Counsellor/Psychotherapist

NHS; Halifax; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

The NHS is inviting applications for a Band 6 accredited counsellor or psychotherapist position within its Cancer Psychological Service team. This role offers the opportunity to work collaboratively in a supportive environment, delivering psychological services to patients and contributing to the ongoing development of departmental initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience of delivering counselling interventions within a formal setting.
• Specialist knowledge of a range of counselling procedures and techniques.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality, time limited counselling to adult patients.
• Manage a caseload and maintain patient records.
• Contribute to audit and service development as required.

Skills

Communication

Psychological skills

Education

Accredited Diploma in Counselling

Job description

Job summary

We are delighted to offer an opportunity to become part of our Cancer Psychological Service team as a Band 6 accredited counsellor or psychotherapist. We are a friendly team of Clinical Psychologists and a secretary, and the service was established in 2017. The successful candidate will join a rapidly expanding Clinical Health Psychology Department within Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT).

We are recruiting to a 0.8 WTE post on a 12-month fixed-term contract. We strongly encourage interested candidates to contact us to discuss the role.

An interest in working with patients with physical health difficulties is essential, however we appreciate that cancer is a specialist area in which candidates may not have experience. Most importantly we require a willingness and enthusiasm to learn condition specific information, which we will support you with.

Main duties of the job

As a counsellor or psychotherapist in the Cancer Psychological Services team you will deliver a compassionate, high quality, time limited counselling/psychotherapy service to adult patients referred to Cancer Psychological Services in Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust. You will manage a caseload and maintain patient records. The role involves contributing to referral triage alongside others and working closely with the cancer multidisciplinary teams to support them in their psychological work with patients.

About us

We are a growing Clinical Health Psychology Department that has good relationships across CHFT. We are committed to developing excellent quality care that aims to meet psychological needs of patients who are treated within CHFT. We develop services in a patient focused way and compassionate care is at the heart of our department. We actively encourage and support CPD, supervision, service-related audit and research. As a newly established department, there is significant scope to work creatively in the continuation of new trust wide developments and be part of shaping our culture.

Details Date posted

30 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

372-MED2424

Job locations

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary/Calderdale Royal Hospital

Huddersfield/ Halifax

HD3 3EA

Job description Job responsibilities

• Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • To assess, plan, implement and evaluate care and treatments using advanced clinical knowledge and clinical skills.

  To provide counselling/psychological therapy to adult patients in line with NICE guidelines and other relevant guidance, within agreed activity levels under appropriate supervision.

  To offer advice and consultation on patients psychological care to non-psychology colleagues.

  To work autonomously within professional guidelines taking full responsibility for their professional practice under the ethical framework of their accrediting organisation. Working in line with the policies and procedures of the Clinical Health Psychology department and CHFT organisational policies.

  To contribute to audit, policy, department meetings and service development as required.

  To support Cancer Psychological Service professionals with the development, delivery and co-ordination of groups, workshops and psycho education sessions as required.

  To assist in the development and facilitation of psychological supervision/reflective practice and peer support groups within the trust where needed.

  To work flexibly in response to service demands

Job description Job responsibilities

• Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • To assess, plan, implement and evaluate care and treatments using advanced clinical knowledge and clinical skills.

  To provide counselling/psychological therapy to adult patients in line with NICE guidelines and other relevant guidance, within agreed activity levels under appropriate supervision.

  To offer advice and consultation on patients psychological care to non-psychology colleagues.

  To work autonomously within professional guidelines taking full responsibility for their professional practice under the ethical framework of their accrediting organisation. Working in line with the policies and procedures of the Clinical Health Psychology department and CHFT organisational policies.

  To contribute to audit, policy, department meetings and service development as required.

  To support Cancer Psychological Service professionals with the development, delivery and co-ordination of groups, workshops and psycho education sessions as required.

  To assist in the development and facilitation of psychological supervision/reflective practice and peer support groups within the trust where needed.

  To work flexibly in response to service demands

Person Specification Qualifications/Training Essential

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (or equivalent) accredited Diploma
• Accredited status with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (or equivalent, e.g. full clinical membership UKCP).

Desirable

• Additional training in models of psychological therapy

Knowledge, experience & expertise Essential

• Specialist knowledge of a range of counselling procedures and techniques
• Experience of delivering counselling interventions within a formal setting
• Experience of delivering short term time limited work
• Experience of regular supervised practice
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the appropriate professional registration body
• Diploma level knowledge of counselling practice, highly developed communication skills essential in performance of the role of counsellor
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of assessment and counselling interventions
• Awareness of own limitations

Desirable

• Experience of delivering counselling interventions in a range of settings with a diverse range of patients
• Experience of delivering group work
• Experience of delivering counselling interventions within an NHS setting

Communication & Relationships Essential

• The ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats, complex and highly sensitive information e.g regarding risk and treatment to patients, their wider system, and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• The ability to plan, organise and flexibly manage own caseload, and adapting to the changing priorities of a complex organisational environment
• The ability to administer, score, and feedback psychometric outcome measures as an integrated part of patient work
• The ability to offer assessment and intervention with consent sometimes in highly sensitive and distressing situations and manage challenging behaviours, sometimes using interpreters
• Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work
• The ability to engage in reflective practice and make appropriate use of clinical supervision
• The ability to maintain appropriate patient records
• The ability to reassure and empathise with the patient and engage them in consenting to a plan for therapy
• The ability to use own initiative and make decisions independently
• The ability to work flexibly and with clinical autonomy as part of a team in a multi-professional context and in an acute healthcare context
• The ability to contain and work with organisational stress and the ability to contain the stress of others
• IT literacy skills for the purpose of writing reports, letters, as well as clinical programmes, which form part of treatment

Person Specification Qualifications/Training Essential

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (or equivalent) accredited Diploma
• Accredited status with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (or equivalent, e.g. full clinical membership UKCP).

Desirable

• Additional training in models of psychological therapy

Knowledge, experience & expertise Essential

• Specialist knowledge of a range of counselling procedures and techniques
• Experience of delivering counselling interventions within a formal setting
• Experience of delivering short term time limited work
• Experience of regular supervised practice
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the appropriate professional registration body
• Diploma level knowledge of counselling practice, highly developed communication skills essential in performance of the role of counsellor
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of assessment and counselling interventions
• Awareness of own limitations

Desirable

• Experience of delivering counselling interventions in a range of settings with a diverse range of patients
• Experience of delivering group work
• Experience of delivering counselling interventions within an NHS setting

Communication & Relationships Essential

• The ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats, complex and highly sensitive information e.g regarding risk and treatment to patients, their wider system, and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• The ability to plan, organise and flexibly manage own caseload, and adapting to the changing priorities of a complex organisational environment
• The ability to administer, score, and feedback psychometric outcome measures as an integrated part of patient work
• The ability to offer assessment and intervention with consent sometimes in highly sensitive and distressing situations and manage challenging behaviours, sometimes using interpreters
• Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work
• The ability to engage in reflective practice and make appropriate use of clinical supervision
• The ability to maintain appropriate patient records
• The ability to reassure and empathise with the patient and engage them in consenting to a plan for therapy
• The ability to use own initiative and make decisions independently
• The ability to work flexibly and with clinical autonomy as part of a team in a multi-professional context and in an acute healthcare context
• The ability to contain and work with organisational stress and the ability to contain the stress of others
• IT literacy skills for the purpose of writing reports, letters, as well as clinical programmes, which form part of treatment

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.

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.

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

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary/Calderdale Royal Hospital

Huddersfield/ Halifax

HD3 3EA

Employer's website

https://www.cht.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary/Calderdale Royal Hospital

Huddersfield/ Halifax

HD3 3EA

Employer's website

https://www.cht.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)