Job responsibilities
Role Purpose
To deliver an effective counselling service as an integral part of wider service
provision, collaborating with local and national colleagues to ensure a local offer
that is responsive, dynamic and flexible to need.
Supported by central Via Clinical Department (including clinical supervision) to
provide and facilitate high quality talking therapy assessment and interventions
across designated Via services as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Be responsible for supervision of volunteer counsellors and other less experienced
psychological professionals, acting as a professional lead for pre-registration
counsellors, trainees, and students, in designated Via services.
Key duties and activities of the role
Clinical:
Provide specialist assessments drawing on complex data from a variety of sources.
Formulate and implement plans involving the psychosocial treatment and/or
management of problems, utilising joint working where appropriate, based on an
appropriate conceptual framework and employing methods based upon evidence of
efficacy (e.g. NICE guideline recommended interventions).
Provide advice and consultation on clients psychological care to colleagues and to
other, non-professional carers.
Support the application of psychological principles in care delivery, using theory,
evidence-based literature and research.
Undertake risk assessment and management relating to psychological interventions
and ensuring appropriate action in accordance with legislation, professional and
organisational requirements and best practice guidance.
Record, monitor and report on clinical work and communicate (in accordance with
organisational requirements), in a skilled and sensitive manner, clinical information
(including assessment, formulation, treatment plans and progress) to a variety of
recipients (e.g. people who use services, their significant others, other
professionals, formal panels, statutory and voluntary organisations) orally, in writing
and electronically.
To engage in regular clinical professional supervision from the service HCPC
registered practitioner psychologist, or alternative agreed qualified psychological
professional if necessary.
Leadership:
Provide clinical supervision, guidance and professional oversight for volunteer
counsellors, trainees, students, other less experienced psychological professionals,
and other practitioners, within designated services and as needed, ensuring
compliance with national internal and external best practice.
Ensure assessment, screening of service user suitability for counselling, and
allocation is undertaken, including directly delivering this.
o record and oversee the recording of service user contact with the counselling
service.
Provide service level operational leadership for designated VIA counselling
volunteer services, as needed.
Facilitate psychological therapies service-related evaluation, policy and service
development, as well as wider research.
Act as an effective conduit for communication between senior managers, partners,
key stakeholders, and the designated therapy team.
Be involved in relevant audits/performance indicators and implementation of
associated recommendations/action plans.
Lead on development and implementation of evidence-based talking therapy
interventions and care packages
Implement policies and propose/facilitate changes to psychological therapies
service
Meaningfully participate in appropriate multi-disciplinary/project meetings, advising
on issues of service and policy development for the psychological care of people,
who use our services, as well as wider operational and strategic issues.
Provide line management or oversee line management as appropriate for volunteer
counsellors, trainees, students, and other less experienced psychological
professionals.
Working with Vias People Team and clinical leaders to lead local recruitment,
induction, development and training for the designated therapy team.
Work collaboratively with partner agencies to help improve our psychological
therapies provision (e.g. universities, commissioners), developing and facilitating
pathways into wider services such as mental health teams and social services.
To develop skills and contribute to professional post-graduate teaching, training and
supervision, as appropriate. Where relevant, complete course-related paperwork
and reports.
General:
Work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the
teams policies and procedures.
Manage the emotional demands of working with individuals with complex needs,
including behaviours that the service can find challenging to manage.
Develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
Work alongside management and their direct reports to effectively support a one
team approach.
Person specification for the role
Accredited postgraduate qualification (or its equivalent) as accredited by the BACP,
UKPC, HCPC (Practitioner Psychologist), or the British Association of Behavioural
and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).
Accredited as a supervisor by the UKCP, BABCP, or have completed a BPS
approved supervision skills course or supervisor qualification from a substantial
counselling modality supervision course (e.g. DIT, IPT, person centred experiential
counselling for depression)
Up to date registration with the BACP, UKCP, HCPC or BABCP
Experience in the provision of talking therapy assessments and treatment of people
with a range of psychological problems and severity, including co-occurring
substance use and mental health problems, using formulation to inform complex
decision making.
Experience of providing supervision, training and/or consultation to other
professional/non-professional groups.
Demonstrable ability to plan, prioritise and organise own clinical work and team
workload.
Experience with routine outcome monitoring and audit.
Skills in the effective communication of highly technical and/or clinically sensitive
information to a wide variety of recipients in a range of settings, including the ability
to produce comprehensive and coherent letters, reports and associated
documentation
A demonstrable understanding of Health and Social Care regulatory requirements
including the CQC, NICE and any other relevant bodies.
Good IT skills including use of Microsoft Office programs, digital meeting platforms
and Case Management Systems.
Solution-focused, with an inclusive and innovative approach to service
development.
The ability to work calmly under pressure, ensuring that deadlines are met, and
ensure all information is recorded in a timely manner.
The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in different
settings (e.g., written, spoken, presented, etc) in situations which may be highly
emotive and to different groups of people.
A demonstrable commitment to working in partnership with other professionals such
as criminal justice agencies, primary care, secondary care, commissioners,
community groups and other stakeholders to achieve good outcomes for people
who use our services.
Additional or willing to undertake further psychological training in relevant
therapeutic modality (e.g. Person-Centred Counselling for Depression, CBT, EMDR,
DIT).
Sound and demonstrable knowledge of psychological issues relating to problematic
substance use, including safeguarding and risk management.
Experience of planning and coordinating an area of service development.
Demonstrable leadership skills, team working, communication and interpersonal
skills.
Ability to maintain professional boundaries with professionals, colleagues and
service users at all times.
Ability to travel between localities and offer flexibility in response to service needs.
Responsibilities for all Via staff
To work within the Via values of Care, Be human and Do the right thing. Support and
collaborate with all colleagues and engage with the wider organisation.
To promote and deliver positive, inclusive and anti-discriminatory practices in line with
Via policies, professional and sector requirements, and legislative frameworks.
To act on all Safeguarding concerns so that all statutory and organisational
Safeguarding responsibilities are met and that all learning is shared.
To observe professional integrity and candour at all times and with all people.
To comply with all organisational policies and procedures including GDPR and all Health
and Safety policy and guidance, taking responsibility for your own safety and
contributing to that of colleagues and others as applicable.
To regularly participate in one-to-one / supervision sessions, objective setting and
review, training, practice and learning forums.
A commitment to learning and to continuously improve everyones knowledge and skills.
To work flexibly to enable the delivery of effective services. This may include flexibility
across sites or flexible hours and any other duties that may reasonably be required of
you within your role
