Overview
Our Vision: Giving hope and a future to those who experience life-affecting trauma.
Changing Lives Charity is a therapeutic community supported by local churches. Our Mission, empowered through Christian faith, is to provide an environment where every person experiencing the results of trauma such as addiction, homelessness, mental health, and offending behaviours can find healing, hope and a future through restoration and compassionate care.
We provide essential life and work skills through education, training & employment in our transformational Volunteer Plus Programme including the invaluable support of a mentor.
We work in partnership with others to provide a range of creative and individual support packages. This is achieved through a client centred approach planning to promote optimum health, foster choice, independence, self-awareness and self-confidence. All workers are directly responsible in supporting residents to achieve their goals.
We have launched an innovative and therapeutic home for men who are at risk of homelessness and those seeking change and recovery. In May 2022 we opened our 10-bedroom home in the heart of Clevedon (Andrew House), blending the requirements of accessible accommodation with an innovative community promoting sustainable change in individual’s lives.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
- To manage a small caseload of clients working specifically with their trauma
- To lead 1:1 sessions in our Christian Therapeutic Community living out our vision of giving hope and a future to those who experience life-affecting trauma, in accordance with our values
- To help complete assessments for new residents and liaise with the Community Leader to determine acceptance or not
- To work with residents regarding their understanding of recovery and supportively challenge as and when appropriate
- To adhere to all policies and procedures of Andrew House including the implementation of warnings when necessary
- To write case notes and always keep files up to date
- To play an integral role communicating with the team and updating them on any risks or concerns
- To ensure all residents adhere to their contract within the framework of Andrew House
- To play a key role in creating and maintaining a positive, nurturing, and supportive atmosphere in which residents can stabilise and flourish
Person Specification
- Qualifications - Essential: Minimum Level 5 substance misuse/Trauma qualification; Desirable: Recognised qualification in substance misuse and trauma counselling OR Diploma/Degree
- Experience - Essential: Previously worked within substance misuse field or specifically with trauma; Desirable: To have worked within a lead role in the substance misuse industry
- Other relevant experience - Essential: To have experience of lone working and working on own initiative; Desirable: To have experience of managing difficult situations affectively and professionally
- Specific knowledge - Essential: In-depth knowledge of Trauma based treatment and recovery; Desirable: A good understanding of Trauma and the impact on lives, including recovery and the risks, and a good understanding of the client group and group dynamics
- Accreditation - Essential: Membership of accredited counselling body, e.g. BACP, ACC
- General - Essential: Excellent people skills, IT literate and a good understanding of record keeping, writing notes & completing assessments; Desirable: To be able to write reports and case notes to a high professional standard in line with BACP guidelines
- If in recovery - Essential: Minimum 3yrs in recovery; Desirable: Minimum 5yrs clean and sober and to be able to demonstrate support structures for recovery
Application Information
The application deadline is Midnight on 12th August 2026
Please send a CV emailed as an attachment to: [email protected] with the following text entered exactly in the subject line: Application for Andrew House Trauma Counsellor (AH:20)
All applications should be submitted via email (if you are unable to submit your application electronically please contact us in advance to make another arrangement).
Timetable
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by 19th August 2026.
The anticipated start date is late September 2026.
Please note that we will endeavour to contact you, but if you have not heard from us within a week of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion. We are grateful for your efforts in responding to this invitation.
Pay: £36.60 per hour
Work Location: In person
