Trust House Reading provides a confidential counselling service. The Volunteer Counsellor will be responsible for providing professional and confidential counselling to clients of Trust House Reading. We work with victims/survivors of rape and sexual abuse aged 18 or above and their family members (adult service) and also adolescents (CYP service). There may be an opportunity to join either or both of these services.
As part of your counselling placement with Trust House Reading we ask you to complete a compulsory 2-hour weekly shift on our confidential helpline which will be in addition to your 1:1 client work (2-4 hours a week). Please also take into account time for helpline supervision and clinical supervision of your 1:1 clients. Volunteer Counsellors who are still training must commit to their helpline shifts for the duration of their counselling placement. Once qualified, we do not ask our Volunteer Counsellors to also volunteer on the helpline.
The helpline is crucial to all of our services and your role would include supporting victims/survivors of rape and sexual abuse by:
- providing a safe space to talk and share their feelings and needs;
- providing information and signposting to other relevant organisations/services;
- and by referring the clients to Trust House Reading’s different services.
No previous helpline experience is necessary. Full training, on-going support and regular supervision will be provided.
KEY TASKS (helpline):
- To maintain confidentiality at all times.
- To arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your shift and carry out office duties before opening the line. These duties include filling in the time sheet, opening the filing drawers, reading the log book, listening and dealing with any helpline telephone messages.
- Take calls on the telephone helpline during the 2-hour shift.
- Fill in detailed call logs for every telephone call.
- Attend a mandatory supervision session every month.
KEY TASKS (counselling):
- To develop and promote a positive relationship with the service user with whom the volunteer is matched.
- Have good listening and communication skills.
- Be non-judgemental in approach and trained in counselling.
- To manage appropriate professional boundaries in the relationship.
- To be consistent and dependable.
- Maintain confidentiality and other policies and procedures, in accordance with THR’s guidelines.
- Work in conjunction with the Clinical Lead (adult and/or CYP) to provide a quality service.
- Maintain records for monitoring, evaluation and tracking purposes plus service evaluation.
- Participate in regular support and supervision meetings.
- Be part of any relevant staff team training days.
- To take responsibility for own professional training and development.
- To keep up to date with developments in the field of counselling.