Counsellor / Counsellor (Development Role)

NHS; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Horsham is seeking an Accredited Counsellor to join their team. The role involves providing short-term counselling interventions and working within a support team while being sponsored for appropriate training. Candidates must have a recognized professional qualification and experience in managing a caseload. This position offers competitive pay and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Excellent CPD and career development opportunities

Regular support, supervision, and training

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Recognized professional qualification to Diploma level or equivalent in Counselling or Psychotherapy.
• Professional qualification recognized by accrediting bodies.
• Minimum of 150 hours post qualification client contacts.
• Experience managing own caseload and time.

Responsibilities

• Provide Step 3 short-term counselling interventions.
• Work within the service while being sponsored for IAPT-compliant training.
• Demonstrate experience treating patients in a time-limited counselling model.

Job description

Job summary

We have exciting opportunities to join NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies as an Accredited Counsellor, within our South Team in Worthing and our Health Team in Horsham.

You will provide Step 3 short-term counselling interventions through Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression (PCE-CfD), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) or Couples Therapy for Depression (CTfD) within the service.

The Counsellor role is offered at NHS Band 7 for those registered and accredited with the relevant professional body and holding IAPT-compliant modality training.

If not yet IAPT-compliant modality training, this can be offered as an IAPT Development Counsellor role (NHS Band 6). You will work within the service whilst being sponsored to undertake training in an IAPT approved modality within a year of joining.

You will be fully supported by our management and clinical leads and surrounded by a friendly, highly competent supportive workforce. We have taken time to create a model and culture in our service which ensures that you are happy in your work.

As one of the country's leading IAPT services, we lead the way in the provision of NICE recommended psychological therapies, are focused on clinical excellence, innovation.

• Excellent CPD and career development opportunities
• Regular support, supervision and training
• Opportunity to engage in a number of interesting and social activities led by a Wellbeing lead in each locality

Main duties of the job

Applicants must be either BACP Accredited, or UKCP Registered as a Psychotherapist or Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, ACC Accredited, NCS Accredited Professional Registrant, or British Psychoanalytic Council Registered. Applicants must also have appropriate qualifications as detailed in the person specification.

Applicantsholding an additional NHS Talking Therapies qualification,such as IPT, DIT, PCE-CfD or CTfD are appointed at Agenda for Change Band 7. Applicants who do not hold an additional NHS Talking Therapies qualification will be recruited at Band 6 and must be willing to undertake training and achieve certification in an NHS Talking Therapies approved module within 12 months. Once achieved, you will move up to Band 7 (please note that this training is funded by the service).

You will also need to demonstrate extensive experience of treating patients within a time limited counselling model, as well as experience of providing triage assessments.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?o Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trusto Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence --guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Details Date posted

31 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

150-MM1950-PC

Job locations

Worthing and Horsham

Worthing / Horsham

BN11 1UR

Job description Job responsibilities

The required registration and accreditation is one of the below:

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Accredited ( BACP)
• United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered as Psychotherapist or psychotherapeutic Counsellor
• Association of Christian counsellors Accreditation
• National Counselling Society( NCS) Accredited Professional registrants ( PNCPS Accr)
• British Psychanalytic Council Registrant

Our South Team covers Shoreham, Lancing, Worthing and Littlehampton. Our Health Team covers the whole county of West Sussex.

We provide services Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm with plenty of opportunities to work flexible hours and staff have laptops and mobiles allowing for office and home working flexibility.

Job description Job responsibilities

The required registration and accreditation is one of the below:

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Accredited ( BACP)
• United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered as Psychotherapist or psychotherapeutic Counsellor
• Association of Christian counsellors Accreditation
• National Counselling Society( NCS) Accredited Professional registrants ( PNCPS Accr)
• British Psychanalytic Council Registrant

Our South Team covers Shoreham, Lancing, Worthing and Littlehampton. Our Health Team covers the whole county of West Sussex.

We provide services Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm with plenty of opportunities to work flexible hours and staff have laptops and mobiles allowing for office and home working flexibility.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Recognised professional qualification to Diploma level or equivalent in Counselling or Psychotherapy
• Professional qualification which is recognised by accrediting bodies as listed in the IAPT Manual (BACP accredited, UKCP registered as a psychotherapist/psychotherapeutic counsellor, BPC registered, ACC accreditation, NCS accredited professional registrants
• Membership of a relevant professional body
• Registration/accreditation with relevant professional body: UKCP registration, HCPC, BACP, IPT UK accreditation
• Have achieved accreditation in an IAPT-approved therapy model, such as IPT, DIT, CFD or CCFD

Experience Essential

• Minimum of 150 hours post qualification client contacts
• Worked with a wide range of clients presenting with multiple and complex issues
• Experience and ability to manage own caseload and time

Desirable

• Experience as Primary Care Counsellor
• Experience of team working within the NHS or Primary Care
• Experience of and ability to meet agreed/specified service targets for clinical work
• Experience of working therapeutically with patients who have Long Term Conditions and/or Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Skills Essential

• A range of counselling interventions in order to respond flexibly to different client needs.
• Demonstrates high standard of record keeping, with due regard for NHS Confidentiality, Data Protection and Information Governance, abiding by codes of ethics and guidance for good practice of professional body
• Has full understanding and practical application of the Ethical Principals and Codes of Practice for own professional body
• Is computer literate and experienced at using email, Outlook, Word, internet

Desirable

• Ability to deliver CFD, IPT, DIT or CCFD interventions in order to respond flexibly to different client need
• Has used IAPTus or equivalent computerised health record system for keeping patient records

Other Essential

• Ability to travel across the North Locality (public transport is not available to all destinations). If not a car owner/driver must state how will travel

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Recognised professional qualification to Diploma level or equivalent in Counselling or Psychotherapy
• Professional qualification which is recognised by accrediting bodies as listed in the IAPT Manual (BACP accredited, UKCP registered as a psychotherapist/psychotherapeutic counsellor, BPC registered, ACC accreditation, NCS accredited professional registrants
• Membership of a relevant professional body
• Registration/accreditation with relevant professional body: UKCP registration, HCPC, BACP, IPT UK accreditation
• Have achieved accreditation in an IAPT-approved therapy model, such as IPT, DIT, CFD or CCFD

Experience Essential

• Minimum of 150 hours post qualification client contacts
• Worked with a wide range of clients presenting with multiple and complex issues
• Experience and ability to manage own caseload and time

Desirable

• Experience as Primary Care Counsellor
• Experience of team working within the NHS or Primary Care
• Experience of and ability to meet agreed/specified service targets for clinical work
• Experience of working therapeutically with patients who have Long Term Conditions and/or Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Skills Essential

• A range of counselling interventions in order to respond flexibly to different client needs.
• Demonstrates high standard of record keeping, with due regard for NHS Confidentiality, Data Protection and Information Governance, abiding by codes of ethics and guidance for good practice of professional body
• Has full understanding and practical application of the Ethical Principals and Codes of Practice for own professional body
• Is computer literate and experienced at using email, Outlook, Word, internet

Desirable

• Ability to deliver CFD, IPT, DIT or CCFD interventions in order to respond flexibly to different client need
• Has used IAPTus or equivalent computerised health record system for keeping patient records

Other Essential

• Ability to travel across the North Locality (public transport is not available to all destinations). If not a car owner/driver must state how will travel

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Worthing and Horsham

Worthing / Horsham

BN11 1UR

Employer's website

https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Worthing and Horsham

Worthing / Horsham

BN11 1UR

Employer's website

https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)