Since DAPL started back in 1994, hundreds of individuals have given their time to help the organisation meet its objectives. We offer placements for qualified counsellors, students and recovery volunteers. Many of our whom have gone on to become members of the DAPL staff team or work for other similar agencies and services in the field.
Qualified counsellors are welcome to apply as volunteers.
Being on placement with DAPL during your diploma level (minimum) training, or journey through accreditation, will give you a clear understanding of what is involved in providing counselling within the addictions field.
You will join an experienced work force that has been at the forefront of developing therapeutic services for those affected by their own and other people’s drug, alcohol and solvent use.
This can be a very challenging placement. Given the chaotic and marginalised nature of some of our client group, attendance, adherence and resistance is often common place. However the reward of being the one person who is willing to listen, engage and value an individual who may have been excluded and ignored all through their life is almost unquantifiable. It is the unique nature of this type of relationship that we are striving to make common place at DAPL.
Volunteer counselling at DAPL is both demanding and very rewarding. Striving to provide the best therapeutic support for our clients we now only accept volunteers who are qualified to diploma level in counselling. We have a rigorous interview process and a limited number of places.
Most essentially and at the heart of why DAPL exist, we have a growing number of clients that require counselling and support from caring, skilled professional counsellors. We support anyone in Fife affected by their own drug, alcohol or solvent use. We have two fixed bases (Leven and Kirkcaldy). We also work within Secondary schools, Primary schools, doctor’s surgeries and various community buildings from Tayport to the West Fife villages.
We adapt and tailor our services to keep pace with the evolving needs of the communities in which we work, working closely with many partner agencies and bringing therapeutic consideration to care plans and support packages.
Volunteers have always been a part of DAPL and they will continue to be so. We recognise the importance of this role and see those who do volunteer as an integral part of the team. All workers whether they are in paid or unpaid positions share the challenge of delivering essential psychological, emotional and physical support to our clients.
Being on placement with DAPL will provide the student with both opportunities and challenges. Working within the addictions field adds a further layer of complexity to the counselling process. The needs of the client group can be severe and the chaos of their lives can frustrate attempts to accept offers of help. The benefit of therapeutic support for these clients however can be immeasurable.
The role of the student within DAPL is one that can adapt to accommodate both student and organisation. There are limits; however, we ensure that the integrity of both the student and the organisation are maintained.
Please note that a limited number of placements are available each year.
Recovery volunteer roles cover a number of important functions within the service; from undertaking client feedback calls as part of our quality improvement commitment, to representing DAPL at a range of forums, in addition to the opportunity to co- facilitating DAPL's recovery group work programs.
The role of the recovery volunteer within DAPL is one that can adapt to accommodate both the volunteer and organisation needs. These roles can be undertaken by people who hail from a wide range of back grounds and interests. These role will not deliver one to counselling services; however, the role they undertake is of huge importance to the delivery and quality of our service.
Please note limited number of recovery volunteer roles are available.
Use the form below to submit your application.
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