Volunteering

AMH New Life Counselling values highly the contribution made to the organisation by volunteers.

Volunteer Counsellors

The dedication of volunteer counsellors provides a high level of support within AMH New Life Counselling in managing referrals and providing specialist therapeutic interventions to a range of clients.

Who do we work with?

AMH NLC is a service committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing needs of its clients through the provision of counselling and therapeutic services. AMH NLC offers one-to-one counselling services for children, young people, adults and families.

As a volunteer we will offer you induction and training covering our policies and procedures. We will also review your experience and competency level in partnership with you in order to link you with appropriate referrals to our service.  There is a range of accessible locations to begin seeing clients, including premises East, North and West Belfast. Online and telephone counselling options are also available with the support of your manager and your clinical supervisor.

What do we offer to volunteers?

We aim to provide a safe working environment for volunteer counsellors to develop their skills and experience whilst being supported by peers and line management in this work.

• Induction and Training programme
• Line management meetings and paid monthly supervision
• Monthly group meetings, which have a strong support element and opportunities to identify challenges and needs, as well as celebrating successes and learning
• CPD Opportunities

Requirements

This voluntary role gives the opportunity for newly qualified counsellors and trainees in the last year of their training, with limited experience, to develop their skills and gain experience.

Any counsellor hoping to volunteer with AMH NLC should be in the last year of their Diploma course or equivalent and have at least 25 hours of face to face work.

Time Commitment

• 2-3 hours a week to meet with clients
• 1.5 hours’ external supervision per month
• Regular line management meetings with the Volunteer Coordinator
• Regular group support meetings (2 hours per month)
• Mandatory Training Events
• Time to complete case recording, consult and avail of management support, particularly regarding
• cases presenting with risk and child protection issues.
• We realise the time commitment is substantial and will take individual volunteer’s circumstances into consideration.
• You are very welcome to attend staff away days, planning events, socials and team meetings; this is not mandatory but can provide a great learning opportunity for volunteers and organisation alike.

Sounds good – what do I do now?

AMH NLC apply best practice to our recruitment and selection processes when recruiting all staff and volunteers and so we advertise on our website when running a recruitment campaign for volunteers.

Individuals who respond to these advertisements will then be sent an application form to complete and return. Our annual intake of volunteers usually takes place in the spring time (April / May) with a view to people beginning placement in the Autumn.

If selected, you will be invited to a one-to-one meeting which will assess your suitability.

AMH NLC also schedule volunteer information meetings at regular intervals which are a good opportunity for you to find out more about our work and how you can get involved with the organisation.

Volunteer Fundraisers

As the counselling arm of Action Mental Health, AMH New Life Counselling relies upon fundraising activities to enable us to continue to provide high quality services to those who need them. We are currently developing our team of volunteer fundraisers who will meet regularly to develop, organise and run fundraising events. Volunteers can commit time as they are able to – it may involve helping to run a one-off event or it could be a longer term commitment. You can express an interest in getting involved in this work and you can receive further information on this role by emailing [email protected].