Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

NHS TT Psychotherapeutic Counsellor - Foundation Trainee

The closing date is 07 August 2025

Job summary

The Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service offers a variety of support and NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety & depression to the community of Brighton and Hove.

The NHS TT Psychotherapeutic Counselling national curriculum provides a Foundation level & Postgraduate Diploma training in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, leading to a qualification to practise as a High Intensity Therapist in NHS TT services.

This position is for trainees undertaking the foundation stage of the training. Recruitment for the courses is aimed at graduates (and those who can demonstrate professional and academic equivalence).

On completion of foundation training, trainees will be eligible to apply to continue on to the Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma. This will lead to delivering one of the following NHS TT approved modalities, based on the specific training pathway that is undertaken within the national curriculum:

- Couple Therapy for Depression (CTfD)

- Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy for Depression (DIT)

- Person-Centred Experiential - Counselling for Depression(PCE-CfD).

Trainees will receive:

- Full tuition fees across the 3-years of the programme

- Salary support to cover the salaries across the 3-years of the programme:

Year 1- Band 5

Year 2 & 3- Band 6

The post holder will attend all taught and self-study days required by the education provider, as specified within the agreed national curriculum and work in the service for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills.

Main duties of the job

Followingsign off as meeting a foundation standard of competence through simulation, trainees will assess & support service users with mild to moderate depression in NHS TT services in the self-management of their recovery using either a humanistic/ person-centred or psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic psychotherapeutic counselling approach, under close supervision and in line with the NHS TT Manual.
Deliver time limited counselling interventions in accordance with the NHS TT Manual, the evidence base, service protocols.
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.
Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.
Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical, academic and practice based assessments.
Trainees will be required to complete a minimum of 50 hours of personal therapy over the three years, commencing in Year 1 prior to starting work with service users. Therapy undertaken prior to the commencement of training may not be counted towards this requirement. The therapy must be in the overarching theoretical orientation of the training (i.e. humanistic/person-centred or psychoanalytic/psychodynamic).

About us

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire.

Working in Sussex:

Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns

Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London

With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure

We'd love you to join our organisation that is rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the CQC. Our staff agree, with 82% of people in our recent staff survey telling us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.

Other staff survey results include:

70% highlighting flexible working opportunities as a key point for satisfaction at work

79% reporting feeling able to make suggestions to improve the work within their team

77% identifying the opportunities to show initiative in their roles

Date posted

24 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-PC-20699(F)

Job locations

177 Preston Road

Preston Road

Brighton

BN1 6AG

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please thoroughly read the below and the supporting documents to ensure you meet eligibility requirements and are able to evidence the essential criteria of the role.

All applicants must complete an application to the learning provider Metanoia in addition to submitting their application for this role to be eligible for shortlisting:

Please find below the link to Metanoia Institute webpage for the training:

https://www.metanoia.ac.uk/programmes/post-qualification/pgdip-person-centred-experiential-counselling-for-depression/

and a direct link to the application form:

https://eu-quercus.elluciancloud.com/app/met/f?p=PV_ONLINE_APP:101::::APP:APP_COURSE_INSTANCE:49357998

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please thoroughly read the below and the supporting documents to ensure you meet eligibility requirements and are able to evidence the essential criteria of the role.

All applicants must complete an application to the learning provider Metanoia in addition to submitting their application for this role to be eligible for shortlisting:

Please find below the link to Metanoia Institute webpage for the training:

https://www.metanoia.ac.uk/programmes/post-qualification/pgdip-person-centred-experiential-counselling-for-depression/

and a direct link to the application form:

https://eu-quercus.elluciancloud.com/app/met/f?p=PV_ONLINE_APP:101::::APP:APP_COURSE_INSTANCE:49357998

Person Specification

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
Upon successful qualification the postholder must be accredited with BABCP

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

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 TT stepped model of care
Evidence of working within a team environment
Evidence of communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Demonstrates high standards in written communication
Able to write clear reports and letters

Person Specification

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
Upon successful qualification the postholder must be accredited with BABCP

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

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 TT stepped model of care
Evidence of working within a team environment
Evidence of communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Demonstrates high standards in written communication
Able to write clear reports and letters

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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