Earth Wisdom Ecotherapy Community Interest Company

Student Counsellor Agreement

At Earth Wisdom Ecotherapy Community Interest Company, our volunteers play a vital and valued role in our organisation. We deeply appreciate your willingness to dedicate your time to support our clients.

This volunteer agreement outlines the relationship between Earth Wisdom Ecotherapy CIC and yourself, detailing what you can expect from us and what we hope to receive from you. We are committed to ensuring that your volunteer experience is both enjoyable and rewarding, and we will do our utmost to support you along the way.

What you can expect from Earth Wisdom Ecotherapy CIC:

We are dedicated to providing our counsellors with the necessary support to meet the needs of our clients, which includes:

• A professional and nurturing environment for client sessions.

• Comprehensive access to our policies and procedures.

• Peer support & peer supervision.

• Initial assessment of clients conducted by qualified counsellors.

• Payment towards your external clinical supervision at a rate of £25 per client (e.g. £75 per month for three clients). If your supervisor charges more than our contribution, please settle the difference yourself.

• Opportunities to explore ecotherapy practice.

What we expect from you:

At Earth Wisdom Ecotherapy CIC, we value our volunteer counsellors and have the following expectations to ensure a supportive and effective therapeutic environment:

• Client Availability: We ask that you are available to see a minimum of 3 clients each week for sessions lasting 50 minutes. We recommend a commitment of at least 12 sessions per client to foster continuity, unless alternative arrangements are agreed upon.

• Punctuality: Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your first appointment of the day to allow for preparation and a calm transition into your client sessions. Punctuality is vital to our service delivery model.

• Session Management: Kindly manage session endings at the 50-minute mark to ensure that subsequent clients are not kept waiting. If a client arrives late, please complete the session at the originally allocated time.

• Commitment Duration: We invite you to support EWECIC for at least 12 months. However, you may withdraw your services at any time, with as much notice as possible (ideally 4 weeks).

• Supervision: Please organise and attend appropriate supervision monthly, taking responsibility for any associated costs and adhering to your contract with your supervisor regarding cancellations.

• Holiday Notification: To ensure minimal disruption to client work, please inform the EWECIC and your clients well in advance of any upcoming holidays.

• Secure Communication: Use a secure email address for all client-related communications. We encourage you to check your emails regularly, at least weekly, to avoid missing important messages.

• Professional Development: Attend EWECIC's Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions . These sessions will support your growth as a counsellor and enhance your understanding of our clients and operational matters within the organisation.

• Confidentiality: Treat all personal information about clients, peers, and fellow volunteers as confidential, in line with EWECIC’s Confidentiality Policy.

• Policy Adherence: Act in accordance with all EWECIC's policies and procedures, especially those related to health and safety, data protection, confidentiality, lone working, and safeguarding.

• Emergency Contact: Please provide details of your next of kin for emergency purposes.

• Administrative Tasks: Complete basic administrative tasks related to recording client sessions as needed.

Withdrawing your services:

We recognise that life circumstances can change, and you may find it necessary to step back from your volunteering role with us. If this happens, we encourage you to discuss your decision with us to ensure a supportive transition for your clients.

In such cases, the following options can be considered:

• Natural Closure: Together, we can work towards a gentle conclusion of your counselling relationships, ensuring that clients have the opportunity to process and reflect on their experiences.

• Transfer to Another Counsellor: If appropriate, you may choose to transfer your clients to another counsellor within EWECIC. We will facilitate this process and make the necessary arrangements.

• Client-Centred Approach: Throughout this process, the care and well-being of the client will remain at the forefront of all decision-making, balanced with the capacity and resources of our counselling team.

Ethical Standards

Counsellors are expected to uphold the ethical standards of Earth Wisdom Ecotherapy Community Interest Company by:

• Adhering to Ethical Guidelines: Complying with ethical standards set forth by the BACP, NCPS, or UKCP ensuring that your actions reflect the values and integrity of EWECIC.

• Engaging in Supervision and Peer Supervision: Actively participating in peer supervision and team meetings whenever possible to foster collaborative professional development and support.

• Maintaining Confidentiality: Protecting the confidentiality of our work by refraining from sharing client information with anyone (whether personally or professionally) without the explicit consent of the client, unless there are safeguarding concerns that necessitate disclosure.

• Secure Document Management: Ensuring that all client-related documents and notes are stored securely, using only a client reference number instead of personal identifiers, to safeguard client privacy.

• Disclosing Conflicts of Interest: Being transparent about any potential conflicts of interest or personal relationships that may impact your ability to work effectively with a client.

• Self-Care Responsibility: Taking responsibility for your well-being and recognising when you may need to take a break from counselling if personal resources become depleted, whether emotionally or otherwise.

• Fostering a Respectful Environment: Interacting with clients, fellow peers, and other volunteers in a manner that embodies the caring, equitable, and respectful ethos of EWECIC. If at any time a counsellor is unable to adhere to this ethos, they may be asked to reconsider their involvement with EWECIC.

Administration

• Counsellors should agree on their availability with the EWECIC team, including the days and times they will be providing counselling sessions. Any proposed changes should be discussed in advance.

• Counsellors are responsible for completing required administrative tasks after each session, ensuring accurate record-keeping. This includes emailing cancellations or non-attendance, and documenting any client-related communications (e.g., texts or emails). Additionally, assessment forms should be completed at the start of the therapeutic process.

• The EWECIC team will provide access to necessary forms.

Non-Compete and Client Non-Solicitation Clause

Non-Compete: The volunteer counsellor agrees not to solicit or accept any arrangement, agreement, or contract with any client referred to them by Earth Wisdom Ecotherapy Community Interest Company (EWECIC) for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination of services provided to the client under the EWECIC's arrangement. The volunteer counsellor shall not engage, either directly or indirectly, in any professional relationship with such clients outside the scope of this Agreement during this period.

Non-Solicitation: The volunteer counsellor further agrees not to induce, encourage, or solicit any client referred by EWECIC to terminate their relationship with EWECIC in favour of a direct contractual or financial relationship with the volunteer counsellor for the duration of the client’s engagement through EWECIC and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter.

Breach: In the event of a breach of this clause, the volunteer counsellor agrees to compensate EWECIC for any loss of business, including but not limited to the full value of any fees that EWECIC would have received from the client during the twelve (12) month period, along with any legal fees and costs incurred by EWECIC in enforcing this clause.

Review Period

All new volunteer counsellors will undertake a three-month review period upon beginning client work with Earth Wisdom Ecotherapy Community Interest Company. At the end of this period, a review meeting will take place between the counsellor and the EWECIC team to reflect on the experience and ensure that all parties are satisfied with continuing the placement.

EWECIC reserves the right to terminate any contract immediately should a volunteer counsellor breach policy procedure or their governing body’s ethical framework.

This agreement is voluntary and does not constitute an employment contract. The relationship between EWECIC and its volunteer counsellors is based on mutual commitment rather than an employer-employee arrangement.

Please sign to acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this volunteer agreement.

Thank you for your valuable contribution. We appreciate your support and look forward to working alongside you.