Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO)

FarsiCounsellor

Job Description

Job Title: Counsellor

Salary: £27,325 per year (pro rata)

Hours of Work: 2days a week (14 hours per week)

Duration of Contract: 6 months (Maternity cover)

Responsible To: Advice Coordinator

Job Summary
The post-holder will help Farsi speaking women who are mainly suffer different forms of violence and life threat; to help them to explore their feelings about their lives so that they can reflect about what is happening to them and consider alternative ways of doing things. Working in a confidential setting, counsellors listen attentively to their clients and offer them the time, empathy and respect they need to express their own feelings, to help them overcome their problems and to make appropriate changes to their life.
Counsellor should hold BACP/UKCP or equivalent to provide service to IKWRO’s clients.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
  • establishing a relationship of trust and respect with clients;
  • agreeing a counselling contract to determine what will be covered in sessions (including confidentiality issues);
  • encouraging clients to talk about issues they feel they cannot normally share with others;
  • To contribute to the clinical supervision of Associate Counsellors (trainees).
  • accepting without bias the issues raised by clients;
  • helping clients towards a deeper understanding of their concerns;
  • challenging any inconsistencies in what clients say or do;
  • helping clients to make decisions and choices regarding possible ways forward;
  • referring clients to other sources of help, as appropriate;
  • attending supervision and training courses;
  • liaising, as necessary, with other agencies and individuals to help make changes based on the issues raised by clients;
  • Liaising with IKWRO’s staff, counselors and advisors;
  • working to agreed targets in relation to client contact;
  • undertaking group as well as individual therapy on occasions;
  • Keeping records and writing reports.

Other duties
  • Being involved in the production of IKWRO, such as annual report;
  • Representing IKWRO at meetings, seminars and conferences as directed;
  • Attending all approved training courses;
  • Undertaking evening and weekend work as required;
  • Undertaking all duties in line with IKWRO’s equal opportunities and confidentiality policy;
  • Being responsible for the safety of the building and undertake all duties in line with Health and Safety;
  • Attending staff meetings and when directed management committee meetings;
Undertake any other duties as may be required;

Person Specification

It is not sufficient to state that you possess the competence: evidence is required

Essential / Desirable
Attributes
1 / Must be a woman, fluent in Farsi language (Section 7.2 9e SDA 1975 applies). / 
2 / Resourceful, innovative and creative / 
3 / Be willing to travel if required / 
4 / Must hold BACP/UKCP or equivalent / 
Experience
1 / Experience in face to face counselling ( at least 200hrs) / 
2 / Experience in online or telephone counselling / 
3 / Experience of liaising with statutory/voluntary organizations / 
Knowledge
1 / An excellent grasp of the issues facing Farsi speaking refugee and migrant women living in the UK / 
2 / A mature understanding of gender issues within the context of Middle Eastern communities,especially Farsi speaking women, and commitment to IKWRO’s ethos and values as regards protecting the rights of Middle Eastern women / 
3 / Knowledge of different form of violence facing women and girls including Forced Marriage, Domestic Violence, Honour based violence, and FGM / 
4 / A working knowledge of issues effecting BAMER organizations / 
Skills and Abilities
1 / Excellent communication skills both in English and Farsi, both spoken and written / 
2 / Ability to speak any other Middle Eastern Language / 
3 / Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team / 
4 / Ability to liaise and negotiate at variety of levels / 
5 / Good organizational and time management skills / 
6 / Ability to develop training curriculum, training materials and manuals / 
Essential / Desirable
7 / Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure / 
8 / Ability to utilize computer and software applications or equipment, including databases / 
9 / Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team / 
10 / Ability to inspire and motivate both staff and service users / 
11 / Ability to keep/maintain accurate data records / 
12 / Ability to represent IKWRO at meetings, forums and other arenas where decision making takes place / 
13 / Ability to implement IKWRO’s Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality, Health & Safety and other IKWRO policies / 

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IKWRO/April 2013