Counsellor

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust in Huddersfield seeks a qualified Counsellor to join their team. The role includes providing psychotherapy in primary care settings, requiring an advanced diploma in counselling and two years of experience. This autonomous position offers the chance to enhance skills through PCE-CfD training and collaborate within a supportive mental health service.

Qualifications

• 2 years post qualification experience.
• Clinical practice with mental health services.
• Understanding of clinical risk.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychotherapy for common mental health problems.
• Consult and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Conduct assessments and interventions in primary care settings.

Skills

Advanced communication skills

Understanding of anxiety and depression

Team player

Education

Advanced Diploma in Counselling

Masters degree in counselling

Job description

Overview

Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Counsellor

The closing date is 22 October 2025

My name is Amy Sutcliffe, I am one of the Team Managers for the Kirklees Talking Therapies Service, here in Huddersfield and Dewsbury. We are a friendly and supportive service, where our staff are valued and contribute to service development.

I am excited to welcome applications for a qualified Counsellor with 2 years post qualification experience looking to broaden their experience working in a primary care setting.

As an applicant you must have completed an advanced diploma in counselling and have experience of working in mental health services.

You will need to demonstrate an understanding of anxiety and depression and how these can present in primary care. You will have the opportunity to enhance your existing skills by attending the PCE-CfD training.

This is an autonomous role and it is essential that you possess advanced communication skills and an understanding of clinical risk.

Applicants who do not meet the essential criteria for a Band 7 position may be considered for a Band 6 position.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

Main duties of the job

Our team provides NICE compliant psychotherapy incorporating Counselling, CBT and Guided Self Help to clients in primary care across Kirklees. This is an 8 to 8 service Monday to Friday, and we offer sessions either by Microsoft Teams, telephone or face to face.

We hold clinics both in Trust premises and also in primary care settings across the area to ensure that we are, as much as possible, nearby for the people that use the service.

We treat clients with common mental health problems such as depression or anxiety disorders like Generalised Anxiety Disorder, OCD, PTSD, social phobia or body dysmorphic disorder.

We consistently achieve our recovery target of 50 per cent, for me that's important because it means we're making a difference to people's lives.

I would invite you to contact me if you would like to discuss the post, please email me at [e-mail] or Louise Wilkinson Lead Counsellor on [e-mail].

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we're run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

This job description outlines the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with service developments.

The post holder will provide specialist IAPT approved modality therapies, including Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression (PCE CfD), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DiT) and Couples Therapy for Depression (CTfD) within an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Service. The post holder will provide a high quality clinical service to the users of the service.

They will provide specialist assessment and intervention while working collaboratively with colleagues trained in IAPT modality professions and professionals from other agencies and carers. They will be clinically responsible to a Lead Counsellor. Clinical oversight of all work will be held by the Lead Counsellor in the service.

The job plan will be delivered in the services the post is based.

The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team while observing Trust and National policies and procedures.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

To offer consultation, supervision and training when required by other agencies involved in the psychological, emotional and behavioural well-being of people referred to the service

To provide consultation, assessment and intervention in the service.

To work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary context.

To provide assessment and treatment options for people experiencing moderate, severe and complex mental health problems.

To exercise expert clinical judgement based on the highest standards of evidence based practise.

To continually seek to expand and consolidate clinical skills using training, experience, and supervision.

To provide specialist risk assessment of and intervention to people who present to the service.

To follow appropriate Adult and Child Protection guidelines in all Clinical work, including close liaison with all agencies.

To manage a caseload of clients with psychological needs at a primary care level including the assessment and formulation of treatment plans, delivery and evaluation of IAPT modality therapy.

To work within an IAPT stepped care model and deliver an IAPT approved modality therapy (PCE CfD, IPT, DiT or CTfD).

To contribute to the development of PCE CfD, IPT, DiT or CTfD within the IAPT Service, which may include proposing changes to service delivery and practices in line with the overall organisational policy.

Accredited with an appropriate registered body relevant to the model of working (e.g. BACP/ BABCP/ UKCP).

To deliver and receive clinical supervision in line with Trust/ IAPT Service policy and BACP guidelines.

To be responsible for continuing professional development in line with appropriate registered body guidelines.

To provide training to members of the team as appropriate related to their specialism.

To act as a supervisor to Trainee PCE CfD, IPT, DiT or CTfD and counselling students on placement within the service.

An ability to remain still and attentive for substantial periods of time during assessment, treatment, and supervision sessions, which is restrictive of free physical movement.

To record data related to client work as require. E.g. outcome measures, evaluation of intervention.

To assist in the evolution of the service by contributing to data collection and analysis and to participate in research projects as required.

To attend meetings as required to meet client and service needs.

The post holder will participate in any other activity as agreed with the Lead Counsellor and managers.

Adhere to an agreed level of activity relating to the number of client contacts offered and clinical session carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.

To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practise of self and others.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Experience

• Minimum of 450 hours supervised clinical practice hours.
• Previously worked with a range of clients with a variety of mental health presentations.
• Experience of working in brief short-term counselling intervention.
• Experience of the role of counselling within IAPT and of stepped care services.
• Regular supervised practice.
• Ability to carry out assessment, formulation and intervention.
• Extensive clinical and theoretical knowledge.
• Experience of giving of mentoring or supervision.
• Experience in working with service users in the clinical area of the post.
• Different theoretical approaches.
• Work with other disciplines.
• Work with people who have disabilities.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary work and collaboration.

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Able to travel throughout the catchment area, without unnecessary delays.
• Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
• IT Literate.
• Understanding of the role of IAPT modality therapies within IAPT and knowledge of stepped care services.
• Able to demonstrate ability to manage own caseload.
• Knowledge of ethical and legal issues/dilemmas relating to counselling in primary care.
• Good record keeping and knowledge of record keeping guidelines.
• Good communication skills verbal and written.
• Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological treatments and an interest in models of service delivery.
• An ability to articulate the value added by counselling within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health services.
• Knowledge of adult & child protection legislation.
• Awareness of legislation relevant to the clinical area of practice.

Training

• Appropriate safeguarding training.
• Trained in IAPT approved Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression (PCE CfD) course or another IAPT modality qualification e.g Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Couples Therapy for Depression (CTfD), Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DiT).
• Trained in delivering counselling supervision.
• Completion of multiple IAPT approved modality therapies (PCE CfD, IPT, DiT or CTfD).
• Trained in an IAPT modality supervision.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Qualifications

• Registered qualification in core mental health/social welfare profession.
• Masters degree in counselling OR Advanced Diploma in Counselling plus evidence of further post graduate professional specialist training in an IAPT Modality qualification.
• Registration/ Accreditation with the relevant professional/accrediting body for the model of psychotherapy relevant to this post. , e.g. UKCP, ACAP, BABCP.

Personal Attributes

• Caring.
• Team Player.
• Commitment to supervision and support.
• Flexible.
• Committed to client group.

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust