CENTRE 70 COUNSELLING SERVICE
Volunteer / Trainee Counsellor Application Form

Section 1 – Personal Details

First Name:
Surname:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone/Day: / Evening:
Email: / Mobile:
Date of Birth: / Male/Female:
Current Job Title:
Languages you can work in:
Courses applied for/attending:
If selected for placement, when would you be able to start?
Are you able to commit to a minimum of 2 years at
CENTRE 70 COUNSELLING SERVICE?

Membership of Professional Bodies

BACP/UKRC/UKCP/BPS etc.

Membership status:

Section 2 – Qualifications (please include current training)

College/University etc.

/

Dates Attended

/ Qualifications

Other Relevant Courses

If applicable:

The number of clients seen/face-to-face hours of counselling provided to date _____/_____

Are you currently on any other placements?  Yes No

If yes, where and how long for?

______

If you have finished your placement, please state when and reason for ending

______

Section 3 – Employment History

Please provide details of previous work experience over the last ten years, starting with your current employer. This can include any unpaid or voluntary work you may have undertaken. Please explain any gaps in your employment history. (Use additional sheets if necessary)

Name & Address of Employer
(BLOCK CAPITALS) / Position Held/Main Duties / From (Year & month) / To
(Year & month) / Reasons for leaving
(if applicable)

Section 4 – Relevant Experience

Give an example of how you have ensured that social and cultural issues are addressed in some of the work you have been undertaking.
Describe a recent ethical dilemma that you have encountered and how you dealt with the situation.
Current Course Requirements
Please provide details of any specific requirements from your training establishment i.e. supervision
Experience of personal therapy? (please give details, how long, personal perspective)

Section 5 -Additional Information / Personal Statement

Using the Person Specification as a guide, giving examples where possible, please describe, in no more than 800 words, why you are interested in being a Volunteer / Trainee Counsellor at Centre 70 Counselling Service. Include the knowledge, skills and experience you believe you possess that will support your application and what you feel you will bring to this position.

Section 6 – Disclosure

Disclosure of any information does NOT automatically exclude you from obtaining a placement at Centre 70 Counselling Service. However, failure to disclose any such information may result in the refusal or the termination of a placement.

Have you ever or are you currently the subject of any criminal, civil investigatory or disciplinary proceedings or enquiries?

Yes (please declare on an attached statement)

No

Have you ever or are currently been refused/expelled from membership of any professional body/register or training course?

Yes (please declare on an attached statement)

No

Section 7 – References

Please provide details of two referees you are happy for us to approach; one of whom should be your present / previous college tutor.

FIRST REFERENCE / SECOND REFERENCE
Name: / Name:
Address: / Address:
Job Title: / Job Title:
Tel No: / Tel No:
E-mail address: / E-mail address:

Section 8 - Availability

 / Tuesday: / morning / afternoon / evening / anytime
 / Wednesday: / morning / afternoon / evening / anytime
 / Thursday: / morning / afternoon / evening / anytime

Please indicate times (e.g. Monday morning 10 – 12 or Tuesday evening 6 – 9 )

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE APPLY FOR DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE (DBS) CHECK ON ALL VOLUNTEERS

Please return this application together with your monitoring form via email to:

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 I give my consent for the information contained in this form including any defined as “sensitive personal data” to be processed in accordance with the policies of Centre 70 for the purposes of recruitment and employment. I understand that if I am appointed, this application form will form part of my personal file and that if I am not appointed it will be destroyed after a reasonable period.

I confirm that the information I have supplied above is, to the best of my knowledge, true and accurate. I understand that deliberate misrepresentation or omission of factual information may lead to dismissal/legal action.

I understand that the information I have given on this form is accurate and may form part of my contract. If this information is found to be false my placement may be terminated.

Signed:
Date:
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORINGPlease tick or complete the appropriate boxes.
Male Female Transgender
ETHNIC GROUP: Which of the following best describes your ethnic origin:
ASIAN OR ASIAN BRITISH: / WHITE:
Indian / British
Pakistani: / Irish:
Bangladeshi: / Any other White background
Any other Asian background: / (please specify): ...... ………….....
(please specify):......
MIXED:
BLACK OR BLACK BRITISH: / White and Black Caribbean
Caribbean: / White and Black African
African: / White and Asian
Any other Black background / Any other Mixed background
(please specify):...... / (please specify):......
CHINESE / ANY OTHER ETHNIC GROUP
WHERE DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE VACANCY:
DISABILITY:
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines a disabled person as “one who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”
Do you have any specific requirements that will help you in the recruitment/selection process requiring specific provision? YES / NO *If yes, please specify:(*delete as applicable)
CONVICTIONS:
All application forms are scrutinised with the aim of putting the interests and protection of young and vulnerable people first.
Because you will have access to vulnerable people, we will carry out Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Please confirm whether or not you have any unspent criminal convictions or spent convictions that are relevant and should be declared. If you would like further details of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, (including when convictions become spent, and those spent convictions that still need to be declared) please check
Have you ever been convicted of any offence or are there any proceedings pending against you?
YES / NO * If yes, please provide details on a separate sheet.
Are you aware of any police enquiries undertaken following allegations against you which may have a bearing on your suitability for this post?
YES / NO * If yes, please provide details on a separate sheet (*delete as applicable)

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY DECLARATION

STATEMENT OF INTENT

Centre 70 declares its intention not to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of:

(a)age;

(b)disability;

(c)race, colour, ethnic or national origins;

(d)religion or belief;

(e)gender or gender reassignment;

(f)sexual orientation;

(g)marital or civil partnership status;

(h)pregnancy or maternity;

(i)class;

(j)Caring responsibility.

In furtherance of this, Centre 70 will take positive steps to promote equality in the areas of:

  • management
  • recruitment and employment practices for paid staff
  • recruitment and use of volunteers
  • service provision
  • instruction of experts/third parties
  • opportunities for relevant training for employees and volunteers

Centre 70 and its working groups intend to actively monitor and review the implementation of this policy. Centre 70 believes these intentions are implicit in its constitution

To ensure that the Equality and Diversity Policy is implemented, Centre 70 has established the following policies:

  • This Policy Statement on Equality and Diversity will be prominently displayed in the entrance lobby, and will be signed annually by all Board of Trustee members.
  • Centre 70's Board of Trustees and its sub-committees/sub-groups will regularly and actively monitor, and will annually review, the implementation of this policy, and will receive reports on any breach or alleged breach of these provisions. When reviewing the policy we will consider the outcome of monitoring. We will take remedial action if we discover non-compliance under this policy or barriers to equal opportunities.
  • The Chair of the Board of Trustees is the responsible for the Equality and Diversity policy and its effective implementation. It is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees to support and communicate the Policy. All workers must accept their personal responsibility to comply with the policy.
  • It is the responsibility of each individual project leader to ensure that the Centre 70 Equality and Diversity Policy is also reviewed in conjunction with the client base held for each project, together with the composition of the staff and volunteers working within the project.
  • All those involved in the recruitment of new staff or of volunteers should be provided with training to ensure that they understand their responsibilities under the policy of Centre 70 and the relevant legal requirements. (See also section B).

Centre 70 will take appropriate disciplinary action towards any worker who fails to follow the Equality and Diversity Policy. Disciplinary offences include deliberate acts of discrimination or harassment.

Volunteer / Trainee Counsellor – Person Specification

Essential

  • To be able to manage casework/work to specific guidelines.
  • To have an understanding of the importance of supervision and showing the willingness to learn.
  • An ability to reflect on clinical practise and respond to and work on feedback.
  • To be able to work as part of a team.
  • To have an understanding of counselling work and the importance of boundaries.
  • To have an awareness of and commitment to adhere to the BACP’s Ethical Framework.
  • Be able to and understand the importance of completing paperwork, data input as required by the Centre in a timely and organised fashion.
  • Show an understanding of the impact of difference and diversity in therapeutic relationships.
  • To have experience of personal therapy.
  • Show awareness of a wide range of presenting issues

Desirable

  • To have experience of working with people from a variety of backgrounds.
  • To have an understanding of different therapeutic models.
  • To be able to integrate theoretical knowledge with practice.

Volunteer / Trainee Counsellor – Job Description

In order for the counselling service to run as efficiently as possible, and for ethical standards to be maintained, Centre 70 Counselling Service requires a firm commitment from counsellors to fulfil these requirements:
Prior Training/Qualifications/Experience
Trainee counsellors, if not qualified, must have completed an initial phase of counselling training (theory and practice) of at least 1 year and be engaged in further training. This will need to be evidenced.
Placement requirements
Trainee counsellors are required to:

  • Be a member of a professional body such as BACP orUKCP
  • Commit themselves for a minimum of 2 years
  • See a minimum of 3 clients per week over 40 weeks a year. Clients will be allocated by the Counselling Service Manager.
  • Be able to and understand the importance of completing paperwork as required by the Centre in a timely and organised fashion.
  • Re-apply to the Centre if they wish to continue working at the Centre after the initial 2 years.
  • Be in personal therapy with a recognised qualification with a therapist for the duration of their placement

Probationary Period/Contract
Trainee counsellors are expected to:

  • Attend 2 Induction sessions at CENTRE 70 before starting counselling work.
  • Complete a probationary period of 6 months.
  • Sign a contract between themselves and CENTRE 70

What Trainee Counsellors can expect from CENTRE 70

Trainee Counsellors can expect CENTRE 70 to provide:

  • Access to and support from the Counselling Service Manager and Administrator.
  • Fortnightly clinical group supervision – at a cost of £10.00 per session
  • We expect at least 85% attendance for supervision
  • An annual training programme / continuing professional development. We expect an attendance of at least 75% as the training provided can add significantly to the trainee counsellor's personal awareness and professional development.
  • Regular reviews and evaluation of their work.
  • An environment working towards non-discriminatory ways of working, where difference is respected.
  • An environment where different counselling approaches are encouraged in a spirit of learning from one another.
  • A professional and welcoming environment in which to work.
  • A reference, if required, on leaving CENTRE 70 providing the following information: time worked at CENTRE 70, number of clients seen, hours of counselling work completed, reliability, punctuality, adherence to the Centre's policies, ability to work as part of a team, etc.