Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a qualified counsellor to join the Outer Exeter TALKWORKS team to deliver Counselling for Depression. You will hold a Diploma in Counselling, and have a minimum of two years post qualifying experience and be registered with a statutory body, such as the BACP. Training in the Counselling for Depression protocol will be provided if the successful candidate does not already hold this.
The Outer Exeter team are a friendly team, currently based at Compass House, Magdalen Road, Exeter. There will be an expectation to work both in base offering face to face sessions and remotely from home.
This vacancy is part-time and we would consider appointing between 0.6 to 0.8 WTE. Hours are flexible but there is a requirement for at least one evening a week.
TALKWORKS provides NHS Talking Therapies across the county of Devon, [excluding Plymouth] and there are networking opportunities with counsellors in other parts of the service.
Main duties of the job
The principal function of the role is to deliver Counselling for Depression therapy to clients with depression.
The role will include assessing clients; conducting risk assessments; keeping careful notes and attending supervision and team meetings, and contributing ideas and reflections to the team.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma in humanistic &/or person-centred, counselling or psychotherapy (a BACP recognised course or its equivalent - ie 450 hours skills and theory, 120 hours of supervised practice, 20 hours of personal therapy) covering knowledge and skill in a range of counselling procedures AND Registered with a statutory health or social care regulatory body (e.g. HSCPC, NMC) and/or BACP accredited/UKCP Registered as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor / Association of Christian Counsellors Accreditation / National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society Accredited Professional registrant. If accreditation is not in place to submit an accreditation application with BACP/UKCP/Association of Christian Counsellors/National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society within 12 months of starting in post and maintain accreditation thereafter
- Have successfully completed an IAPT compliant counselling for depression course or attend and successfully complete this training when in post, within the time requirement stipulated within the course, access to the training facilitated and funded from the service
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification in humanistic or person-centred counselling or psychotherapy.
- Qualification to provide clinical supervision to counsellors and psychotherapists (e.g. Certificate or Diploma in Supervision)
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of two years post-qualifying experience of providing brief counselling for clients with common mental health problems, particularly depression.
- Experience of providing counselling in organisations (e.g. primary care services).
- Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the aims, methods and the knowledge base underpinning the national IAPT programme
- A thorough understanding of anxiety and depression problems and how people with these difficulties may present to TALKWORKS
- Knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression
- An understanding of the value of evidence based psychological therapies
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients to elicit highly sensitive personal information and demonstrate the core conditions of unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding and congruence.
- IT Skills
- Good verbal and written communication skills with people using the service, primary care practitioners and workers in specialist mental health services
- Able to accurately assess people presenting with depression and possible complex co-morbid conditions in primary care counselling / therapy services, including assessing risk and the appropriateness of the service to meet the persons needs, and personalise the evidence based counselling for depression protocol to meet individual needs.
- Skilled in decision making about the most appropriate evidence-based therapy to meet the persons needs
- Skilled in decision making about referral to specialist mental health services including crisis resolution services
- Skills to manage own caseload to ensure delivery of an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week.
Desirable
Other
Essential
- High level of enthusiasm and motivation for development and innovation in the delivery of evidence based therapies for people with common mental health problems.
- Able to attend and successfully complete a five day training in PCE-CfD
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma in humanistic &/or person-centred, counselling or psychotherapy (a BACP recognised course or its equivalent - ie 450 hours skills and theory, 120 hours of supervised practice, 20 hours of personal therapy) covering knowledge and skill in a range of counselling procedures AND Registered with a statutory health or social care regulatory body (e.g. HSCPC, NMC) and/or BACP accredited/UKCP Registered as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor / Association of Christian Counsellors Accreditation / National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society Accredited Professional registrant. If accreditation is not in place to submit an accreditation application with BACP/UKCP/Association of Christian Counsellors/National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society within 12 months of starting in post and maintain accreditation thereafter
- Have successfully completed an IAPT compliant counselling for depression course or attend and successfully complete this training when in post, within the time requirement stipulated within the course, access to the training facilitated and funded from the service
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification in humanistic or person-centred counselling or psychotherapy.
- Qualification to provide clinical supervision to counsellors and psychotherapists (e.g. Certificate or Diploma in Supervision)
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of two years post-qualifying experience of providing brief counselling for clients with common mental health problems, particularly depression.
- Experience of providing counselling in organisations (e.g. primary care services).
- Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the aims, methods and the knowledge base underpinning the national IAPT programme
- A thorough understanding of anxiety and depression problems and how people with these difficulties may present to TALKWORKS
- Knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression
- An understanding of the value of evidence based psychological therapies
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients to elicit highly sensitive personal information and demonstrate the core conditions of unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding and congruence.
- IT Skills
- Good verbal and written communication skills with people using the service, primary care practitioners and workers in specialist mental health services
- Able to accurately assess people presenting with depression and possible complex co-morbid conditions in primary care counselling / therapy services, including assessing risk and the appropriateness of the service to meet the persons needs, and personalise the evidence based counselling for depression protocol to meet individual needs.
- Skilled in decision making about the most appropriate evidence-based therapy to meet the persons needs
- Skilled in decision making about referral to specialist mental health services including crisis resolution services
- Skills to manage own caseload to ensure delivery of an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week.
Desirable
Other
Essential
- High level of enthusiasm and motivation for development and innovation in the delivery of evidence based therapies for people with common mental health problems.
- Able to attend and successfully complete a five day training in PCE-CfD
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
