Job summary
Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS)
is delighted to be employing two full-time counsellors to work within the
Community Treatment Team, known as CTT. The CTT offers secondary care mental
health interventions provided by Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear
(CNTW) across South Tyneside and Sunderland. Clients are likely to have a
diagnosable mental health condition and be in receipt of support from the wider
CTT.
The post holder will be expected to work closely with colleagues within
this service and others, to ensure clients receive the most effective
therapeutic intervention for their presenting need(s) and will play an active
role in regular multi-disciplinary team meetings within the CTT to identify
counselling suitable clients.
Main duties of the job
The post holders will be expected to
provide assessments, check in phone calls and offer time-limited counselling to
adults with a wide range of issues. Up
to twenty session of counselling will be offered to clients and include work on
areas such as anxiety, depression, low mood, complex grief and loss,
relationship issues, loss of confidence, emotional distress, historic abuse and
wellbeing issues.
The post holders will be expected to
be based predominantly within the South Tyneside Team, although some travel to
bases in Sunderland may also be required, to ensure clients receive the most
effective therapeutic intervention for their presenting need(s). There may also
be some home visits and lone working within this post.
The post holder will work with
people with different cultural backgrounds and using interpreters when
necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
About us
SCS offers services across the North East area and works closely with a range of partner agencies including NHS partners, local charities and community groups. We are recognised for the value we bring to clients and communities and a member of staff recently said the following about working for SCS:
'An ethical organisation who cares equally about the staff and the service users. I feel the provisions are brilliant, management are very approachable, they make you feel your opinions matter. I find it a lovely place to be employed"
The salary for the post is comparable to the NHS Agenda for
Change, band 6 and the terms and conditions of employment are provided by
Sunderland Counselling Service. This includes 30 days annual leave per year,
pension scheme, access to a free and confidential employee assistance programme
and a health programme.
The post holder will be employed on a permanent contract, subject to a successful probationary period and work as part of the Community Treatment
Team and have access to additional support provided by Sunderland Counselling
Service. They will be supported through regular counselling supervision,
operational line management and case management provided by SCS. We are
committed to supporting and developing our staff and we will support the post
holder to access counselling specific personal development opportunities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information relating to the role, please
download a copy of the job description from the additional documents section of
this advert.
You can also contact Leanne Davis (Head of Services) or Marianne Guthzeit, (Clinical Lead) from Sunderland Counselling Service on
0191 514 7007 to discuss this role further.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information relating to the role, please
download a copy of the job description from the additional documents section of
this advert.
You can also contact Leanne Davis (Head of Services) or Marianne Guthzeit, (Clinical Lead) from Sunderland Counselling Service on
0191 514 7007 to discuss this role further.
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and attributes
Essential
- Competence in and possession of a recognised theoretical model of counselling.
- Experience and knowledge of working within a time limited counselling model.
- Sound knowledge of the associated issues facing this client group, including relevant legislative frameworks in relation to mental health and child protection.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of complex mental health issues and presentations.
- Understanding of the stepped care model.
- Sound knowledge of the range of interventions used in primary and secondary care mental health services.
- Willingness to contribute to and assist in the development of strategies that will make the service provision accessible to all clients.
- The ability to create, sustain and disengage from productive therapeutic relationships.
- Ability to make good use of supervisory processes.
- Ability to manage clear, professional boundaries with clients.
- Ability to evaluate effectiveness of interventions at an individual and project level.
- A clear understanding of, and willingness to acknowledge and adhere to, the service philosophy.
- Membership of and registration with BACP or other relevant professional body.
Desirable
- Sound knowledge of Talking Therapies and the stepped care model.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of the Community Treatment Team and their role.
- Sound knowledge of broader mental health issues and services available to support people.
- Commitment to and experience of working with multi-agency partnerships.
- Good information technology skills.
- Full clean driving license and use of car.
Essential Behaviors
Essential
- Working in accordance with the service standards of practice and BACP Ethical Framework, identifying and raising ethical concerns relevant to the organisation. Ability to challenge poor practice and identify and work to best practice standards. Ongoing evidence and commitment to continuing professional development.
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified to Degree, MSc, MA, or Diploma level in Counselling.
Desirable
- Possession of, or showing evidence of working towards, BACP accreditation or equivalent.
- Possession of, or showing evidence of working towards, Counselling for Depression, Couples Counselling for Depression, EMDR and / or Interpersonal Therapy qualifications.
Experience
Essential
- Significant counselling experience post qualification, either in a paid or voluntary capacity.
- Experience and knowledge of working within a time limited counselling model.
- Experience of carrying out assessments of client support needs.
- Experience of carrying out robust risk assessments and risk management plans.
- Experience of writing accurate clinical notes.
- Experience of developing care plans.
- Experience of managing a clients care, including referring on to other appropriate interventions or modalities.
Desirable
- Experience of delivering assessments and effective counselling interventions over the telephone and video.
- Experience of delivering therapeutic or psycho-educational groups.
- Experience of working within a Talking Therapies Service for anxiety and depression.
- Experience of working within a secondary care mental health treatment team.
- Experience of using electronic case management systems such as RIO.
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and attributes
Essential
- Competence in and possession of a recognised theoretical model of counselling.
- Experience and knowledge of working within a time limited counselling model.
- Sound knowledge of the associated issues facing this client group, including relevant legislative frameworks in relation to mental health and child protection.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of complex mental health issues and presentations.
- Understanding of the stepped care model.
- Sound knowledge of the range of interventions used in primary and secondary care mental health services.
- Willingness to contribute to and assist in the development of strategies that will make the service provision accessible to all clients.
- The ability to create, sustain and disengage from productive therapeutic relationships.
- Ability to make good use of supervisory processes.
- Ability to manage clear, professional boundaries with clients.
- Ability to evaluate effectiveness of interventions at an individual and project level.
- A clear understanding of, and willingness to acknowledge and adhere to, the service philosophy.
- Membership of and registration with BACP or other relevant professional body.
Desirable
- Sound knowledge of Talking Therapies and the stepped care model.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of the Community Treatment Team and their role.
- Sound knowledge of broader mental health issues and services available to support people.
- Commitment to and experience of working with multi-agency partnerships.
- Good information technology skills.
- Full clean driving license and use of car.
Essential Behaviors
Essential
- Working in accordance with the service standards of practice and BACP Ethical Framework, identifying and raising ethical concerns relevant to the organisation. Ability to challenge poor practice and identify and work to best practice standards. Ongoing evidence and commitment to continuing professional development.
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified to Degree, MSc, MA, or Diploma level in Counselling.
Desirable
- Possession of, or showing evidence of working towards, BACP accreditation or equivalent.
- Possession of, or showing evidence of working towards, Counselling for Depression, Couples Counselling for Depression, EMDR and / or Interpersonal Therapy qualifications.
Experience
Essential
- Significant counselling experience post qualification, either in a paid or voluntary capacity.
- Experience and knowledge of working within a time limited counselling model.
- Experience of carrying out assessments of client support needs.
- Experience of carrying out robust risk assessments and risk management plans.
- Experience of writing accurate clinical notes.
- Experience of developing care plans.
- Experience of managing a clients care, including referring on to other appropriate interventions or modalities.
Desirable
- Experience of delivering assessments and effective counselling interventions over the telephone and video.
- Experience of delivering therapeutic or psycho-educational groups.
- Experience of working within a Talking Therapies Service for anxiety and depression.
- Experience of working within a secondary care mental health treatment team.
- Experience of using electronic case management systems such as RIO.
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).
