Counsellor

Devon Partnership Trust; Okehampton; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

Devon Partnership Trust is seeking a qualified counsellor to deliver Counselling for Depression across community settings in Devon. The role requires a Diploma in Counselling and registration with a statutory body, with training in the Counselling for Depression protocol provided if needed.

The post is based across Tiverton, Crediton, Cullompton and Okehampton, with two-thirds of time in community locations and the rest from home. Flexible hours with at least one evening per week are expected.

Qualifications

• Diploma covering knowledge in a range of counselling procedures and registered with a regulatory body.
• Registered with a statutory health or social care regulatory body (e.g. HSCPC, NMC) and/or BACP/UKCP or similar.
• 450 hours skills/theory, 120 hours supervised practice, 20 hours personal therapy.
• Post-graduate qualification in humanistic or person-centred counselling or psychotherapy is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Counselling for Depression therapy to clients with depression.
• Assess clients and conduct risk assessments.
• Keep careful notes and attend supervision and team meetings.
• Contribute ideas and reflections to the team.

Skills

Communication Skills

IT Skills

Analytical & Judgement Skills

Planning & Organising

Other skills

Travel

Education

Diploma in humanistic &/or person-centred counselling or psychotherapy

Registered with statutory health or social care regulatory body

450 hours theory & practice, 120 hours supervised, 20 hours personal therapy

Post-graduate qualification in humanistic or person-centred counselling (Desirable)

Job description

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., Please see attached job description and person specification which will provide further information for this role. 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.

• Communication Skills: 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.
• Analytical & Judgement Skills: 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 person's 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 person's needs. Skilled in decision making about referral to specialist mental health services including crisis resolution services.
• Planning & Organising Skills: 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.
• Other skills: High level of enthusiasm and motivation for development and innovation in the delivery of evidence based therapies for people with common mental health problems. Self-organised and able to manage own diary. Able to attend and successfully complete a five day training in PCE-CfD
• The ability to travel to meet the requirements of the role

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 Society Accredited Professional registrant.

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 significant number of 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

Desirable

• Experience of delivering PCE Counselling for Depression in a NHS Talking Therapy Service.

An opportunity has arisen for a qualified counsellor to join the Mid Devon 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. Upon completion of the training the postholder will be promoted to Band 7.

We are a friendly team covering Tiverton, Crediton, Cullompton and Okehampton, with some work delivered at Elizabeth House on the outskirts of Exeter. There will be an expectation of two thirds of the post holder's time being spent delivering work at community locations, with the remainder being delivered remotely from home. We currently have room space in Tiverton, Crediton and Okehampton. The 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.

Please note interviews are likely to take place on W/C 19th October 2026.