Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a Counsellor to come and join our Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service in South Cumbria; First Step.
First Step South Cumbria is the IAPT service that serves South Cumbria. First Step is an exciting and dynamic service within which to work and is popular with both South Cumbrian GPs and also the wider South Cumbrian community.
First Step is dedicated to the delivery of evidence-based therapies for individuals with common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders in line with best practice and clinical guidelines. The service is comprised of approximately fifty clinicians including PWPs, CBT therapists, Counsellors, Senior Psychotherapists, Employment Advisors, an administrative hub and Team Leaders. The team work together to try and ensure that we provide effective and compassionate interventions as rapidly as possible to our patients.
Main duties of the job
You will work with clients experiencing a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties to help them bring about effective change and/or enhance their wellbeing.
Our clients present to us and require support with panic disorder, depression, general anxiety disorder, OCD, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, health anxiety, social anxiety disorder, anger, post-natal depression and employment related issued.
You'll hold sessions with individuals and groups in a safe and confidential environment. You'll encourage them to look at their choices and find their own way to make a positive change in their life.
We are able to offer this post as either Band 5 or Band 6 dependant on qualifications and experience as per the attached Person Specifications.
About us
We want to recruit people to the service who share our values and are confident in their ability to contribute to the demonstrated effectiveness and acceptability of our service.
Staff at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trustwork to improve lives with a culture based on four corevalues:
We are kind
We are a team
We are respectful
We are always learning
To keep informed of latest trust news and events follow us on twitter@Lscft_jobsand@WeAreLSCFT
Job description
Job responsibilities
When making your application please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details on the role. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you show how you meet each of the criteria of the person specification providing illustrative examples where possible; as this is what you will be shortlisted against.
Job description
Job responsibilities
When making your application please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details on the role. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you show how you meet each of the criteria of the person specification providing illustrative examples where possible; as this is what you will be shortlisted against.
Person Specification
Qualifications Band 6
Essential
- Completion of a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accredited counselling course at diploma level or equivalent.
- Hold British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Accreditation and Registration or equivalent (Band 6 Only)
Qualifications Band 5
Essential
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accredited Diploma
- Evidence of working towards British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Accreditation (to be achieved within 12 months of taking up the post).
Knowledge Band 6
Essential
- Extensive clinical and theoretical knowledge of more than one model of counselling.
- Knowledge of NHS structures and policy within a primary care context.
- Knowledge of the IAPT model
Knowledge Band 5
Essential
- Knowledge of NHS structures and policy within a primary care context.
Experience Band 6
Essential
- A minimum of 2 years' post qualification primary care counselling work.
- Experience of providing clinical supervision
- Experience of mentoring trainee counsellors.
- Experience of short term time-limited counselling
- Evidence of regular supervised practice.
- Experience of working with a diverse client group with a wide range of presenting problems and significant levels of distress.
- Experience of promoting wellbeing and social inclusion.
- Experience of delivering group work.
Experience Band 5
Essential
- Experience of psychological work with common mental health problems and primary care counselling work.
- Experience of short term time-limited work.
- Evidence of regular supervised practice.
- Experience of promoting wellbeing and social inclusion
Person Specification
Qualifications Band 6
Essential
- Completion of a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accredited counselling course at diploma level or equivalent.
- Hold British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Accreditation and Registration or equivalent (Band 6 Only)
Qualifications Band 5
Essential
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accredited Diploma
- Evidence of working towards British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Accreditation (to be achieved within 12 months of taking up the post).
Knowledge Band 6
Essential
- Extensive clinical and theoretical knowledge of more than one model of counselling.
- Knowledge of NHS structures and policy within a primary care context.
- Knowledge of the IAPT model
Knowledge Band 5
Essential
- Knowledge of NHS structures and policy within a primary care context.
Experience Band 6
Essential
- A minimum of 2 years' post qualification primary care counselling work.
- Experience of providing clinical supervision
- Experience of mentoring trainee counsellors.
- Experience of short term time-limited counselling
- Evidence of regular supervised practice.
- Experience of working with a diverse client group with a wide range of presenting problems and significant levels of distress.
- Experience of promoting wellbeing and social inclusion.
- Experience of delivering group work.
Experience Band 5
Essential
- Experience of psychological work with common mental health problems and primary care counselling work.
- Experience of short term time-limited work.
- Evidence of regular supervised practice.
- Experience of promoting wellbeing and social inclusion
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).
