Job summary
We are looking for an experienced Accredited Counsellor to fill a position in our friendly, and supportive IAPT service. You will join a large, well integrated team of counsellors, CBT therapists, PWP's and trainees. Applicants must have experience of delivering brief focussed counselling in a primary care setting.
Vaccination:
As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings
Main duties of the job
From April 2020, IAPT services require all counsellors / psychotherapists to be current registrants on the Accredited Register of Counsellors with the Professional Standards Authority. To be shortlisted for this post, recruiters search the PSA Accredited Register for Counsellors of your professional organisation's register (BACP, BPC, COSCA, NCS, UK AHPP, UKCP).
Please ensure you provide the correct Registration Number in your application for us to confirm you are an Accredited Counsellor or Psychotherapist,
We are also looking for applicants who alongside their counselling accreditation or counselling psychology registration have completed a qualification training in an IAPT approved modality (such as Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy, Couples Therapy for Depression, Interpersonal Therapy or Counselling for Depression).
However, accredited counsellors or registered counselling psychologists without an IAPT modality training are eligible to apply as a Band 6 practitioner and will be given the opportunity when in post to train in one of the above modalities, to be moved to Band 7 upon qualification.
We hope you will apply for the post, if you:
- are passionate about the benefits of short-term focussed therapy
- have substantial experience of working as a counsellor with adults with common mental health problems in a primary care, NHS or IAPT setting
About us
Harrow Talking Therapies Service works to the IAPT national programme and is part of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. We are a busy service and the team includes Counsellors, CBT therapists, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, assistant psychologists and an experienced and support administrative team. All staff are trained to work with people with long term health conditions as part of their counselling intervention, and we provide training to support this work. The service has also made a number of changes in response to the COVID 19 pandemic, which has been positively received by our stakeholders.
Due to the current COVID pandemic, our team combines remote working alongside hub based working. Currently a part time member of staff would be expected to be in the hub one day per week. Counsellors deliver therapy remotely via video or phone and face to face.
The main service hub is based at 12-14 Station Road Harrow but post holders may be expected to work at any base across the borough as well as in GP practices and health centres.
Interview date: 2 September 2022
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for the Clinical provision of specialist psychological therapy, using a High Intensity Counselling approach, to adults with mild, moderate and severe common mental health problems, in primary care and community settings, on behalf of the CNWL Talking Therapies IAPT borough Service. Responsibilities include triage and screening of referrals, assessing and treating patients suitable for High Intensity Counselling, reporting to referrers on the patients progress and managing a waiting list. The post holder will also contribute to routine data collection, audit and evaluation of patient measures according to the national framework for IAPT services.
Further responsibilities of the post may include supervision training to provide High Intensity Counselling or IAPT modality supervision to other staff and trainees; line management responsibilities; leading on an area of service development and other management responsibilities for the wider service, in line with the grade of the post.
The post holder will work under clinical and management supervision and will be provided with appropriate training and support. They will be required to provide individual/group interventions, under close supervision, and/or support to GPs and other health professionals in appropriate activities.
The post-holder will work full-time hours unless otherwise contracted and may be required to work at any times between 8am and 6pm on weekdays as required by the service.The post-holder will also be required to participate in evening clinics offered by the service up to 8pm.
Harrow Talking Therapies also has honorary counsellor opportunities for counsellors who are newly qualified ( or about to qualify). Please contact Sally Doyle directly at sally.doyle4@nhs.net for more information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for the Clinical provision of specialist psychological therapy, using a High Intensity Counselling approach, to adults with mild, moderate and severe common mental health problems, in primary care and community settings, on behalf of the CNWL Talking Therapies IAPT borough Service. Responsibilities include triage and screening of referrals, assessing and treating patients suitable for High Intensity Counselling, reporting to referrers on the patients progress and managing a waiting list. The post holder will also contribute to routine data collection, audit and evaluation of patient measures according to the national framework for IAPT services.
Further responsibilities of the post may include supervision training to provide High Intensity Counselling or IAPT modality supervision to other staff and trainees; line management responsibilities; leading on an area of service development and other management responsibilities for the wider service, in line with the grade of the post.
The post holder will work under clinical and management supervision and will be provided with appropriate training and support. They will be required to provide individual/group interventions, under close supervision, and/or support to GPs and other health professionals in appropriate activities.
The post-holder will work full-time hours unless otherwise contracted and may be required to work at any times between 8am and 6pm on weekdays as required by the service.The post-holder will also be required to participate in evening clinics offered by the service up to 8pm.
Harrow Talking Therapies also has honorary counsellor opportunities for counsellors who are newly qualified ( or about to qualify). Please contact Sally Doyle directly at sally.doyle4@nhs.net for more information.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- 1.Qualified and Accredited Counsellor / Psychotherapist, current Registrant on the Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register of Counsellors (BACP, BPC, UKCP, NCS [Accredited Professional], COSCA, UKAHPP) OR Qualified Counselling Psychologist, current registrant with the HCPC
- 2.Substantial post-qualification experience of generic counselling (minimum of 450hrs client contact), demonstrable through an additional supervisory reference
Desirable
- Post-qualification training in one or more additional specialized areas related to primary care mental health eg. DIT, IPT, CfD, Couples Counselling for Depression, mental illness, clinical risk assessment, CBT principles
- Specialist Supervisor training in an IAPT modality including DIT, IPT, CfD, Couples Counselling for Depression
- Attended a management or High Intensity Supervisor's training
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a qualified counsellor with specialist post-qualification experience in the NHS, including substantial post-qualification experience within primary care
- Specialist level of experience of brief focused counselling, including undertaking assessments, including risk assessment.
- Experience of professional management and supervision of qualified and pre-qualified counsellors in the NHS in a primary care setting.
- Experience of working with a wide range of clients over the age of 16 years and including older adults presenting with mild to moderate degrees of severity of mental illness.
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' emotional care and treatment including maintaining confidentiality and client records.
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural context.
Desirable
- Specialist psychotherapeutic working experience.
- Experience of the application of psychotherapy in difference cultural and diversity contexts.
- Experience of working within a primary care/community setting
- Experience of managing an independent and specialist caseload.
- Research skills and knowledge and aptitude.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Specialised post-qualification knowledge of a range of specialist therapeutic techniques underpinned by theory, acquired through further substantial training or experience and specialist supervision to Master's degree or equivalent level
- A high level of skill in assessment for short-term counselling, including risk assessment, and application of evidence-based interventions and management, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
- Skills in providing professional and clinical supervision, management and training to qualified and pre-qualified counsellors.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BACP or other relevant professional bodies including fulfilling professional clinical supervision requirements.
Desirable
- Competency in providing brief focused counseling using an evidence based approach eg focal psychodynamic, client centred, solution focused, humanistic etc
Other
Essential
- Ability to work creatively, co- operatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in multi-disciplinary and team settings.
- Demonstrably respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues, other professional contacts with the ability to understand and implement the Equal Opportunities Policy at a level appropriate to the post.
- Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
- Sickness record / attendance that is acceptable to the Trust.
- Declared medically fit to work by Occupational Health Department to perform the duties of the post.
Desirable
- Knowledge of local languages and ability to deliver therapy in other languages.
Personal
Essential
- An interest in developing expertise and skills across a range of theoretical models and interventions, appropriate to primary care counselling.
- Ability to identify difficulties in clinical practice and to seek and use supervision constructively in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
- To demonstrate emotional resilience and stability.
- Ability to establish and maintain working relationships under pressure.
- Ability to travel between surgeries and administrative offices.
- Offer flexibility in terms of time and attitude.
Desirable
- Personal psychotherapy undertaken or current
- Personal experience of mental health difficulties as a user or carer
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- 1.Qualified and Accredited Counsellor / Psychotherapist, current Registrant on the Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register of Counsellors (BACP, BPC, UKCP, NCS [Accredited Professional], COSCA, UKAHPP) OR Qualified Counselling Psychologist, current registrant with the HCPC
- 2.Substantial post-qualification experience of generic counselling (minimum of 450hrs client contact), demonstrable through an additional supervisory reference
Desirable
- Post-qualification training in one or more additional specialized areas related to primary care mental health eg. DIT, IPT, CfD, Couples Counselling for Depression, mental illness, clinical risk assessment, CBT principles
- Specialist Supervisor training in an IAPT modality including DIT, IPT, CfD, Couples Counselling for Depression
- Attended a management or High Intensity Supervisor's training
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a qualified counsellor with specialist post-qualification experience in the NHS, including substantial post-qualification experience within primary care
- Specialist level of experience of brief focused counselling, including undertaking assessments, including risk assessment.
- Experience of professional management and supervision of qualified and pre-qualified counsellors in the NHS in a primary care setting.
- Experience of working with a wide range of clients over the age of 16 years and including older adults presenting with mild to moderate degrees of severity of mental illness.
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' emotional care and treatment including maintaining confidentiality and client records.
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural context.
Desirable
- Specialist psychotherapeutic working experience.
- Experience of the application of psychotherapy in difference cultural and diversity contexts.
- Experience of working within a primary care/community setting
- Experience of managing an independent and specialist caseload.
- Research skills and knowledge and aptitude.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Specialised post-qualification knowledge of a range of specialist therapeutic techniques underpinned by theory, acquired through further substantial training or experience and specialist supervision to Master's degree or equivalent level
- A high level of skill in assessment for short-term counselling, including risk assessment, and application of evidence-based interventions and management, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
- Skills in providing professional and clinical supervision, management and training to qualified and pre-qualified counsellors.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BACP or other relevant professional bodies including fulfilling professional clinical supervision requirements.
Desirable
- Competency in providing brief focused counseling using an evidence based approach eg focal psychodynamic, client centred, solution focused, humanistic etc
Other
Essential
- Ability to work creatively, co- operatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in multi-disciplinary and team settings.
- Demonstrably respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues, other professional contacts with the ability to understand and implement the Equal Opportunities Policy at a level appropriate to the post.
- Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
- Sickness record / attendance that is acceptable to the Trust.
- Declared medically fit to work by Occupational Health Department to perform the duties of the post.
Desirable
- Knowledge of local languages and ability to deliver therapy in other languages.
Personal
Essential
- An interest in developing expertise and skills across a range of theoretical models and interventions, appropriate to primary care counselling.
- Ability to identify difficulties in clinical practice and to seek and use supervision constructively in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
- To demonstrate emotional resilience and stability.
- Ability to establish and maintain working relationships under pressure.
- Ability to travel between surgeries and administrative offices.
- Offer flexibility in terms of time and attitude.
Desirable
- Personal psychotherapy undertaken or current
- Personal experience of mental health difficulties as a user or carer
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
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).
