Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 6 Trainee PCE-Counsellor for Depression - Wiltshire

The closing date is 28 April 2026

Job summary

The Talking Therapies service offers support to patients who may be experiencing common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and low mood, offering a range of evidence based treatments.

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team as a Trainee Person Centred Experiential Counsellor for Depression (PCE-CfD). This will initially be a band 6 developmental role, moving to band 7 once training, accreditation and clinical hours are successfully completed.

You will need to hold a Diploma in humanistic or person centred counselling and have at least 2 years relevant post qualification experience. You should hold accreditation with the BACP or be working towards this.

The training course starts in July 2026 so we are aiming for a June start date. We have one post available with Wiltshire Talking Therapies (Devizes or Salisbury based). We operate a hybrid working arrangement with some work from home.

On completion of the PCE-CfD training programme, within an agreed timeframe (normally one year) you can progress to Band 7 as a qualified Counsellor for Depression.

Main duties of the job

You will provide specialist psychological assessments & therapy whilst completing CfD training with the Metanoia organisation. Course details can be found here:

NHS-Recognised Practitioner License in Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression (PCE-CfD) (metanoia.ac.uk)

About us

The Talking Therapies Team won the AWP "Team of the Year" award in 2025 where it was recognised for outstanding service improvements. We place a very strong focus on staff wellbeing and development.

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Details

Date posted

14 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £48,117 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

342-WTS051-0426

Job locations

Green Lane Hospital, Devizes or Fountain Way Hospital, Salisbury

Devizes or Salisbury

SN10 5DS


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide specialist psychological therapy assessments with clients referred to the NHS Talking Therapies service.

To provide at least one NICE recommended psychological therapy for anxiety disorders and/or depression (counselling for depression)

To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide specialist psychological therapy assessments with clients referred to the NHS Talking Therapies service.

To provide at least one NICE recommended psychological therapy for anxiety disorders and/or depression (counselling for depression)

To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma in humanistic or person centred counselling or psychotherapy
  • Evidence of working towards BACP Counsellor/Psychotherapy accreditation or equivalent
  • Minimum two years post qualifying experience providing brief counselling to clients with common mental health problems, particularly depression
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma in humanistic or person centred counselling or psychotherapy
  • Evidence of working towards BACP Counsellor/Psychotherapy accreditation or equivalent
  • Minimum two years post qualifying experience providing brief counselling to clients with common mental health problems, particularly depression

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Green Lane Hospital, Devizes or Fountain Way Hospital, Salisbury

Devizes or Salisbury

SN10 5DS


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Green Lane Hospital, Devizes or Fountain Way Hospital, Salisbury

Devizes or Salisbury

SN10 5DS


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Service Manager

Khea Hendry

khea.hendry@nhs.net

01380731335

Details

Date posted

14 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £48,117 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

342-WTS051-0426

Job locations

Green Lane Hospital, Devizes or Fountain Way Hospital, Salisbury

Devizes or Salisbury

SN10 5DS


Supporting documents

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