psychotherapist because the latter title might be off-putting to the potential client group.  This could be changed if a new holder of the post preferred.

This is not a way to make money! But it can provide considerable satisfaction that one is making a significant contribution for the better among lives blighted by the problem of homelessness.

Please contact me if you would like more information or to discuss the position on the phone.
janettoye@phonecoop.coop

 

Oxford Homeless Pathways and Steppin’ Stone Centre seek an experienced Cognitive Analytic Therapist (accredited practitioner or psychotherapist) to lead a small counselling service for people who are vulnerably housed or in hostel accommodation on a resettlement programme. It provides the opportunity to develop experience and skills with a client group who in general have little access to counselling and psychotherapy.

The role includes:

• Carrying a small caseload
• Maintaining communication with referring agencies
• Assessing new referrals
• Allocating referrals between self and counsellor colleague already in post.
• Maintaining communication with colleague by email, phone and occasional meetings as necessary.
• Recruiting and supporting one or more trainees who will be responsible for arranging their supervision externally.

Note:  a DBS check is a requirement for everyone working in this setting.  Application process will be conducted and paid for by Oxford Homeless Pathways.

When:
Seeing three clients and assessing new referrals is expected to require approximately 4 to 5 hours on Steppin Stone premises one day a week, day in the week by arrangement.

Setting:
Referrals to the service are made by staff from both Steppin’ Stone Centre where the service is based, and Julian Housing, part of the resettlement project run by Oxford Homeless Pathways (http://www.oxhop.org.uk)
Steppin’ Stone Centre, Magdalen Road, Oxford, is a supportive and friendly organisation providing day services to vulnerably housed adults. See (http://www.theporch.org.uk/index.html) for an account of its services and activities. It provides support to individual members who wish for it on accessing advice, information or help from other relevant services.
Julian Housing( http://www.oxhop.org.uk/services/julianhousing) provides supported housing for homeless people to help them develop the confidence and ability to live independently and manage their own home and tenancy. Its support workers help clients with such issues as financial management and benefits, and getting access to other relevant services including the counselling service based at SSC.

Expenses:
This is a volunteering role with reimbursement of supervision costs and some other professional expenses to be negotiated. 

How to apply:
Please send CV and accompanying letter specifying why you are interested in the position and what you would bring to it, to:
Lesley Dewhurst
CEO
Oxford Homeless Pathways
Luther Street
Oxford OX1 1UL

Or email to lesleydewhurst@oxhop.org.uk   

Closing date:  Monday 30th October 2015

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