Band 6 Counsellor for Depression

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Tamworth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking a Band 6 Counsellor for Depression to provide assessments and therapies. This role entails formulating therapy programs, attending multidisciplinary meetings, and working closely with other health professionals. Candidates should have a Level 5 Diploma in Humanistic Counselling, experience with Person Centred Counselling, and be willing to train further. The service operates core 9-5 hours and offers flexibility for patient therapy. Room for career progression exists upon completion of training.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of Person Centred Counselling for treating Depression.
• Minimum of 2 years post-qualifying experience in brief counselling.
• Evidence of work towards BACP Counsellor/Psychotherapy accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Make decisions on new referrals and service suitability.
• Formulate and evaluate individual therapy programmes.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings for client discussions.

Skills

Person Centred Counselling

Mental Health Treatment

Client Relationship Management

Education

Level 5 Diploma in Humanistic Counselling

Job description

Overview

You will work at Step 3 of the Stepped Care Model, providing assessments and NICE approved therapies across the service, including face to face and video conferencing. The post is clinically supervised by senior clinicians in the service and is operationally responsible to the Senior Therapist and Operational Lead.

Responsibilities

• Make decisions on the suitability of new referrals, identifying the most suitable service for the patient
• Formulate, implement and evaluate individual therapy programmes for patients
• Exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment and treatment of clients in line with the service
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate
• Liaise with other health and social care staff from a range of agencies with a regard to referrals
• Promote and maintain links with services across the Trust to help co-ordinate provision of an effective Psychological Therapies Service
• Contribute to the teaching and training of mental health professionals and other staff working in the service

A detailed job description and personal specification listing necessary qualifications are attached. When completing your application, please provide detailed evidence of how you meet the criteria on the personal specification in your Supporting Statement.

Qualifications and Experience

• We are looking for someone who can demonstrate some existing knowledge and experience of using Person Centred Counselling for treating Depression.
• Minimum Level 5 Diploma training in humanistic counselling with 100 client hours as part of the course
• Minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience providing brief counselling to clients with common mental health problems, particularly depression
• Evidence of working towards BACP Counsellor/Psychotherapy accreditation or equivalent
• A willingness to train in Person-centred Experiential Counselling for Depression

The successful candidate will be supported to apply for the Person-centred Experiential Counselling for Depression which starts in April 2026 and will need to meet the eligibility criteria for this course as well as be available to attend the specific training dates.

The service works core 9-5 hours but offers patient therapy between the hours of 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, and in future on Saturday mornings. Candidates should be prepared to work flexibly to meet service needs.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn.

If you have aspirations to develop and progress, our Talking Therapies team is leading the way in providing excellent opportunities for training and our focus on staff wellbeing and flexible working arrangements enable our workforce to enjoy a good work life balance.

Due to continuing expansion, we are advertising for a Band 6 Counsellor for Depression. The successful applicant will be required to complete the Person-centred Experiential Counselling for Depression course at the first available opportunity. An application to move to Band 7 will be considered on successful completion of training and achievement of BACP Accreditation.

The Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Wellbeing Service is a creative organisation which embraces staff ideas to constantly seek ways of taking the service forward to adapt to changing expectations. Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow. We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.