04 Feb 2012
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associate counsellor programme

                                                     

CATHOLIC MARRIAGE CARE SERVICE

ACCORD Associate Counsellor Training Programme 

ACCORD Marriage Care Service is a voluntary agency of the Catholic Church, providing a nationwide professional service to couples preparing for or seeking a deeper commitment within the sacrament of marriage. ACCORD Counselling is non-directive; clients take responsibility for their own decisions and behaviour. Clients are accepted, regardless of their social, religious or ethnic background, as being of unique worth and capable of self-determination and growth. Counsellors respect the beliefs, values and standards of their clients, their dignity and inherent worth as persons, and their ultimate right to self-determination, while having due regard to the rights, interests and well being of other relevant persons.

ACCORD Marriage Care Service is seeking graduate counselors to train as Marriage/Relationship Counsellors.  If you are warm, genuine, flexible and willing to support and carry out our vision and mission you are welcome to apply.

Personal Suitability:

Successful applicants will demonstrate the following personal attributes:

  • An open and dialogic communication style
  • Maturity, self-awareness and groundedness
  • Good conflict management skills
  • Warm, flexible, open, nonjudgmental worldview
  • Desire & ability to work within ACCORD ethos and mission

Primary need in applying for the programme must not be for personal therapy or emotional support

 Academic Background:

Applications will be considered from individuals who have achieved at least Diploma level on an approved counselling training programme that included 100 hours of supervised client work and  that meets the criteria for accreditation by one of the main accrediting bodies e.g. NAPCP, IACP etc.  Applicants must also have delivered at least 100 hours of supervised counselling, post-graduation.

 

Course Content:

Training will consist of at least 7 one day workshops which will familiarize participants with the theory and practice of couple counselling as well as an introduction to ACCORD Code of Ethics and Practice, Policies and Procedures.

 

 

Clinical Placement:

Trainees who meet the required standard mid way through the training programme will commence clinical practice in their assigned Centre. Trainees will be facilitated in consolidating the theory and practice of couple counselling throughout the remainder of the programme.  

Trainees will be required to do 100 sessions of counselling in their designated Centre as part of their training and volunteer 60 sessions annually thereafter – the number of voluntary sessions is subject to change at the discretion of Central Office.  Trainees are also required to attend their ACCORD Centre monthly meetings on an ongoing basis once clinical practice has commenced.

Assessment:

Participants will be assessed on both their academic and counselling skills throughout the training programme.

Cost

 

ACCORD is a voluntary organization providing a professional service to all who need it, regardless of ability to pay.  Successful applicants have their course fees and cost of professional development paid for by ACCORD. Trainees are required to contract with ACCORD to repay part of the cost of the course by providing professional counselling on a voluntary basis. If, for any reason a trainee cannot fulfill this requirement, they will be required to repay any outstanding fees.  All other costs, including personal therapy, are met by the trainee.

The following steps are involved in Application, Selection & Training 

  • Download and forward the Associate Application Form to the address below
  • Central Office will determine if Applicant's Centre of choice is willing to sponsor an Associate trainee
  • Applications will be processed based on selection criteria. A panel will be formed from which  the highest scoring applicants will be invited to a Selection Conference
  • Following Selection Conference successful candidates will be placed on a panel from which the highest scoring candidates will be offered entry to ACCORD's Associate Counsellor Training Programme
  • The offer of a place is contingent on a satisfactory outcome to the Garda/POCVA vetting process

We are no longer accepting Application Forms for 2011.  We will be recruiting again in March 2012.