Cancer and Psychological Support (CaPS) Service Counsellor

Hywel Dda University Health Board

The closing date is 30 March 2025

Job summary

This is an opportunity for an experienced and skilled counsellor to join our Cancer and Psychological Support (CaPS) Service. You will be working in a supportive team environment where you can benefit from flexible working whilst providing psychological counselling support to patients from diagnosis onward as they navigate their cancer journey, alongside their families and carers.

You will be based within Aberystwyth covering the Ceredigion county of our Health Board. You will therefore require experience working autonomously within community settings and be established in homeworking. Furthermore, the applicant will need to be willing to travel to other sites across the Health Board within all the three counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion if required.CaPS offers talking therapy via a blended model of engagement, such as online, telephone, text and face to face counselling supporting individuals one-on-one and in group settings.

We welcome informal contact from prospective applicants.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will become an integral member of the team. We offer flexible working arrangements in return we ask for your flexibility in meeting service need. We provide a high level of supervision and caseload management support in light of the complexities of supporting patients, families and their carers throughout their cancer journey.

For continued professional development, we keep an eye on learning opportunities both in- house and externally.

You will be working within the CaPS service conducting assessments and providing one- to- one psychological and counselling support, alongside facilitating groups for patients and their carers.The applicant will be required to adopt a hybrid approach, working in both clinical and community settings, and being established at homeworking.You will be required to access, input and maintain digital records, and IT skills and an ability to navigate IT systems is essential. Alongside, evidencing digital counselling practice with clients.

You will be required to work alongside and in partnership with other Healthcare professionals within Oncology/ Cancer Services within Hywel Dda University Health Board, and beyond.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services to almost 400,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest.Five community hospitals: Amman Valley Hospital and Llandovery Hospital in Carmarthenshire, Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire.Two integrated care centres (Aberaeron and Cardigan, Ceredigion).Community facilities, including:

48 General Practices (GP surgeries), 49 Dental Practices, 98 Community Pharmacies (chemists), 44 General Ophthalmic Practices (including eye health and low vision services), 38 sites providing mental health and learning disability services, care within your own homesHighly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

Date posted

27 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£30,420 to £37,030 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

100-ACS025-0225

Job locations

Bronglais General Hospital

Caradog Road

Aberystwyth

SY23 1ER

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 04/04/2025

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

Interviews will be held on 04/04/2025

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

Registered with BACP
Relevant Diploma in Counselling
Has, or working towards, Accreditation
Online and telephone counselling qualification

Desirable

Related Counselling Qualifications

Experience

Essential

Evidence of relevant cancer or end-of-life practice
Working in adult cancer or end-of-life Counselling
Receiving Clinical Supervision
In depth knowledge of cancer care and experience of its delivery
Delivering counselling via digital means
Experience of working autonomously in community settings/ and from home

Desirable

Evidence of broad spectrum of relevant Counselling experience
NHS Experience and Community working

Language Skills

Desirable

Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

Registered with BACP
Relevant Diploma in Counselling
Has, or working towards, Accreditation
Online and telephone counselling qualification

Desirable

Related Counselling Qualifications

Experience

Essential

Evidence of relevant cancer or end-of-life practice
Working in adult cancer or end-of-life Counselling
Receiving Clinical Supervision
In depth knowledge of cancer care and experience of its delivery
Delivering counselling via digital means
Experience of working autonomously in community settings/ and from home

Desirable

Evidence of broad spectrum of relevant Counselling experience
NHS Experience and Community working

Language Skills

Desirable

Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

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).