Counsellor

Job responsibilities

Principle duties and main responsibilities

To manage own caseload of clients who are experiencing a range of emotional issues providing specialist short term counselling interventions.

To be integrated with the MHG team and local IAPT service, being responsible for those clients who have been assessed and referred for counselling.

To be involved in carrying out initial suitability assessments with people referred to the service.

To maintain a professional relationship with the clients and with other staff, with particular attention to confidentiality and the maintenance of boundaries.

To ensure all client activity is recorded and monitored in line with the required data management system (TPP).

To work with senior clinicians within MHG to implement and integrate counselling within the counselling service in line with national and local policies.

Clinical

To asses clients therapeutic needs at the initial appointment and throughout treatment. To make recommendations for alternative treatment, if the counsellor considers that counselling is not the best source of help for a particular client.

To provide brief counselling (up to 12 sessions) to those aged 18+. Clients problems may include those who are experiencing: mild to moderate depression (reactive or clinical), relationship issues, bereavement, domestic, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, anxiety, confidence and self-esteem, stress.

To exercise autonomous clinical responsibility for the selection , development and implementation of counselling models, strategies and interventions, adjusting and reformulating as appropriate on the basis of feedback from the client, the counsellors judgement and input from clinical supervision.

To communicate with referrers at various stages of the counselling process where appropriate.

To maintain agreed patient record systems and abide by agreed confidentiality boundaries.

To keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.

To adhere to agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered and clinical sessions carried out per week to minimize waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.

To complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.

To adhere to all clinical policies and procedures.

To maintain high clinical standard in all aspects of work.

To undertake risk assessment and risk management in line with trust and service policies.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Advanced counselling skills
• Knowledge of common mental health problems including solution focused therapy, humanistic, psycho dynamic and CBT.
• Practical knowledge of other local services e.g. IAPT, stepped care model and other local providers.
• Expertise in evaluation referrals and identifying alternative treatment options.
• Knowledge in suicide and child protection risk assessment.
• Knowledge of advances in counselling research.
• Knowledge of current legislation relevant to counselling.
• Ability to develop and maintain therapeutic relationships.
• Ability to demonstrate critical reasoning skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of computerized systems, clinical data bases, and literature research.
• Good presentation skills.

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working in a counselling setting.
• Previous experience of counselling in primary care.
• Experience of assessing and providing a wide range of counselling interventions, working with diverse client groups and exercising full clinical responsibility for clients counselling care.

Desirable

• Multi agency / disciplinary working.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or diploma in counselling or equivalent (including at least two years experience in a related field).
• Registered with BACP or similar.
• Evidence of professional and ethical practice.

Desirable

• Accreditation or Eligible for accreditation with BACP or similar.

Other

Essential

• Ability to work under pressure both independently and as part of a team in emotional and difficult situations.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent concentrations skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Recognizes own limits
• Access to own transport.

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).