Company
Alex, The Leukodystrophy Charity
Location
Home-based
Salary
£32,000.00 - £32,000.00
Salary type
Per annum (FTE)
Working hours
Part Time
Working arrangement
Home-based

The role will focus on improving the emotional health and wellbeing of the beneficiaries of Alex TLC i.e. those affected by leukodystrophy. 

Contract: Fixed term, 5 years

Hours: Part-time; flexible working pattern; 14 hours per week

Salary: £32,000 per annum FTE 

Location: The role is home based. Desk space is available at the Alex TLC Head Office, 45 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5EB if required. 

Main activities and responsibilities

The support offered by Alex TLC often involves complex caring issues and highly emotive situations such as rapid deterioration and bereavement. The Counsellor will deliver targeted counselling sessions to beneficiaries requesting counselling support, as well as accepting referrals from the Support Services Manager and other stakeholders.
 
The Counsellor will also be responsible for delivering group activities, usually online, to promote emotional wellbeing and our peer support network, as well as providing input for a variety of projects, including development of support resources and service delivery.
 
The role includes working with a new NHS Inherited White Matter Disorder Service to optimise patient access to Alex TLC’s emotional wellbeing activities. 
 
The Counsellor will work alongside the Support Services Manager, reporting monthly against set targets to the Chief Executive Officer as part of the Senior Management Team. 
 
The Counsellor should ensure they have access to regular debriefing resources.
 
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
 
  • Providing counselling face to face, over the telephone, or online
  • Working with individuals, families, or groups
  • Promotion and development of our peer support network
  • Keeping confidential and up to date records
  • Building a relationship of trust and respect with beneficiaries
  • Listening to beneficiaries' concerns, empathising with them, and helping them to see things more clearly or in a different way
  • Providing advocacy at professional meetings eg social services and appropriate referrals
  • Access to personal debriefing resources
  • Full comprehension of Alex TLC policies, systems and processes
  • Raising awareness through conference attendance and presenting opportunities.
Other features of the job
 
The role is part time, 14 hours per week, which does not include breaks. Working patterns will be agreed upon appointment, and there is an expectation that flexibility will need to be built in.
 
Any additional travel expenses necessary to the role are remunerated according to Alex TLC’s Expenses Policy and individual employment contracts.
 
Education, qualifications and training
 
  • Essential 
    • An accredited, qualified counsellor, registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy 
  • Desirable
    • A relevant qualification in grief and bereavement counselling
    • A relevant qualification related to long term health conditions
Experience
 
  • Essential
    • At least two years working experience (post qualification)
    • Knowledge of statutory service infrastructure
    • Understanding of the emotional challenges caused by neuro-degenerative conditions
    • Experience working with individuals and families in crisis
  • Desirable
    • Understanding of the work of Alex TLC, leukodystrophies, rare disease challenges and opportunities
    • Lived or work experience of leukodystrophy or a similar rare disease
    • Experience of working within an advisory service environment
Work based & behavioural competencies
 
  • Essential
    • Listening skills
    • Empathy and understanding
    • A non-judgemental attitude
    • Patience and a calm manner
    • Ability to cope with emotional situations
    • Ability to relate to and adapt communication style to suit a wide range of people
    • Ability to engage people effectively in a one-to-one or group setting
    • Ability to respond to client or manager feedback and improve services
    • An open minded and challenging approach to work
    • Excellent communication skills
    • Excellent planning and organisational skills
    • Excellent IT skills: MS Office
    • Ability to work in a team, as well as independently
  • Desirable
    • Project planning and development
    • Impact reporting.
 

How to apply

Please send a CV and covering letter outlining your motivation to apply to:

> sara@alextlc.org

Closing date for applications: 5pm, Wednesday 2 November 2022.

Interviews will be conducted via Zoom during early November 2022.

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