Job responsibilities
NHS full funded and salaried, three-year NHS Talking Therapies High Intensity Psychotherapeutic Counselling training programme in Couples Therapy for Depression with Tavistock Relationship Institute To help improve access to adult NHS Talking Therapies services for people experiencing common mental health problems, Health Education England (HEE) is commissioning this ground breaking, salaried training pathway that will provide trainee Psychotherapeutic Counsellors with advanced conceptual understanding and skills in the practical application of psychotherapeutic counselling and a defined standard of competency in the NICE-recommended Couples Therapy for Depression (CtfD). The training provider for this pathway is to be Tavistock Relationship Institute and Birkbeck University. About the Role: This role would be best suited for applicants that are able to balance a busy work and study schedule. You will be an employee at NHS Sefton Talking Therapies but also enrolled for at last 2 days a week on the Post Graduate Diploma course. As this is a post graduate level diploma, you will also be required to study and write academic material at this level. Applicants must be prepared to study and write assignments out side of protected study time (such as weekends and after work). If you are successful at interview you will be asked to attend a follow up with the training provide to ensure you meet the academic requirements of the post. There will be 12.5 days of the programme that will be completed in person in the Tavistock centre in London. These training dates are proposed to be set 2-2.5 days at the start and 2.5 days at the end of each term. (This could be subject to change by the training provider). Successful candidates will be expected to attend these training dates in person in London. The remainer of the training will be provided by the training provider remotely. The training programme is a 3-year duration, with trainees planned to start in September 2025 and complete by September 2028; Year 1 is working with individuals at Band 5 Years 2 and 3 will be working with both couples and individuals at Band 6 Upon the successful completion of the training programme and on qualification, the trainee will then be employed in NHS Sefton Talking Therapies as a Band 7 High intensity therapist. The teaching in a Foundation year with Tavistock Relationship (Year 1) and Birkbeck University in Years 2 & 3 for their PG Diploma award. Trainees will be accredited with UKCP registration at the end of successful completing and passing the programme. This training aims to:
Develop high intensity psychotherapeutic counsellors with the qualities, skills and competences to develop, engage in and sustain strong therapeutic relationships and work effectively with NHS TT service users whose depression is impacting their relationship. Develop core psychotherapeutic counselling practitioner competency, including integration of practical competency in Couples Therapy for Depression, in line with the needs of service users, and partners.Ensure clinical practice in accordance with local and national IAPT Service policy, including working to create inclusive and effective services for all.Promote personal and professional development and self-awareness essential to successful psychotherapeutic counselling. NHS Sefton Talking Therapies does not fund:
Travel and accommodation costsPersonal Therapy costs Course structure and requirements The National Curriculum for High Intensity Psychotherapeutic Counselling within NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression outlines the full details of the course structure. To summarise, the following outlines the key training requirements:
A 1-year core psychotherapeutic counselling foundation level training, which also introduces the chosen NHS Talking Therapies modality. Following sign off for readiness, trainees can begin to practice in NHS Talking Therapy services with people with mild to moderate depression Followed by, a 2-year post-graduate diploma (PGDip) in psychotherapeutic counselling (minimum 120 credits at Level 7) Embedded training in one of the following modalities: CTfD, aligning to the NHS Talking Therapies national curriculum in each A minimum of 450 supervised client hours gained within an NHS Talking Therapies service A minimum of 450 training hours (skills and theory) A minimum of 50 personal therapy hours A minimum of 90 minutes of training supervision to every six hours of client work (or the equivalent for group supervision), or 90 minutes per week if they have completed less than six hours of client work in the week NHS Talking Therapy services will be responsible for supervision on site, including oversight of case management, clinical governance and management supervision in line with the supervision requirements of the NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression manual. An average of two to three days per week of clinical practice in NHS Talking Therapies servicesIndividual accreditation (professional registration) with a professional body in line with the NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression manual (see the manual for more details) Course Entry Requirements The following entry requirements for trainees are in place:
- All candidates entering the programme should hold evidence of academic credit or equivalence allowing entry to the Level 7 programme. A degree at 2:2 or above in any relevant subject, or equivalent, should be considered the minimum requirement for entry. Candidates without a degree at 2:2 or above may be able to secure a place by demonstrating competency via a portfolio of evidence, which meets specified academic equivalence requirements.
- All candidates should have completed a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, which ordinarily involves a minimum of 10 days or 60 hours of face-to-face tuition at level 2 or level 3. Online courses are not acceptable. Please note: L2 Award, Helping Skills and Introductory courses are not accepted.
- Candidates should show proficiency in reading, writing and spoken English of a standard necessary to support academic study and professional practice at Level 7 - IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each element.
- Metanoia Institute will apply contextual recruitment to support the equivalence framework to widen participation.
