Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within First Step, the North Cumbria Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) service to appoint a Counsellor.
As part of CNTW First Step provide a range of evidenced based psychological interventions for people presenting with common mental health problems such as depression and a range of anxiety disorders. The IAPT service delivers interventions within a stepped model of care and our team includes a wide range of professionals, including Counsellors, High Intensity Therapists, and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.
We are a growing service based in North Cumbria and are continually looking for ways to improve and develop our offerings to clients. We operate 8am-8pm weekdays with some weekend work when required.
As a service we are committed to ongoing action to embrace diversity and working to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all staff and patients. We welcome applications from candidates regardless of sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability or religion. We are keen to receive applications from bilingual and multilingual speakers.
We are currently offering a combination of Face to Face and remote working (telephone/video) either from one of our bases or working from home. This offers an opportunity for improved work/life balance. We anticipate that this will be the case ongoing.
Main duties of the job
To provide high quality, short term, evidence-based counselling to people with common mental health problems, self-referred or referred by GP's and others to First Step. Counselling is delivered both remotely and at a variety of locations
The role will involve
- delivering brief psychological interventions at both step 2 and at step 3. You will be seeing clients who are struggling with mild to moderate Depression (Step 3), Adjustment Disorder, Problem Anger and mild to moderate eating disorders (all at step 2) and will be expected to offer appropriate interventions in line with current NICE guidelines.
- To meet agreed clinical activity targets
- To liaise with other professionals as appropriate
- To undertake regular clinical supervision to ensure professional development and safe practises
You will need excellent communication skills and will need to be comfortable working both alone and as part of the wider team.
About us
Benefits of joining our team
To work as part of a locality team within First Step
To provide high quality evidence-based therapy to people with common mental health problems, self-referred or referred by GP's.
To work as part of the existing Mental Health service structure across the Trust. Establishing and maintaining appropriate links with both Primary and Secondary care elements of the service.
Working flexibly, where service permits, within service hours. We would consider suggestions of any reasonable working plan/part-time to balance service needs and personal preferences.
Benefits of joining our team:
- Staff benefits including pension, discounts and staff support services.
- Flexible working opportunities
- Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff
- Relocation package for eligible staff
- Annual leave entitlement of 27 days per year for new starters increasing to 29 days after 5 years of service and 33 after 10 years of service plus bank holidays.
What our staff say about working for us:
"I think for me it is a great opportunity to work within a supportive team in which you can gain access to peer led support and CPD, I think this is something I have found harder to access within private practice."
"A great team, working at the heart of the community."
"A supportive and inspiring team working in a picturesque location ready to be discovered and explored!"
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful applicant will be a qualified and experienced counsellor. Accreditation would be desirable.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 3rd January 2023
Closing date : 17th January 2023
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful applicant will be a qualified and experienced counsellor. Accreditation would be desirable.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 3rd January 2023
Closing date : 17th January 2023
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Minimum of Diploma or equivalent in Counselling or Psychotherapy, recognised by an appropriate professional body.
- Registration with relevant Professional Body (e.g. BACP, NCS, BPS or UKCP).
- Professional Counselling or Psychotherapy Accreditation or eligible to achieve professional accreditation within 6 months of commencement in post.
- Evidence of relevant continuous professional development
- Professional Counselling or Psychotherapy Accreditation or eligible to achieve professional accreditation within 6 months of commencement in post.
Desirable
- trained in IAPT PCE CfD or commitment to complete within service specified timeframes. Training and accreditation in an IAPT Additional Modality (e.g. IPT, DIT, PCE
- Training/Qualification in CBT.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working therapeutically with people suffering common mental health problems.
- Good working knowledge of mental health problems and a range of interventions.
- Experience of assessment processes.
- Knowledge of appropriate professional guidelines, practices and implementing these in your work.
- Experience of Safeguarding/Risk
- Understand of the stepped care model of delivery.
- Understanding of the importance of recording clinical outcomes.
- Knowledge of IAPT.
Desirable
- Understanding of psychological measures such as PHQ9, GAD7, ED15 etc..
- Experience of working with brief therapy.
- Knowledge of the NHS ethos.
- Experience of working in IAPT.
- Experience of delivering Clinical Supervision
- Experience of delivering Counselling with interpreters.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and as part of a team.
- Counselling skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- To work effectively in delivering time limited therapy.
- High level of assessment and caseload management skills
- Ability to recognise and understand the roles and value of the full range of evidence-based therapies
- Strong verbal, written communication and networking skills.
- Good time management skills and ability to work to performance-managed targets
- Skills in using CBT for anger and Eating Disorders (or willingness to work towards with service support)
- Ability to keep clinical records in line with NHS Information Governance standards
- Adaptable to the needs of the service on a day-to-day basis and have a flexible approach to duties.
- Up-to-date IT skills and a willingness to continue developing further skills
- Ability to work in a non-discriminatory manner respecting patient rights and choices
Desirable
Role/Team specific requirements
Essential
- Attend specific Counselling training
- Attend regular Supervision
- Driver (full licence). Willingness to travel to locations throughout the area as needed.
Personal Charcteristics
Essential
- Ability to build and maintain effective therapeutic relationships
- Empathic, accepting and compassionate with good listening skills
- Creative/ innovative
- Reflective
- Reliable
- Able to deal appropriately with stressful situations
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Support equality and value diversity
- Must be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
- Ability to travel throughout region.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Minimum of Diploma or equivalent in Counselling or Psychotherapy, recognised by an appropriate professional body.
- Registration with relevant Professional Body (e.g. BACP, NCS, BPS or UKCP).
- Professional Counselling or Psychotherapy Accreditation or eligible to achieve professional accreditation within 6 months of commencement in post.
- Evidence of relevant continuous professional development
- Professional Counselling or Psychotherapy Accreditation or eligible to achieve professional accreditation within 6 months of commencement in post.
Desirable
- trained in IAPT PCE CfD or commitment to complete within service specified timeframes. Training and accreditation in an IAPT Additional Modality (e.g. IPT, DIT, PCE
- Training/Qualification in CBT.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working therapeutically with people suffering common mental health problems.
- Good working knowledge of mental health problems and a range of interventions.
- Experience of assessment processes.
- Knowledge of appropriate professional guidelines, practices and implementing these in your work.
- Experience of Safeguarding/Risk
- Understand of the stepped care model of delivery.
- Understanding of the importance of recording clinical outcomes.
- Knowledge of IAPT.
Desirable
- Understanding of psychological measures such as PHQ9, GAD7, ED15 etc..
- Experience of working with brief therapy.
- Knowledge of the NHS ethos.
- Experience of working in IAPT.
- Experience of delivering Clinical Supervision
- Experience of delivering Counselling with interpreters.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and as part of a team.
- Counselling skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- To work effectively in delivering time limited therapy.
- High level of assessment and caseload management skills
- Ability to recognise and understand the roles and value of the full range of evidence-based therapies
- Strong verbal, written communication and networking skills.
- Good time management skills and ability to work to performance-managed targets
- Skills in using CBT for anger and Eating Disorders (or willingness to work towards with service support)
- Ability to keep clinical records in line with NHS Information Governance standards
- Adaptable to the needs of the service on a day-to-day basis and have a flexible approach to duties.
- Up-to-date IT skills and a willingness to continue developing further skills
- Ability to work in a non-discriminatory manner respecting patient rights and choices
Desirable
Role/Team specific requirements
Essential
- Attend specific Counselling training
- Attend regular Supervision
- Driver (full licence). Willingness to travel to locations throughout the area as needed.
Personal Charcteristics
Essential
- Ability to build and maintain effective therapeutic relationships
- Empathic, accepting and compassionate with good listening skills
- Creative/ innovative
- Reflective
- Reliable
- Able to deal appropriately with stressful situations
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Support equality and value diversity
- Must be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
- Ability to travel throughout region.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
