Job summary
Due to recent changes in our staffing, we are seeking an experienced Counsellor or Psychotherapist to join our multidisciplinary Psycho-oncology team. This position is offered on a fixed-term contract for 23 months, with a commitment of 15 hours per week.
We are a friendly and collaborative team comprising psychiatrists, mental health nurses, a clinical psychologist, a counsellor, and administrative staff. Our service operates Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding bank holidays. We provide care to both oncology inpatients and outpatients, working closely together to ensure high standards of psychological support.
As a member of our team, you will primarily provide assessments and psychological interventions in a one-to-one outpatient setting. However, there may be occasions when you will support inpatients at their bedside and work with couples and groups. Therapy sessions are delivered mainly face-to-face, with some sessions conducted via online video and telephone. You will manage your own caseload and contribute to a programme aimed at training and supporting colleagues across the Trust to deliver high-quality psychological care.
Main duties of the job
To assess the psychological needs of people diagnosed with cancer who may present with multiple and complex issues.
To deliver specialist counselling / psychotherapy using models of psychological intervention at NICE guidance Levels 3 and 4
To organise and manage own caseload and exercise autonomous professional responsibility and accountability for the clinical work.
To assess for and manage risk in collaboration with team colleagues.
To liaise with team colleagues, other healthcare staff within the Trust and with external agencies to ensure that patients receive appropriate and timely psychological support.
To contribute to the clinical supervision and training initiatives provided by the Psycho-oncology service.
To contribute to the development of best practice within the Psycho-oncology service
About us
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, situated in south Manchester, is the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe and an international leader in cancer research and development.
The Psycho-oncology Service is delivered by a supportive and friendly multidisciplinary team comprising psychiatrists, mental health nurses, clinical psychologist, counsellors and well-supported by our admin colleagues.
Regular team supervision and a Balint group offer monthly opportunities to reflect together on the work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. CLINICAL
- To assess the psychological needs of people affected by cancer who may present with multiple and complex issues
- To deliver specialist, evidence-based counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions for people affected by cancer, at NICE guidance Levels 3 and 4. This will usually be one-to-one but may include couples and group work and seeing in-patients on the ward
- To accept referrals via agreed service protocols, to evaluate and make decisions on treatment and refer on to appropriate services if required
- Assess patients for suitability for psychological interventions and negotiate a therapy contract
- Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for patients, drawing on a range of theoretical and therapeutic models across a range of complex problems
- To communicate, with a high degree of skill and sensitivity, highly complex information while working with people to understand their personal difficulties in adjusting to a cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and life-limiting illness and to develop individual treatment interventions in collaboration with them
- To offer flexible ways of working according to patient need and service requirements via face-to-face, telephone and video sessions
- To ensure the safety and confidentiality of patients whilst working from hom
- To offer face-to-face sessions on-site, whilst complying with Trust protocols to maintain patient and clinician safety
- Make and keep appropriate notes of clinical sessions and accurately record and analyse screening and outcome measures
- Undertake risk assessment and management to include suicide risk and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and make referrals as necessary
- Screen for psychiatric disorder, using screening tools and outcome measures, formulate a management plan and refer to medical and nursing members of the team or primary care, as appropriate, in collaboration with the patient.
- Exercise autonomous professional responsibility and accountability for clinical work undertaken and organise and manage own clinical caseload
- Involve partners, family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying psychological formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
- Manage activity relating to the number of patient contacts offered and clinical sessions carried out to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient
- Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to patients, as appropriate
- Liaise with other health and social care staff within the Trust and from external agencies to ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate psychological support
- Provide specialist advice and consultation to other team members, professionals, groups and voluntary agencies
- Facilitate and deliver support and education groups for patients in collaboration with colleagues
- Ensure that confidentiality is maintained in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions / UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practic
- Arrange and work with interpreters as necessary to ensure that all patients have equal access to counselling / psychotherapy
- Contribute to the supervision / mentoring of trainees on placement within Psycho-oncology
2. TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
- Design, deliver and evaluate psychological support training sessions to multi-disciplinary team members of the Trust
- Provide clinical supervision to Level 2 specialist nurses, allied health professionals and other staff involved in the provision of psychological support
- Develop and contribute to the teaching, training and support of clinical staff in conjunction with the Psycho-oncology team
- Provide mentoring and / or supervision to trainees on placement
3. LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
- Contribute to the development of best practice within the Psycho-oncology service, highlight potential service improvements and implement changes
- Participate in Psycho-oncology team business meetings, supervision and education sessions
- Promote the Psycho-oncology service at Trust, GM Cancer and national level through meetings, conferences and written material
4. PROFESSIONAL
- Receive regular supervision and undertake appropriate Continuing Professional Development according to the accreditation requirements of BACP / UKCP
- Ensure the maintenance of high standards of practice according to the policies of the Trust and the professional accrediting bodies and operate within the appropriate Ethical Frameworks / Codes at all times
- Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with managers through regular performance development reviews and pursue a personal development plan
- Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation and national and local guidance in mental health and Psycho-oncology
- Maintain up to date knowledge of developments in the psychological therapies and disseminate to the Team
- Attend relevant conferences and workshops in line with identified professional objectives
5. INFORMATION RESOURCES
- Maintain records of all clinical activity and complete all service requirements relating to data collection
- Provide letters and written reports to referrers and others as required
- Provide a resource of relevant information for patients and staff and to be involved in the production of information materials as required
6. RESEARCH AND SERVICE EVALUATION
- Carry out clinical audits of service performance, including service user surveys, outcome measures and evaluations, and collate and disseminate the results for feedback.
- Participate in research projects, taking an active role in data collection and contribute to reports.
Job description
Job responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. CLINICAL
- To assess the psychological needs of people affected by cancer who may present with multiple and complex issues
- To deliver specialist, evidence-based counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions for people affected by cancer, at NICE guidance Levels 3 and 4. This will usually be one-to-one but may include couples and group work and seeing in-patients on the ward
- To accept referrals via agreed service protocols, to evaluate and make decisions on treatment and refer on to appropriate services if required
- Assess patients for suitability for psychological interventions and negotiate a therapy contract
- Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for patients, drawing on a range of theoretical and therapeutic models across a range of complex problems
- To communicate, with a high degree of skill and sensitivity, highly complex information while working with people to understand their personal difficulties in adjusting to a cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and life-limiting illness and to develop individual treatment interventions in collaboration with them
- To offer flexible ways of working according to patient need and service requirements via face-to-face, telephone and video sessions
- To ensure the safety and confidentiality of patients whilst working from hom
- To offer face-to-face sessions on-site, whilst complying with Trust protocols to maintain patient and clinician safety
- Make and keep appropriate notes of clinical sessions and accurately record and analyse screening and outcome measures
- Undertake risk assessment and management to include suicide risk and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and make referrals as necessary
- Screen for psychiatric disorder, using screening tools and outcome measures, formulate a management plan and refer to medical and nursing members of the team or primary care, as appropriate, in collaboration with the patient.
- Exercise autonomous professional responsibility and accountability for clinical work undertaken and organise and manage own clinical caseload
- Involve partners, family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying psychological formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
- Manage activity relating to the number of patient contacts offered and clinical sessions carried out to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient
- Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to patients, as appropriate
- Liaise with other health and social care staff within the Trust and from external agencies to ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate psychological support
- Provide specialist advice and consultation to other team members, professionals, groups and voluntary agencies
- Facilitate and deliver support and education groups for patients in collaboration with colleagues
- Ensure that confidentiality is maintained in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions / UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practic
- Arrange and work with interpreters as necessary to ensure that all patients have equal access to counselling / psychotherapy
- Contribute to the supervision / mentoring of trainees on placement within Psycho-oncology
2. TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
- Design, deliver and evaluate psychological support training sessions to multi-disciplinary team members of the Trust
- Provide clinical supervision to Level 2 specialist nurses, allied health professionals and other staff involved in the provision of psychological support
- Develop and contribute to the teaching, training and support of clinical staff in conjunction with the Psycho-oncology team
- Provide mentoring and / or supervision to trainees on placement
3. LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
- Contribute to the development of best practice within the Psycho-oncology service, highlight potential service improvements and implement changes
- Participate in Psycho-oncology team business meetings, supervision and education sessions
- Promote the Psycho-oncology service at Trust, GM Cancer and national level through meetings, conferences and written material
4. PROFESSIONAL
- Receive regular supervision and undertake appropriate Continuing Professional Development according to the accreditation requirements of BACP / UKCP
- Ensure the maintenance of high standards of practice according to the policies of the Trust and the professional accrediting bodies and operate within the appropriate Ethical Frameworks / Codes at all times
- Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with managers through regular performance development reviews and pursue a personal development plan
- Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation and national and local guidance in mental health and Psycho-oncology
- Maintain up to date knowledge of developments in the psychological therapies and disseminate to the Team
- Attend relevant conferences and workshops in line with identified professional objectives
5. INFORMATION RESOURCES
- Maintain records of all clinical activity and complete all service requirements relating to data collection
- Provide letters and written reports to referrers and others as required
- Provide a resource of relevant information for patients and staff and to be involved in the production of information materials as required
6. RESEARCH AND SERVICE EVALUATION
- Carry out clinical audits of service performance, including service user surveys, outcome measures and evaluations, and collate and disseminate the results for feedback.
- Participate in research projects, taking an active role in data collection and contribute to reports.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's level or equivalent qualification in counselling, CBT or psychotherapy
- Full accreditation with BACP / BABCP or registration with UKCP
- Current Registrant on Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register
Desirable
- Additional training in appropriate areas of psychological therapy e.g. trauma, psycho-sexual therapy
- Training in online counselling
- Training in supervision
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years post-qualification clinical experience
- Minimum of 2 years experience working with people affected by cancer / physical illness
- Experience of psychological assessment, including risk and the formulation and delivery of treatment plans
- Experience of providing time-limited therapy using a range of therapeutic approaches
- Experience of working autonomously and managing own clinical caseload
- Experience of team working
- Experience of teaching others and liaising with other professional groups
- Experience of delivering therapy remotely
Desirable
- Experience of working in an oncology / physical health setting
- Provision of psycho-sexual therapy
- Provision of trauma-focused therapy
- Working with groups
- Participation in audit and research
- Experience of delivering teaching / training
- Experience of providing supervision / mentorship to trainees
- Experience of service development
- Experience of providing clinical supervision in groups and 1:1
- Experience of working with diverse communities and within a multicultural setting
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills with patients and colleagues
- High standards in written communication and the ability to write clear reports and letters to referrers
- Ability to keep accurate electronic patient records and outcome monitoring
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to form good working relationships
- Ability to prioritise effectively and organise and manage own workload
- Ability to work flexibly in response to patient needs
- Interest and/or skills in specialist areas relevant to cancer
- Ability to support oneself and colleagues working in a highly emotive and challenging clinical context
- Well-developed IT skills
Desirable
- Teaching and presentation skills
- Ability to work with an interpreter to deliver psychological therapies
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of physical illness and its management
- Understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in a cancer setting
- Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding and other relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice
- Understanding of the principles of audit and research
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's level or equivalent qualification in counselling, CBT or psychotherapy
- Full accreditation with BACP / BABCP or registration with UKCP
- Current Registrant on Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register
Desirable
- Additional training in appropriate areas of psychological therapy e.g. trauma, psycho-sexual therapy
- Training in online counselling
- Training in supervision
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years post-qualification clinical experience
- Minimum of 2 years experience working with people affected by cancer / physical illness
- Experience of psychological assessment, including risk and the formulation and delivery of treatment plans
- Experience of providing time-limited therapy using a range of therapeutic approaches
- Experience of working autonomously and managing own clinical caseload
- Experience of team working
- Experience of teaching others and liaising with other professional groups
- Experience of delivering therapy remotely
Desirable
- Experience of working in an oncology / physical health setting
- Provision of psycho-sexual therapy
- Provision of trauma-focused therapy
- Working with groups
- Participation in audit and research
- Experience of delivering teaching / training
- Experience of providing supervision / mentorship to trainees
- Experience of service development
- Experience of providing clinical supervision in groups and 1:1
- Experience of working with diverse communities and within a multicultural setting
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills with patients and colleagues
- High standards in written communication and the ability to write clear reports and letters to referrers
- Ability to keep accurate electronic patient records and outcome monitoring
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to form good working relationships
- Ability to prioritise effectively and organise and manage own workload
- Ability to work flexibly in response to patient needs
- Interest and/or skills in specialist areas relevant to cancer
- Ability to support oneself and colleagues working in a highly emotive and challenging clinical context
- Well-developed IT skills
Desirable
- Teaching and presentation skills
- Ability to work with an interpreter to deliver psychological therapies
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of physical illness and its management
- Understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in a cancer setting
- Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding and other relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice
- Understanding of the principles of audit and research
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).
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).
