Job summary
This post is part of NHS funded three-year Talking Therapies High Intensity Psychotherapeutic Counselling training programme in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) delivered by University of Roehampton. Trainees will be attending their university course alongside their duties within NHS Richmond Talking Therapies.
The successful candidates will join NHS Richmond Talking Therapies service as a band 5, while undertaking a foundation year of their Psychotherapeutic Counselling training program. The trainee will move to Band 6 following completion of the foundation year of training. Following successful completion of the course the candidate will be offered a permanent band 7 position as a High Intensity Therapist in one of our SWLSTG NHS Talking Therapies.
Successful applicants will need to be able to begin their training in September 2025. You must be able to attend University, as required, which will include block teaching over several days at the start of the course. Subsequent teaching will be two days per week, in conjunction with a minimum period of high intensity psychodynamic counselling and later DIT clinical practice on three days a week in NHS Richmond Talking Therapies service.
Richmond is a diverse borough, and we would particularly welcome applications from clinicians who are able to deliver interventions in languages other than English.
Main duties of the job
You will be providing evidence-based relational therapy treatment on an individual basis to clients aged 18 and over presenting with depression. You may also be required to provide intake assessments and other more specialist suitability assessments to service users accessing RWS. Once qualified, you may also be offering DIT groups. There will be opportunities to develop areas of interest such as working with long term health conditions, working with clients with learning disabilities, working with perinatal clients, by contributing to project groups or taking a Champion role.
High quality supervision and CPD are a priority for the team. As a trainee you will receive regular weekly individual clinical supervision and weekly line management from one of our band 7 DIT Therapists working within the service. Upon qualification, your supervision may be in a group. You will also have the opportunity to attend training workshops led by highly respected clinicians in their field, as well as a regular in-house relational CPD program. We have also recently started developing secondment opportunities for clinicians interested in working in other teams in the Trust which has been positively received.
You will work clinically within primary care settings and be required to work flexible hours . The service operates from 9am to 8pm Monday - Thursday and 9am to 5pm on Friday. you will be required to work one day from 12-8pm.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To accept referrals via agreed pathways and protocols within the service.
Following sign off as meeting a foundation standard of competence through simulation, trainees will assess and support service users with mild to moderate depression in NHS TTad services in the self-management of their recovery using either a humanistic/person-centred or psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic psychotherapeutic counselling approach, under close supervision within an NHS TT ad stepped care setting and in line with the NHS TT ad Manual.
Undertakes patient-centred interviews which identifies areas where the person wishes to see change and or recovery and makes an accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the services referral
protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the relevant part of the service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-down the persons treatment to low intensity intervention.
Following assessment, identify and negotiate the focus and contract for time limited counselling as per service contract and protocols.
Deliver time limited counselling interventions in accordance with the NHS TTad Manual, the evidence base, service protocols. This work may be in person, via video consultation or telephone.
Adhere to an agreed level of activity relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service utilising electronic record and data collection systems as required.
Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.
Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach within the NHS TTad Service.
Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate
To agree confidentiality boundaries with patients (working within professional codes of ethics and those of the employer).
To undertake risk assessments and take the appropriate action (possibly breaching patient confidentiality in the interests of the client or as dictated by legislation and service policy).
To have a caseload of individual clients (or couples if undertaking the Couple Therapy for Depression pathway), with sessions offered in person, via video consultation or telephone.
Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary.
Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process.
Operate at all times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises and respects diversity.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To accept referrals via agreed pathways and protocols within the service.
Following sign off as meeting a foundation standard of competence through simulation, trainees will assess and support service users with mild to moderate depression in NHS TTad services in the self-management of their recovery using either a humanistic/person-centred or psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic psychotherapeutic counselling approach, under close supervision within an NHS TT ad stepped care setting and in line with the NHS TT ad Manual.
Undertakes patient-centred interviews which identifies areas where the person wishes to see change and or recovery and makes an accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the services referral
protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the relevant part of the service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-down the persons treatment to low intensity intervention.
Following assessment, identify and negotiate the focus and contract for time limited counselling as per service contract and protocols.
Deliver time limited counselling interventions in accordance with the NHS TTad Manual, the evidence base, service protocols. This work may be in person, via video consultation or telephone.
Adhere to an agreed level of activity relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service utilising electronic record and data collection systems as required.
Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.
Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach within the NHS TTad Service.
Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate
To agree confidentiality boundaries with patients (working within professional codes of ethics and those of the employer).
To undertake risk assessments and take the appropriate action (possibly breaching patient confidentiality in the interests of the client or as dictated by legislation and service policy).
To have a caseload of individual clients (or couples if undertaking the Couple Therapy for Depression pathway), with sessions offered in person, via video consultation or telephone.
Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary.
Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process.
Operate at all times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises and respects diversity.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience Show a commitment to working with people with common mental health problems
- Demonstrable interpersonal skills and values consistent with providing hopeful, person-centred care within the NHS TTad stepped model of care
- Evidence of communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
Desirable
- Evidence of working with people who have experienced a common mental health problem
- Previous clinical or professional expertise in mental health
- Worked in a setting where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised degree at 2:2 or above in any relevant subject, or equivalent, or Demonstrates competency via a portfolio of evidence, which meets specified academic equivalence requirements
- Completed a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, (minimum of 10 days or 60 hours of face-to-face tuition at level 2 or level 3). Note: Online courses are not acceptable. L2 Award, Helping Skills and Introductory courses are not acceptable
- Able to complete academic components of the full training programme including Foundation course, and postgraduate diploma
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to evidence based practice (as outlined in NICE guidance) and the NHS TTad stepped care model.
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression including the wider impact for the whole person
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and meaningful occupation and the impact it can have on mental health
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
Desirable
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience Show a commitment to working with people with common mental health problems
- Demonstrable interpersonal skills and values consistent with providing hopeful, person-centred care within the NHS TTad stepped model of care
- Evidence of communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
Desirable
- Evidence of working with people who have experienced a common mental health problem
- Previous clinical or professional expertise in mental health
- Worked in a setting where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised degree at 2:2 or above in any relevant subject, or equivalent, or Demonstrates competency via a portfolio of evidence, which meets specified academic equivalence requirements
- Completed a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, (minimum of 10 days or 60 hours of face-to-face tuition at level 2 or level 3). Note: Online courses are not acceptable. L2 Award, Helping Skills and Introductory courses are not acceptable
- Able to complete academic components of the full training programme including Foundation course, and postgraduate diploma
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to evidence based practice (as outlined in NICE guidance) and the NHS TTad stepped care model.
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression including the wider impact for the whole person
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and meaningful occupation and the impact it can have on mental health
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
Desirable
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
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).
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).
