Cancer Counsellor | East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust; Ipswich, Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A large NHS organization is seeking a motivated and experienced counsellor to provide therapeutic support to cancer patients and their relatives. The role involves collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team and managing outreach activities. Candidates should have experience as a counsellor, ideally in a healthcare setting, and ability to support individuals with trauma and grief. Flexible working options are available, including remote support.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme

NHS discounts

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a counsellor in secondary care setting.
• Experience in counselling clients in time-limited work.
• Ability to support cancer patients and relatives.

Responsibilities

• Support cancer patients and loved ones managing trauma and grief.
• Manage client bookings and liaise with Wellbeing centre staff.
• Facilitate education and provide clinical supervision.

Skills

Counselling skills

Ability to manage trauma

IT and telephone skills

Education

BACP accreditation or working towards it

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for someone to join our team of cancer counsellors at ESNEFT. We are looking for a motivated and experienced counsellor with the skills to offer therapeutic support to cancer patients and their relatives. You will work 34 hours per week across 4 or 5 days, based in the Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre at Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals. Subject to room availability and needs of the service you will work at least 2 days at Colchester (Monday and Tuesday) and 1 day in Ipswich (Wednesday or Friday). Other time can be worked from home. Regular outreach clinics are held in Clacton and counsellors also provide telephone support from home.

You will work as part of an integrated multi-disciplinary team, including counsellors, clinical nurse specialists, doctors, information staff and volunteers. Part of the role will be to facilitate education, clinical supervision and reflective practice to cancer services staff, as well as raise the awareness of the benefits of counselling to other health professionals.

Responsibilities

• Support cancer patients and their loved ones who may present with a range of needs, such as trauma, grief and loss, to effectively manage the challenges and ethical dilemmas presented in this area of work.
• Lead on the bookings of the clients referred and liaise with the Wellbeing centre staff regarding room bookings.
• Work independently to manage administrative duties, record keeping and data collection and analysis associated with the role.
• Facilitate education, provide clinical supervision and reflective practice to cancer services staff.
• Contribute to ongoing service evaluation and improvement, and collaborate to continually evaluate and improve services.
• Maintain excellent IT and telephone skills and be able to multi-task in a busy environment.
• Work within the multi-disciplinary team and support outreach activities and telephone support from home.

Qualifications

• Previous experience of working as a counsellor, ideally in a secondary care setting.
• BACP accredited or working towards accreditation with substantial experience of counselling clients and time-limited work.
• Ability to support cancer patients and their relatives with a range of needs, such as trauma, grief and loss.

About ESNEFT and Benefits

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. We provide a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to NHS discounts, plus our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we focus on improving what we do and removing time delays for staff and patients. We are investing in our commitment with Epic, a leading electronic patient record (EPR) system to transform life in hospital for staff and patients.

How to Apply and Additional Information

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description. This advert closes on Wednesday 17 Sep 2025. Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A