University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

SARC Counsellor

The closing date is 03 August 2025

Job summary

The Bridge SARC is a single point of access to support for people living in Avon and Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire who have experienced sexual abuse and rape at any time in their lives.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced counsellor to join our team of counsellors and psychologists and to contribute to the development of a pilot project delivering a trauma informed brief intervention to women in prison who have experienced domestic abuse and sexual violence. Alongside this, the post holder will offer therapy to clients living in the Avon and Somerset area who have recently been raped or sexually assaulted. Supported by a specialist psychologist,the post holder will work closely with specialist voluntary and community sector (VCSE) partners, particularly SARSAS, teams within the prison, other statutory and community services, and with the wider SARC multi-disciplinary team.

Sessions are delivered in person and remotely. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Enhanced Level 2 Vetting.

Main duties of the job

Be accountable to their clinical supervisor, professional accrediting body (e.g. BACP, UKCP, HCPC, NCS), SARC Lead and SARC Manager for their own clinical practice, risk identification and management and ethical practice.

Practice in accordance with the BACP ethical framework and current Bridge policies.

Be responsible and accountable for the direct provision of specialist therapy to individuals who have disclosed sexual assault.

Liaise with, and refer clients to, other services for further assessment and/or treatment as appropriate and necessary.

Identify and assess relevant care, protection and risk issues relating directly or indirectly to clients and take necessary steps in accordance with Safeguarding and ethical guidelines in consultation with supervisor and/or manager.

Regularly attend clinical supervision to explore clinical work and seek and provide peer consultation as needed.

Contribute to SARC initiatives to promote service user voice in the evaluation and development of services.

Participate in and contribute to regular CPD relevant to SARC services

Contribute to audit, evaluation and research relevant to SARC services, as agreed with SARC Psychologists and the SARC Manager.

Contribute to the provision of clinical supervision and reflective practice.

Contribute to development and delivery of training for professionals

About us

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Details

Date posted

11 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

387-M9343-CG

Job locations

Central Health Clinic

Tower Hill

Bristol

BS2 0JD


Job description

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification

Essential or Desirable

Essential

  • Experience of working with vulnerable people so that competency is demonstrated at high level
  • Understanding of issues relating to rape and sexual assault.
  • Demonstrate ability to exercise empathy
  • Understanding of Criminal Justice System
  • Willingness to undertake appropriate training, for example, in child abuse, rape, sexual violence, and legal/criminal justice issues, and violence and aggression training
  • Understanding of diversity issues particularly in relation to SARC services
  • Experience of working with complex trauma
  • Ability to prioritise and self-direct own workload
  • Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Excellent IT skills
  • Highly motivated
  • Flexible approach to working hours in order to provide cover for planned and unplanned absence
  • Ability to demonstrate resilience
  • Ability to utilise supervision effectively
  • Able to communicate well with distressed patients and their families or carers, working within an emotional environment
  • Able to respond well and with confidence in emotional situations
  • Experience of accurate record keeping
  • Commitment to continuing professional and service development
  • Degree or Equivalent in Counselling or Psychotherapy

Desirable

  • Experience of working with victims of crime
  • Experience of working across organisations/ agencies/
  • Experience of facilitating groups
Person Specification

Essential or Desirable

Essential

  • Experience of working with vulnerable people so that competency is demonstrated at high level
  • Understanding of issues relating to rape and sexual assault.
  • Demonstrate ability to exercise empathy
  • Understanding of Criminal Justice System
  • Willingness to undertake appropriate training, for example, in child abuse, rape, sexual violence, and legal/criminal justice issues, and violence and aggression training
  • Understanding of diversity issues particularly in relation to SARC services
  • Experience of working with complex trauma
  • Ability to prioritise and self-direct own workload
  • Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Excellent IT skills
  • Highly motivated
  • Flexible approach to working hours in order to provide cover for planned and unplanned absence
  • Ability to demonstrate resilience
  • Ability to utilise supervision effectively
  • Able to communicate well with distressed patients and their families or carers, working within an emotional environment
  • Able to respond well and with confidence in emotional situations
  • Experience of accurate record keeping
  • Commitment to continuing professional and service development
  • Degree or Equivalent in Counselling or Psychotherapy

Desirable

  • Experience of working with victims of crime
  • Experience of working across organisations/ agencies/
  • Experience of facilitating groups

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Address

Central Health Clinic

Tower Hill

Bristol

BS2 0JD


Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Address

Central Health Clinic

Tower Hill

Bristol

BS2 0JD


Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Dr Clare Northover

clare.northover@uhbw.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

11 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

387-M9343-CG

Job locations

Central Health Clinic

Tower Hill

Bristol

BS2 0JD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)'s privacy notice (opens in a new tab)