Deputy Manager for My Options Phoneline for unplanned pregnancy

Deputy Manager for My Options Phoneline for unplanned pregnancy | April 2024

Join Our Team and Make a Difference: Full-Time Role to Maintain a High Standard of Service for the My Options Counselling, Information and Webchat Service

An exciting new opportunity is available for a Deputy Manager for the HSE My Options Phoneline for Unplanned Pregnancy. This is your chance to be a leader in a crucial service that provides essential information, support and counselling to people in need.

Are you an experienced online or telephone counsellor? Do you possess supervisory or management experience in a related field? If so, we are looking for a qualified and accredited counsellor with at least 5 years of post-qualification experience to join our team in this new role. This is a great opportunity to make a difference and further develop your skills in a supportive, progressive and rewarding environment.

Apply now and take the next step in your career with the My Options Phoneline!

My Options provides the following:

Listening support and telephone counselling for those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy
Post-abortion telephone counselling
A webchat platform for support and information
Information on abortion, including services which provide abortion in Ireland and abroad
Information on the options of abortion, parenting and adoption
Referral to a My Options triage nurse for those in the process of, or who have recently had an abortion
Signposting to other relevant, professional services.

My Options is the HSE Phoneline for Unplanned Pregnancy. The service is staffed by counsellors and provides information, support and counselling to those with an unplanned pregnancy, those seeking information on abortion services and for providing post-abortion support and medical advice. Further information is available here.

My Options is delivered by One Family, on behalf of the HSE and in partnership with Caredoc. One Family is Ireland’s organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting and separating families – see www.onefamily.ie for full information. We have been providing non-directive counselling services to people who experience unplanned or crisis pregnancies for several decades.

Person Specification: 

The Deputy Manager needs to: 

Have a minimum of 5 years post-qualification counselling experience 
Have a relevant counselling/ psychotherapy qualification 
Be an accredited member of IACP, IAHIP or another professional counselling body 
Have experience of service delivery in a supervisory or management role  
Have experience of working in a team 
Have a client-focused perspective 
Be enthusiastic and motivated 
Be well organised with good attention to detail 
Have excellent ICT skills including Microsoft Office and Salesforce
Be available for a hybrid work model in a Dublin city centre location
Be available to work Monday to Saturday, hours by arrangement yet within the core hours of the My Options service.

Ideally the My Options Deputy Manager will: 

Have experience of unplanned pregnancy and post-abortion counselling 
Have experience of telephone counselling, online counselling or helpline work 
Have experience of information provision 
Have experience of providing staff support and supervision 
Have experience of providing support online via webchat 
Have experience of using Salesforce CRM system.

Deputy Manager role and responsibilities:

The Deputy Manager will be responsible for the following:

Management Duties

To directly provide and/or arrange additional cover for the phoneline during planned leave and unexpected absences
Provide support to counsellors on the phoneline
To manage operational aspects of the phoneline and webchat service
Maintain all quality/professional standards and codes of practice

To support the My Options Manager in recruitment of new staff.
To support induction and training of new staff

Service Delivery Duties

To provide telephone support, information and counselling on all options for unplanned pregnancy
To provide information on abortion services in Ireland
To provide information and support online via webchat
To provide unplanned pregnancy counselling
To provide post-abortion counselling
To refer post-abortion medical queries to a My Options triage nurse
Attend relevant internal and external supervisions, team meetings and trainings
Maintain all relevant administration, monitoring information and data
Follow all policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines
To contribute to evaluations, policy, reports, funding applications etc. as requested
To be line managed by the My Options Manager and take direction where appropriate on issues relating to clients
To maintain the high professional and ethical standard in provision of care to clients.

The My Options service runs between 9am-8pm from Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm on Friday, as well as on Saturday morning between 10am-2pm. Phoneline counsellors are required to work both day and evening shifts of 4-5.25 hours duration. Additional hours will be required on occasion.

This position is a hybrid work model, and applicants need to be available to work in a Dublin city centre location. The full time (35-hour week) salary scale is €52,783 – €53,899 for the level of skills required; the salary offered will be pro-rata, based on skills and experience. A full induction in My Options will be provided, as will training in unplanned pregnancy and post abortion support.

Informal enquiries are welcome.

Application Procedure:

A cover letter addressing the required competencies and a CV, including the date of your professional accreditation, should be sent to: My Options Manager, One Family, 8 Coke Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7 or by email to sdevilly@onefamily.ie First round in-person interviews will be held in Dublin the week of the 13 May 2024 and second round in-person interviews will be held the week of 20 May 2024.

Applicants without full professional counsellor accreditation cannot be considered.

Closing date for applications is 12 noon on 7 May 2024.

One Family is an equal opportunities employer

Applications should be marked clearly: My Options Deputy Manager