Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to provide a specialist counselling service in a GP surgery as part of a pilot scheme.
You will provide patients with a programme of short-term therapeutic support.
This is a new service which we hope will support patients who do not meet the criteria for referral to other local services who could benefit from a short course of counselling.
Main duties of the job
Work independently to deliver therapeutic interventions to patients
Undertake professional initial assessments of
patients referred via health professionals working in the Practice
Provide on-site counselling services by
appointment
Provide a programme of short-term therapeutic support
with a maximum of 6 sessions, based on patient need
Work with the GPs and other primary care
professionals within the practice to identify and manage a caseload of patients
and, where required and as appropriate, refer people back to other health
professionals within the practice or to other services
Provide information, advice, guidance and
support as part of the counselling function
Maintain confidential notes and records,
updated in a timely manner
Develop links to other services and have a good
understanding of local support for signposting and onward referral
Positively manage risk and recognise and
proactively respond to safeguarding issues
Abide by the ethical framework for good
practise in counselling and psychotherapy (British Association for Counselling
and Psychotherapy or equivalent)
About us
We are a long-established, friendly, hard working and supportive general practice team, providing care to approximately 10,000 patients in uphill Lincoln
We believe in providing caring, safe, high quality, holistic care for each and every patient and their family and carers.
Our team consists of 4 GP Partners, 2 Salaried Doctors, 2 Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Health Care Support Worker, Phlebotomist, Practice Manager, Management Assistant, Administrators, Secretaries, Patient Advisors, Clinical Pharmacists, First Contact Physiotherapists and Mental Health workers.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary key responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities
of the Counsellor in delivering health services. There may be, on occasion, a
requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors
such as workload and staffing levels:
a.
Deliver therapeutic interventions to patients, working
independently.
b.
Undertake professional initial assessments of patients
referred via health professionals working in the Practice
c.
Provide on-site counselling services by appointment
d.
Provide a programme of short-term therapeutic support
with a maximum of 6 sessions, based on patient need
e.
Work with the GPs and other primary care professionals
within the practice to identify and manage a caseload of patients and, where
required and as appropriate, refer people back to other health professionals
within the practice or to other services
f.
Provide information, advice, guidance and support as part
of the counselling function
g.
Maintain confidential notes and records, updated in a
timely manner
h.
Develop links to other services and have a good
understanding of local support for signposting and onward referral
i.
Positively manage risk and recognise and proactively respond
to safeguarding issues
j.
Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
k.
Contribute to embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
l.
Abide by the ethical framework for good practise in
counselling and psychotherapy (British Association for Counselling and
Psychotherapy or equivalent)
m.
Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least
every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress
will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed
n.
Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all
times
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary key responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities
of the Counsellor in delivering health services. There may be, on occasion, a
requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors
such as workload and staffing levels:
a.
Deliver therapeutic interventions to patients, working
independently.
b.
Undertake professional initial assessments of patients
referred via health professionals working in the Practice
c.
Provide on-site counselling services by appointment
d.
Provide a programme of short-term therapeutic support
with a maximum of 6 sessions, based on patient need
e.
Work with the GPs and other primary care professionals
within the practice to identify and manage a caseload of patients and, where
required and as appropriate, refer people back to other health professionals
within the practice or to other services
f.
Provide information, advice, guidance and support as part
of the counselling function
g.
Maintain confidential notes and records, updated in a
timely manner
h.
Develop links to other services and have a good
understanding of local support for signposting and onward referral
i.
Positively manage risk and recognise and proactively respond
to safeguarding issues
j.
Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
k.
Contribute to embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
l.
Abide by the ethical framework for good practise in
counselling and psychotherapy (British Association for Counselling and
Psychotherapy or equivalent)
m.
Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least
every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress
will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed
n.
Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all
times
Person Specification
Other Requirements
Essential
- Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own home
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional registration with recognised National Body
- 1 year post qualification counselling /psychotherapy experience.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing a counselling service to a variety of patients
- Experience in managing a caseload
Desirable
- Experience of working in a primary care setting
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- A clear understanding of safeguarding policy and procedures and commitment to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
- Ability to assess and manage risk
- Ability to recognise and respond to concerns about safeguarding
- Up to date knowledge of emotional wellbeing, early mental health clinical evidence-based practise, and support for patients
- Ability to make use of supervision
- Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person centred support in a non-judgemental way
- Courteous, respectful and helpful at all times
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
- Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities
- Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
- Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Good interpersonal skills
- Problem solving and analytical skills
- Ability to follow policy and procedure
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Polite and confident
- Flexible and cooperative
- Motivated
- Forward thinker
- High levels of integrity and loyalty
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Ability to work under pressure
Person Specification
Other Requirements
Essential
- Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own home
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional registration with recognised National Body
- 1 year post qualification counselling /psychotherapy experience.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing a counselling service to a variety of patients
- Experience in managing a caseload
Desirable
- Experience of working in a primary care setting
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- A clear understanding of safeguarding policy and procedures and commitment to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
- Ability to assess and manage risk
- Ability to recognise and respond to concerns about safeguarding
- Up to date knowledge of emotional wellbeing, early mental health clinical evidence-based practise, and support for patients
- Ability to make use of supervision
- Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person centred support in a non-judgemental way
- Courteous, respectful and helpful at all times
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
- Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities
- Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
- Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Good interpersonal skills
- Problem solving and analytical skills
- Ability to follow policy and procedure
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Polite and confident
- Flexible and cooperative
- Motivated
- Forward thinker
- High levels of integrity and loyalty
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Ability to work under pressure
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
