Sheffield Talking Therapies Counsellor

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS FT; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Sheffield is seeking a Counsellor to provide evidence-based therapies for adults experiencing depression. You will manage appointments, collaborate with a diverse team, and maintain rigorous standards of care. This role requires at least 22.5 hours of work per week, with the possibility of evening and weekend shifts. A commitment to safeguarding and professional development is essential.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience delivering evidence-based modalities for depression.
• Ability to work across Sheffield and meet service expectations.
• Commitment to safeguarding adults and children.
• Active participation in supervision and forums.

Responsibilities

• Manage appointment systems and work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Provide initial counselling assessments and implement contracts.
• Counsel patients and maintain records according to guidelines.
• Engage in performance reviews and continuous professional development.

Skills

Evidence-based counselling modalities

Risk assessment

Record keeping

Professional development

Working with interpreters

Job description

Overview

To provide evidence-based counselling modalities in line with NICE guidance and the Talking Therapies manual, to adults experiencing depression that meet suitability criteria to benefit from Talking Therapies. To work collaboratively with Talking Therapies colleagues who step people assessed as requiring Counselling for depression. To meet the National Talking Therapies standards (which currently includes an individual minimum 52% recovery rate, 48% reliable recovery rate and 67% reliable improvement). To ensure productivity expectations are met in line with the National Talking Therapies manual, currently to deliver 20 clinical contact hours (pro-rata) per week. These standards are reviewed nationally, and it is expected that staff will continue to meet any updated standards. To meet patient needs by working across Sheffield according to demand.

Working a minimum of 22.5 hours per week and Thursday afternoon to support you in the role. Thursday afternoons are service wide non-clinical time which involves meetings, forums and CPD opportunities. Offer one early and one late appointment per week and Saturday working on occasion if required. Deliver face-to-face and virtual treatment sessions with patients based on patient demand and service need. You may be expected to physically be in work for your full working week if there is a service need.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the appointments and waiting list system, aware that different systems may operate in different GP practices, working collaboratively with other Talking Therapies colleagues.
• Provide an initial Counselling assessment once stepped by a Talking Therapies colleague, including a risk assessment and offer an appropriate Counselling contract; or signpost or refer onto a more appropriate service or intervention.
• Offer professional advice and support to the referrers and Talking Therapies colleagues in Primary Care on all aspects of Counselling.
• Work autonomously within professional guidelines and best practice Talking Therapies guidelines. Liaise with Talking Therapies colleagues and GPs regarding concerns and the treatment outcome.
• Use data to reflect, guide and improve practice and performance in conjunction with supervision. Contribute to counselling forums and CPD events.
• Assess and treat people stepped to Counselling as appropriate. Complete mandated session-by-session outcome measures. Maintain autonomous professional responsibility for clients referred.
• Formulate and implement a counselling contract based on an appropriate conceptual framework within the protocols and procedures established by Talking Therapies (in line with NICE guidance, the Talking Therapies manual and suitability for a Talking Therapies service).
• Recognise and assess risk (including child and vulnerable adult protection) and raise matters in line with Talking Therapies/SHSC policy.
• Arrange and work with interpreters when assessed as necessary for the Counselling contract.
• Communicate complex information to clients to encourage therapeutic engagement. Ensure record keeping in line with Sheffield Talking Therapies Standard Operating Procedures, including contemporaneous notes within 24 hours and discharge summaries to GP practices once completed.
• Maintain clinical practice by attending supervision (individual and group) and being an active member of the Counsellor Forum; provide counselling supervision as appropriate.
• Provide counselling consultation and support to the Primary Health Care team and Talking Therapies colleagues on the suitability of the evidence-based modality for depression prior to stepping.
• Participate in and contribute to the Counsellor Forum, Talking Therapies Team Meetings and Service Away Days. Engage in performance reviews aligned with meeting service objectives for access, waiting times and recovery rates.
• Pursue continual professional development and respond to additional training requests by NHS England in line with Talking Therapies providing evidence-based interventions. Ensure mandatory training is up to date in line with service protocol.

Qualifications and requirements

• Experience and ability to deliver evidence-based modalities for depression within a Talking Therapies framework.
• Ability to work across Sheffield according to demand and meet service expectations, including non-clinical time as required.
• Commitment to safeguarding adults and children; familiarity with risk assessment and escalation procedures.
• Ability to manage interpreters and diverse patient needs; proficient record keeping in line with procedures.
• Active participation in supervision and professional development; contribute to relevant forums and meetings.

Equality, diversity and DBS

We aim to be an organisation that is diverse and inclusive and welcome applications from people with a wide range of life experiences. We are a Disability Confident employer level 2 and hope to achieve level 3 this year. We offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet all essential criteria. The Trust requires DBS checks where appropriate; the applicant covers any associated costs. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, registration for a DBS Online Account is necessary.

Other information

When applying you will be redirected to our preferred applicant management system. If offered a role, information may be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. You may be asked to allow contact with the ESR IAT process. All communication regarding applications will be via email. We welcome flexible working and will discuss arrangements as part of the process. Our six staff network groups include: The Ethnically Diverse, Disability, Lived Experience, Rainbow, Staff Carers, and Women’s networks. We are committed to safeguarding and as part of safe recruitment this post may require DBS checks. The cost of the DBS check is the responsibility of the successful applicant.