Organisation

OACAS works out of our own premises at 6 Bridge Street Wynd, Kirkwall, We have two main counselling rooms plus 2 counsellors offices/counselling room, a reception, and the Managers office, a board/training/common room, and toilets.

OACAS currently employs 2 full-time and 4 part-time paid staff, and as such we are always happy to have volunteers who are willing to help out for a few hours a week.

All new unqualified volunteer Counsellors receive Alcohol Focus Scotland basic training in substance misuse and Counselling theory delivered over 6 weekends.

After about 2 years of supervised practice (at least 120 hours of client contact time) the Counsellor may put forward their portfolio for accreditation.

As part of the portfolio-building process all trainee counsellors (and indeed all qualified Counsellors) are expected to access additional training as available in Orkney and we endeavour to send workers to the mainland also for training, funding permitting.

Some Counsellors wish to advance their abilities by accessing Post Graduate Diploma courses in Counselling, and, funding permitting, we will assist.

We have been fortunate also in attracting several Post Graduate Diploma holding Counsellors as volunteers.

We are Orkney’s only COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) Recognised Counselling & Counselling Skills Organisation.

We are also a BACP (British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy) organisational member.

Would you like to be involved?