Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and committed Senior Counsellor to work with Teenagers and Young Adults with cancer and their families throughout their cancer journey.
The Senior Counsellor is part of the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer (TYA C) Team at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), providing specialist counselling to patients, carers, and families across the East of England, as a key member of the wider multidisciplinary team.
Please note that this is a job share position and the ideal candidate will be able to work across Monday, Wednesday and Fridays during office hours, with occasional out of hours working as required.
The role involves delivering flexible, high-quality assessment and therapy, and collaborating closely with colleagues in a multidisciplinary team. The Senior Counsellor contributes to team meetings, care planning, service review and service improvement, helping to create a supportive environment for young people during and after cancer treatment, and their families.
Main duties of the job
You will be an integral member of the the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer team, based at the Oasis centre, CUH. The post holder will offer:
Assessment and therapy for young adults (16-24) from across the East of England living with cancer, and their family members, at any point during cancer treatment, as well as post treatment, end of life, and bereavement.
You will, through assessment, ongoing therapeutic work and appropriate referrals, ensure that young adults and their families/carers receive appropriate specialised therapy. The post holder will work with the Lead Clinician & Lead Nurse for the TYA service and other members of the TYA service, in developing and implementing a strategy for the implementation of NICE Improving Outcomes Guidance and IOG guidelines.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
The advert will close at midnight on 21st January 2026.
Interviews are due to be held week commencing 29th January 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
The advert will close at midnight on 21st January 2026.
Interviews are due to be held week commencing 29th January 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum Level 4 Diploma in counselling, plus knowledge of specialist therapeutic techniques
- Evidence of relevant specialist post-qualification courses to masters or equivalent level
- Evidence of continuous professional development.
- Membership of appropriate professional body
- Leadership training/experience
Desirable
- Advanced communication skills course
- Membership of a relevant body eg TYAC
- Supervision qualification
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience in specialist therapeutic work with young people and families
- Experience of providing specialist advice to other disciplines/services
- Experience and evidence of implementing change
- Evidence of use of professional networking/collaboration beyond organisational level
- Evidence of experience in working with a range of vulnerable clients presenting varying needs
- Awareness of professional boundaries
- Evidence of experience of multi-disciplinary team working and understanding of professional issues and team dynamics
Desirable
- Experience gained in relevant setting e.g. hospital, hospice
- Experience of working with young people with health conditions
- Experience of project management
- Presentation at national/international conferences
- Author for publication
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant knowledge of working with and providing service to young people aged 13 to 24 years in a relevant setting
- Knowledge of relevant specialist therapeutic techniques
- Good knowledge of issues affecting young people and challenges that affect young peoples' social, emotional and physical development
- Knowledge of child and adult protection / safeguarding law and effective disclosure management
- Knowledge of information governance in relation to health care
- Confident in own knowledge, aware of learning needs and professional boundaries and proven ability to seek guidance as appropriate
- Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues relating to young people
Desirable
- Knowledge of health issues
- Knowledge/experience of bereavement work
Skills
Essential
- Highly skilled in engaging, supporting and communicating with young people and their families in direct work
- Ability to undertake specialist assessments with young people and plan and evaluate interventions according to their individual needs
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and understanding of data protection
- Excellent interpersonal skills and be able to communicate with a wide range of people in a variety of situations
- Ability to effectively manage complex situations
- Ability to manage own caseload
- Good time management and organisational skills
- Proven ability to manage complex or conflicting priorities in a pressured environment
- Able to offer counselling in person, by phone, and by video call
- Committed team player, able to motivate and support team members
- Ability to work flexibly and responsibly within a multi-professional team
- Ability to act as a lead specialist and provide specialist advice/training to other disciplines
- Ability to maintain accurate records and data
- IT skills including Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to work effectively in a job share role
Additional requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
Desirable
- Interests and activities outside work indicating teamwork and positive stress management
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum Level 4 Diploma in counselling, plus knowledge of specialist therapeutic techniques
- Evidence of relevant specialist post-qualification courses to masters or equivalent level
- Evidence of continuous professional development.
- Membership of appropriate professional body
- Leadership training/experience
Desirable
- Advanced communication skills course
- Membership of a relevant body eg TYAC
- Supervision qualification
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience in specialist therapeutic work with young people and families
- Experience of providing specialist advice to other disciplines/services
- Experience and evidence of implementing change
- Evidence of use of professional networking/collaboration beyond organisational level
- Evidence of experience in working with a range of vulnerable clients presenting varying needs
- Awareness of professional boundaries
- Evidence of experience of multi-disciplinary team working and understanding of professional issues and team dynamics
Desirable
- Experience gained in relevant setting e.g. hospital, hospice
- Experience of working with young people with health conditions
- Experience of project management
- Presentation at national/international conferences
- Author for publication
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant knowledge of working with and providing service to young people aged 13 to 24 years in a relevant setting
- Knowledge of relevant specialist therapeutic techniques
- Good knowledge of issues affecting young people and challenges that affect young peoples' social, emotional and physical development
- Knowledge of child and adult protection / safeguarding law and effective disclosure management
- Knowledge of information governance in relation to health care
- Confident in own knowledge, aware of learning needs and professional boundaries and proven ability to seek guidance as appropriate
- Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues relating to young people
Desirable
- Knowledge of health issues
- Knowledge/experience of bereavement work
Skills
Essential
- Highly skilled in engaging, supporting and communicating with young people and their families in direct work
- Ability to undertake specialist assessments with young people and plan and evaluate interventions according to their individual needs
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and understanding of data protection
- Excellent interpersonal skills and be able to communicate with a wide range of people in a variety of situations
- Ability to effectively manage complex situations
- Ability to manage own caseload
- Good time management and organisational skills
- Proven ability to manage complex or conflicting priorities in a pressured environment
- Able to offer counselling in person, by phone, and by video call
- Committed team player, able to motivate and support team members
- Ability to work flexibly and responsibly within a multi-professional team
- Ability to act as a lead specialist and provide specialist advice/training to other disciplines
- Ability to maintain accurate records and data
- IT skills including Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to work effectively in a job share role
Additional requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
Desirable
- Interests and activities outside work indicating teamwork and positive stress management
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.
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).
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.
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).