Eating Disorder Counsellor

The Bridge is part of the Tx Group, a growing private therapy organisation, providing a variety of health and education therapy services in the North West of England.

The Bridge is a privately run outpatient service offering immediate specialist support to children and young adults who may be experiencing eating disorders or concerns surrounding eating behaviours. We identify/recognise that there are limited options available for families seeking access to outpatient services and existing facilities are often have large waiting lists and strict inclusion criteria. Our team provide a supportive outpatient service for those who are seeking immediate treatment and adopt a multidisciplinary team approach to help achieve effective long-term results for children and their families in overcoming food related problems.

The Bridge works with a multidisciplinary team including mental health nurses, dietitians, psychologists and medics. Our organisation functions in line with NICE guidelines and maintains a philosophy that is patient-centred and holistic. We are committed to providing the highest standard of care to everyone we treat, helping children and parents make real progress in a professional, caring, safe and supportive environment.

The role will involve working collaboratively with an MDT, assessing the needs of children and young people, planning of their care and the delivery of interventions on a 1:1 and group level to meet the holistic needs of our clients. Duties will also include provision of education and training to parents and carers, plus supervision of Assistant Psychologists and other professionals employed by The Bridge.

The Counsellor will join The Bridge on a part time basis at one of our clinics in the centre of Manchester. The role can be flexible around other existing commitments.

What does it take to be successful in this role?

To be successful in this role you would need to:

• Provide a high quality service to children, young people and their families and facilitate them in making significant progress with regards to changing eating behaviours for the better.
• Communicate effectively with clients and the MDT to coordinate supported care and build a positive reputation for the organisation.
• Be flexible in your approach and capable of working both independently and as part of a team.
• Consider the holistic needs of each child when working to achieve the child’s goals and aspirations.
• Negotiate change with patients to enable them to achieve targets, overcoming barriers to change including dietary, environmental and social factors.
• Act as a champion for The Bridge and for Psychology as a profession.
• Be proactive in engagement with supervision, CPD opportunities and assisting with the development of other colleagues through training etc.

The ideal candidate:

The successful applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Member / Eligible for membership to BACP/UKCP/NCS/BPC.
• Qualified Counsellor or equivalent counselling qualification.
• Experience of working with children with mental health/emotional problems and complex needs.
• Experience working with eating disorders in children.
• Full driving licence.
• Access to car.
• Willing to obtain enhanced DBS.
• Willing to work flexibly - evenings or weekends.

Our ideal candidate will be a passionate counsellor with experience of and a keen interest in working with children and young people with food related issues. They will be personable in nature, have a patient centred holistic approach and a professional attitude. They will be empathetic, innovative, flexible and open minded. They will have excellent communication skills and will be comfortable discussing sensitive issues with children and parents and will be cope and lead families through distressing situations. They will be assertive and able to problem solve.

The successful applicant will be confident working autonomously, will gel as part of a multidisciplinary team and understand and appreciate the benefits of MDT working. They will strive to achieve the best for every client, show commitment to evidence-based practice and capability of making clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues relating to people with eating disorders and complex / enduring mental health needs. Interventions will be supported by knowledge of relevant behaviour management techniques and legislation in relation to the client group and implications within clinical practice. They will also show awareness of the role and functions of other agencies and departments in relation to the care of people with eating disorders.

Our ideal candidate will be capable of prioritising and organising their own workload appropriately, will have strong IT skills and will be hard working. They will be able to demonstrate commitment to their own professional development.

Why us?

At Tx Group, we believe that looking after our employees and providing them with an enjoyable working environment is an important aspect to a successful organisation. If you are successful in this application process, you will be able to enjoy:

• Working for a growing, forward thinking organisation.
• Working as part of an MDT including dieticians and mental health nurses.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• Flexibility in terms of amount of annual leave you can take.
• Flexibility in terms of number of hours per week.
• Seeing the results of your hard work change lives for the better.
• Regular staff events.

Job Type: Freelance

Pay: £30.00-£40.00 per hour

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 12/05/2023
Expected start date: 01/05/2023