External Clinical Supervisor - Bushypark Addiction Treatment Services

External Clinical Supervisor – Bushypark Treatment Services available on a fixed term, Independent Contract – Contract for Services basis.

Independent Contractor – Contract for Services Agreement

1. Overview of the Role

Role / Service Provider:  External Clinical Supervisor

Service / Department Addiction Treatment Services (Community & Residential Services), Ennis, Co. Clare

Engagement Basis: Independent Contractor / Contract for ServicesReports / Liaises With: Centre Manager - Bushypark Addiction Treatment Services

Frequency: Scheduled group clinical supervision sessions over 8 hours per week.

Delivery: On-site. Remote/Hybrid Working does not apply.

Location: Bushypark Addiction Treatment Centre, Ennis, Co. Clare

Contract Term: Initially 6 months term with review pending on a contract for service (independent Contractor) basis

Enquiries in relation to this Contractor role can be directed to Mags Nash, Centre Manager on 086 - 20045202. Purpose of the role

The purpose of this role is twofold:

(a) to provide on-site group supervision to members of Bushypark’s Counselling team – Community (5 Counsellors) & Residential Services (7 Counsellors) and, where relevant, provide additional clinical supervision on a 1:1 basis.

(b) to provide clinical oversight of clients to the Service in conjunction with the Deputy Manager or designate and contracted GP.

This includes admissions, treatment planning and clinical interventions.

3. Scope of the Monthly Group Supervision

• Facilitate two structured group clinical supervision sessions for designated members of the Counselling Team (Community & Residential) once each month.
• Create a psychologically safe, respectful and professionally challenging environment in which counsellors can reflect on clinical work.
• Support discussion of complex cases, therapeutic process, treatment planning, relapse, trauma, dual diagnosis / co-occurring mental health difficulties, risk, boundaries and ethical dilemmas.
• Promote evidence-informed, person-centred and recovery-oriented practice within addiction treatment.
• Support counsellors in recognising and managing the impact of clinical work, including compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and professional burnout.
• Encourage continuing professional development, self-awareness and reflective practice.
• Provide constructive challenge where practice issues arise and support appropriate remedial or developmental actions within the limits of the supervisory role.
• Maintain the distinction between clinical supervision and organisational line management, performance management or disciplinary processes.

4. Key Responsibilities of the External Clinical Supervisor

The purpose of supervision is to support safe, ethical and effective clinical practice; provide a protected space for reflective practice; assist counsellors in considering complex client presentations and therapeutic interventions; maintain appropriate professional boundaries; and support practitioner wellbeing and continuing professional development.

The supervisor will remain independent of day-to-day line management while maintaining appropriate communication with the designated senior manager where a matter of significant clinical risk, safeguarding, serious ethical concern or organisational governance requires escalation.

To meet and provide additional clinical supervision for Counselling team members on a 1:1 basis where required.

Agree and maintain a written supervision contract (Terms of Reference) with the organisation and the supervision group, setting out purpose, boundaries, confidentiality, limits of confidentiality, attendance, record keeping, review arrangements and escalation procedures.

Support Counselling team to critically reflect on assessment, case formulation, therapeutic interventions, treatment progress and endings.

Support safe decision-making in relation to risk, safeguarding, crisis presentations and complex clinical situations.

Promote adherence to applicable professional codes of ethics and standards of practice.

Support appropriate maintenance of therapeutic boundaries and management of conflicts of interest.

Identify recurring themes or systemic clinical issues and, where appropriate, raise them with the designated service lead in a manner that protects client and practitioner confidentiality.

Maintain appropriate supervision records and provide confirmation of attendance and/or supervisor reports where agreed and professionally appropriate.

Maintain their own supervision and continuing professional development as required by their professional body.

Notify the organisation promptly of any change to professional accreditation, insurance, fitness to practise, restrictions on practice or other matter that may affect their ability to provide the contracted service.

5. Confidentiality, Safeguarding and EscalationClinical supervision is confidential, but confidentiality is not absolute. The supervision contract must clearly identify the circumstances in which information may need to be shared.

The External Clinical Supervisor will escalate an appropriate concern to the designated senior manager where, in their professional judgement, there is:

• an immediate or significant risk of harm to a client or another person;
• a safeguarding concern involving a child, vulnerable adult or other person at risk;
• a serious concern regarding unsafe, unethical or impaired clinical practice;
• a significant breach of professional boundaries or confidentiality;
• a serious breach of an applicable professional Code of Ethics; or a legal, regulatory, contractual or professional obligation requiring disclosure.

Where practicable and appropriate, the supervisor should discuss the need to escalate a matter with the relevant supervisee before disclosure. Only information reasonably necessary to manage the identified concern should be communicated.

6. Essential Qualifications and Professional RequirementsThe successful provider must be able to demonstrate all of the following:

• A recognised professional qualification in Counselling, Psychotherapy or another relevant clinical discipline appropriate to the work being supervised.
• Current professional accreditation as a Counsellor / Psychotherapist or equivalent practitioner with a recognised professional body.
• A recognised qualification (minimum Level 9 – QQI Framework) in Clinical Supervision and current accredited supervisor status appropriate to the professional accreditation of the Counselling Team.
• The supervisor must have accredited status for at least five years - hold a Clinical Supervisor qualification and be able to provide supervision for counsellors who are accredited with ACI, IAHIP, IACP, BACP or other relevant accreditation bodies.
• Substantial post-qualification and post-accreditation clinical practice experience in line with your Accrediting Body.
• Demonstrable knowledge and clinical experience relevant to addiction treatment, including work with complex presentations and co-occurring mental health difficulties.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision to counsellors/psychotherapists, including group supervision.
• Strong knowledge of professional ethics, safeguarding, clinical risk, confidentiality, data protection and clinical governance.
• Current Professional Indemnity Insurance that expressly covers the provision of counselling/psychotherapy supervision, together with any other insurance reasonably required for the contracted service.
• Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development and appropriate supervision of the supervisor’s own supervision practice.
• Ability to provide evidence of qualifications, accreditation, insurance and professional standing before commencement and on renewal.

7. Desirable Experience/Additional Expertise

• Advanced experience in addiction counselling and treatment services, including alcohol and drug dependency and/or other addictions.
• Experience working with dual diagnosis / co-occurring mental health and substance-use presentations.
• Experience within residential and/or community-based addiction treatment services.
• Training or substantial experience in trauma-informed practice.
• Knowledge of relapse prevention, recovery models, motivational approaches and evidence-informed addiction interventions.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary or integrated clinical teams.
• Knowledge of safeguarding practice and relevant Irish health and social care governance expectations.

8. Competencies and Professional Approach

• High standards of professional integrity, objectivity and ethical practice.
• Excellent group facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to create a respectful and psychologically safe environment for professional reflection.
• Ability to challenge practice constructively while maintaining a supportive supervisory relationship.
• Strong professional boundaries and sound judgement.
• Ability to work independently while communicating appropriately with service management on governance matters.
• Sensitivity to the complexities of addiction, trauma, family systems and recovery.
• Clear, concise and proportionate record keeping and communication.

9. Records, Data Protection and Confidentiality·

• Maintain only such supervision records as are necessary for professional, contractual and governance purposes.
• Avoid recording client-identifying information unless necessary for a legitimate clinical, safeguarding or legal purpose.
• Comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the organisation’s applicable confidentiality and data-protection requirements.
• Use secure systems and appropriate safeguards where supervision records are transmitted electronically.
• Agree retention, storage, access and disposal arrangements for supervision records at the outset of the contract.

10. Independent Contractor / Contract for Services Requirements·

The service will be provided under a written Contract for Services (Independent Contractor) and will not constitute a contract of employment.

The contractor will be responsible for maintaining their own professional accreditation, CPD, insurance and tax / statutory obligations arising from the engagement.

The contractor will invoice the organisation in accordance with the agreed fee and invoicing arrangements.

The contractor must ensure that there is no conflict of interest relative to the Counselling Team the contractor is providing services to.

The contractor will provide evidence of tax compliance where required by the organisation’s procurement or governance procedures.

The contractor may be required to complete appropriate pre-engagement checks, declarations and/or Garda Vetting where applicable to the nature and setting of the service.

The contractor must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest before accepting or continuing the assignment.

The services are to be provided personally by the appointed Clinical Supervisor unless an alternative arrangement is expressly approved in writing by the organisation.

11. Boundaries of the RoleThe External Clinical Supervisor is engaged to provide clinical supervision and is not the Counselling Team’s (Community & Residential) Line Manager.

Unless separately and expressly contracted, the supervisor will not be responsible for:

staff scheduling, leave approval or operational management;

formal performance management, disciplinary processes or grievance management;

allocation of organisational caseloads;

making employment decisions on behalf of the organisation; or

providing personal therapy to members of the supervision group.

Nothing in this section prevents the supervisor from escalating serious professional, ethical, safeguarding or clinical-risk concerns in accordance with Section 6.

12. Review and Quality Assurance

The supervision arrangement will be reviewed at month 3 and month 5 of commencement of the contract for services by the organisation and the External Clinical Supervisor, with further extension of contract pending.

The review should consider attendance, suitability of group size and duration, effectiveness of the supervision arrangement, professional-body requirements, emerging service needs and any governance issues.

The organisation may seek proportionate feedback from supervisees on the effectiveness of the arrangement while respecting the confidentiality of the supervision content.

The format, frequency and duration of supervision may be amended by agreement to reflect professional standards and service requirements.

13. Evidence to be Provided Before Appointment

Current CV outlining clinical and supervision experience.

Copies of relevant counselling / psychotherapy and clinical supervision qualifications.

Outline of independent contractor fees for delivery of contract for services.

Evidence of current professional accreditation and accredited supervisor status.

Evidence of current photographic ID (i.e. current passport/current driving license), professional indemnity Insurance covering clinical supervision and any other required insurance.

Two professional referees, including being able to comment on clinical supervision practice where possible.

Any declarations, vetting, insurance, tax-compliance or contractor documentation required by the organisation.

This specification should be read in conjunction with the formal Contract for Services and the organisation’s relevant clinical governance, safeguarding, confidentiality and data-protection policies.

CLICK THE APPLY NOW BUTTON TO GO TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AND TO APPLY