Profession sexual violence counsellor
Sexual violence counsellors provide support services, crisis care services and counselling to women and adolescents who have been directly or indirectly exposed to sexual assault and/or rape. They inform victims of the relevant legal procedures and protective services maintaining client confidentiality. They also address problematic sexualized behaviours of children.
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Personality Type
- Social / Artistic
- Social / Investigative
- Social / Enterprising
Knowledge
- Psychology
The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.
- Behavioural therapy
The characteristics and foundations of behavioural therapy, which focuses on changing patients` unwanted or negative behaviour. It involves studying the present behaviour and the means by which this can be un-learned.
- Strategies for handling cases of sexual assault
The range of strategies and approaches utilised in the identification, termination, and prevention of instances of sexual assault. This incudes understanding of the methods and procedures used to recognise instances of sexual assault, the legal implications, and possible intervention and rehabilitation activities. Sexual assault includes all kinds of practice of forcing a person into sexual acts against their will or without their consent, as well as cases when children and minors are involved in sexual activities.
- Client-centred counselling
Practice that encourages clients to concentrate on how they feel at the present moment during the counseling session in order to search for the most appropriate solutions.
- Legal requirements in the social sector
The prescribed legislative and regulatory requirements in the social sector.
- Social justice
The development and principles of human rights and social justice and the way they should be applied on a case by case basis.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
The solution-focused approach to treating mental disorders oriented towards solving problems by teaching new information-processing skills and coping mechanisms.
- Human psychological development
The human psychological development across the lifespan, theories of personality development, cultural and environmental influences, human behavior, including developmental crises, disability, exceptional behavior, and addictive behavior.
- Social sciences
The development and characteristics of sociological, anthropological, psychological, political, and social policy theories.
- Reflexion
The way to listen to individuals, to summarise the major points and clarify what they are feeling in order to help them reflect on their behaviour.
- Supervision of persons
The act of directing one individual or a group of individuals in a certain activity.
- Adolescent psychological development
Understand the developments and the development needs of children and young persons, observing the behaviour and the attachment relationships in order to detect developmental delay.
- Counselling methods
Counselling techniques used in different settings and with various groups and individuals, especially concerning methods of supervision and mediation in the counselling process.
- Psychological theories
The historical development of counselling and psychological theories, as well as the perspectives, applications, and interviewing and counselling strategies.
Skills
- Refer social service users
Make referrals to other professionals and other organisations, based on the social service users' requirements and needs.
- Have emotional intelligence
Recognize ones own and other people`s emotions, distinguish correctly between them and observing how they can influence one`s environment and social interaction and what can be done about it.
- Promote inclusion
Promote inclusion in health care and social services and respect diversity of beliefs, culture, values and preferences, keeping in mind the importance of equality and diversity issues.
- Work on the effects of abuse
Work with individuals on the effects of abuse and trauma; such as sexual, physical, psychological, cultural and neglect.
- Respond to individuals' extreme emotions
React and help appropriately in case of extreme emotional reactions of individuals in a crisis situation, extreme distress or who are traumatised.
- Build helping relationship with social service users
Develop a collaborative helping relationship, addressing any ruptures or strains in the relationship, fostering bonding and gaining service users` trust and cooperation through empathic listening, caring, warmth and authenticity.
- Support the positiveness of youths
Help children and young people to assess their social, emotional and identity needs and to develop a positive self image, enhance their self esteem and improve their self reliance.
- Promote social change
Promote changes in relationships between individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities by taking into consideration and coping with unpredictable changes, at the micro, macro and mezzo level.
- Promote human rights
Promote and respect human rights and diversity in light of the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of autonomous individuals, taking into account their opinions, beliefs and values, and the international and national codes of ethics, as well as the ethical implications of healthcare provision, ensuring their right to privacy and honouring for the confidentiality of healthcare information.
- Relate empathetically
Recognise, understand and share emotions and insights experienced by another.
- Facilitate the healing process related to sexual assault
Intervene to support and facilitate the healing and growth of individuals who have experienced sexual assault by allowing them to recognize their memories and pain, identifying their influence on behaviour and learning to integrate them in their lives.
- Manage social crisis
Identify, respond and motivate individuals in social crisis situations, in a timely manner, making use of all resources.
- Communicate professionally with colleagues in other fields
Communicate professionally and cooperate with members of the other professions in the health and social services sector.
- Apply quality standards in social services
Apply quality stardards in social services while upholding social work values and principles.
- Handle conflicts
Mediate in conflicts and tense situations by acting between parties, such as service users, important others like families, and institutions, striving to effect an agreement, reconciliate, and resolve problems.
- Follow health and safety precautions in social care practices
Ensure hygienic work practice, respecting the safety of the environment at day care, residential care settings and care at home.
- Help clients make decisions during counselling sessions
Encourage clients to make their own decisions related to their problems or inner conflicts by reducing confusion and allowing clients to reach their own conclusions, with no bias whatsoever.
- Listen actively
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
- Cooperate at inter-professional level
Cooperate with people in other sectors in relation to social service work.
- Accept own accountability
Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
- Deliver social services in diverse cultural communities
Deliver services which are mindful of different cultural and language traditions, showing respect and validation for communities and being consistent with policies regarding human rights and equality and diversity.
- Encourage counselled clients to examine themselves
Support and encourage the clients to analyse and be aware of some aspects in their life that may have been distressing or impossible to tackle so far.
- Demonstrate leadership in social service cases
Take the lead in the practical handling of social work cases and activities.
- Assess the development of youth
Observe and assess the developmental needs of children and young people in all aspects of their developmental, identity, emotional, social, linguistic and communication needs.
- Perform therapy sessions
Work in sessions with individuals or groups to deliver therapy in a controlled environment.
- Support young persons affected by sexual assault
Work with children and adolescents in order to encourage them to speak about the traumatising sexual assault experience and find comfort in doing so.
- Undertake continuous professional development in social work
Undertake continuous professional development (CPD) to continuously update and develop knowledge, skills and competences within one`s scope of practice in social work.
- Assess social service users' situation
Assess the social situation of service users situation balancing curiosity and respect in the dialogue, considering their families, organisations and communities and the associated risks and identifying the needs and resources, in order to meet physical, emotional and social needs.
- Apply socially just working principles
Work in accordance with management and organisational principles and values focusing on human rights and social justice.
- Maintain records of work with service users
Maintain accurate, concise, up-to-date and timely records of the work with service users while complying with legislation and policies related to privacy and security.
- Promote the safeguarding of young people
Understand safeguarding and what should be done in cases of actual or potential harm or abuse.
- Manage stress in organisation
Cope with sources of stress and cross-pressure in one's own professional life, such as occupational, managerial, institutional and personal stress, and help others do the same so as to promote the well-being of your colleagues and avoid burn-out.
- Organise relapse prevention
Help the patient or client identify and anticipate high risk situations or external and internal triggers. Support them in developing better coping strategies and back-up plans in case of future difficulties.
- Provide social counselling
Assist and guide social service users to resolve personal, social or psychological problems and difficulties.
- Communicate with social service users
Use verbal, non-verbal, written, and electronic communication. Pay attention to the specific social service users' needs, characteristics, abilities, preferences, age, developmental stage, and culture.
- Report on social development
Report results and conclusions on society's social development in an intelligible way, presenting these orally and in written form to a range of audiences from non-experts to experts.
- Maintain the trust of service users
Establish and maintain the trust and confidence of the client, communicating in an appropriate, open, accurate and straightforward way and being honest and reliable.
- Maintain a non-emotional involvement
Keep a broader perspective and stay non-attached to the emotions and feelings expressed by the client during counselling sessions.