Sheffield Talking Therapies Counsellor

NHS; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Sheffield is seeking a Sheffield Talking Therapies Counsellor to provide evidence-based counseling for adults experiencing depression. The role includes delivering face-to-face and virtual treatment sessions, managing appointments, and ensuring high standards of care. Candidates should possess a BACP approved Diploma and relevant experience in Talking Therapies. The position requires a minimum of 22.5 hours per week, with flexibility for scheduling.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the role and skills to deliver evidence-based modalities.
• Ability to monitor practice using session outcome measures.
• Skilled in communicating complex information effectively.

Responsibilities

• Assess and treat individuals needing counselling for depression.
• Deliver face-to-face and virtual treatment sessions.
• Manage appointments and maintain accurate patient records.

Skills

Knowledge of evidence-based counselling modalities

Effective communication skills

Ability to build therapeutic relationships

Understanding of mental health legislation

Education

BACP approved Diploma in Counselling

Registered with UKCP or BACP

Training in Counselling for Depression

Job description

Overview

Go back Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield Talking Therapies Counsellor

The closing date is 29 September 2025

To provideevidence-based counselling modalities in line with NICE guidance and the Talking Therapies manual,to adultsexperiencingdepressionthat meet suitability criteria tobenefitfrom Talking Therapies.

Towork collaboratively with Talking Therapies colleagues who 'Step' people assessed as requiringCounsellingfor 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 & working Thursday afternoon to support you in the role. Thursday afternoons` are service wide non-clinical time which involves, meetings, forums and CPD opportunities.

Main duties of the job

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.

Manage all aspects of the appointments and waiting list systembeing aware that differentsystemsmayoperatein different GP practices,working collaboratively andin conjunction with other Talking Therapies colleagues.Provide an initial Counselling assessment once 'stepped' by a Talking Therapies colleague (as there are no direct referrals to Counselling) including a risk assessment and offer an appropriate Counselling contract; or signpost or refer onto a more appropriate service or intervention. Offerprofessional advice and support to thereferrers andTalking Therapies colleagues in Primary Care on all aspects of Counselling.Work autonomously within professional guidelines and best practice Talking Therapies guidelines. Liaiseasappropriate withTalking Therapies colleagues and GPsregardingconcerns and the treatmentoutcome.Use data to reflect, guide and improve your own practice and performance in conjunction with supervision. Contribute to counsellingforums and CPD events.

About us

We are passionate about providing the very best care to the people we support, and we're looking for amazing people who share this passion to join us.

What is it that makes our Trust such a special place to work? Well, it's all about the people. Our staff, service users, carers and families all come from such diverse backgrounds and all have expertise and stories to share.

It's important that you feel supported in your role, that the people who you work with are as passionate as you are and that your health and wellbeing is taken care of

If you're interested in developing your career, you'll have access to a range of training and education opportunities, including apprenticeships, work experience and placements, as well as the chance to get involved in research.

We are all very proud of the difference we make to people's lives each and every day and if that's something that you'd like to be part of we'd love to have you with us.

At SHSC, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front. However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.

Job responsibilities

To assessand treat people stepped toCounsellingasappropriate.To complete all mandated session by session outcome measures.To have autonomous professional responsibility for clients referred.To formulate and implement a counselling contract based onan appropriate conceptualframework, of thepersonspresenting issues within the protocols and proceduresestablishedby Talking Therapies (in line with NICE guidance, the Talking Therapies manual and suitability for a Talking Therapies service).Torecognise and assessrisk(including child and vulnerable adult protection)and raise matters in line with Talking Therapies /SHSC policy.To manage all aspects of arranging and working with interpreters whenassessed as necessaryfor the Counselling contract.Tosensitivelycommunicate complex information to clients to encourage therapeutic engagement.To ensure record keeping in line with Sheffield Talking Therapies Standard Operating Procedures. This includescontemporaneousnotes completed within 24 hours on the agreed patient record system, checking SHSC patientadministrationsystem prior to taking on new patients to check any risk or suitability issues and to send a discharge summary to GP practices once completed treatment.Tomaintaina high levelof clinical practice by attending Individual and GroupSupervision; as well as being an active member of theCounsellorspecific forum (pro rata if part time).Toprovideevidence-based modalityindividual and/orgroupsupervision asappropriate.Toprovidecounsellingconsultation and supportto the Primary Health Care teamwhere needed and to Talking Therapies colleagues on the suitability of the evidence-based modality for depression prior to stepping.To participate in and contribute to the Counsellor Forum and Talking Therapies Team Meetings and Talking Therapies Service Away Days. Participate in individual performance reviews and respond to agreed individual objectives aligned with meeting the service objectives of achieving all three National Talking Therapies standards on access, waiting times and recovery rates.To continue to gain professional training and experience over and above that provided by the servicemaking a commitment tocontinual professional development.Including responding toadditionaltraining request by NHS England in line with Talking Therapies providingevidence-based interventions.Ensure all mandatory training is up to date in line with service protocol

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of the role of Talking Therapies counsellor and skills to deliverevidence-basedmodalities in the treatment of depression in line with the National Talking Therapies manual
• 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
• Ability to use session by session outcome measures to monitor practice
• Knowledge and skills in the use of methods of Counselling appropriate in Talking Therapies e.g., contracting; assessment; implementing clinically appropriate interventions for depression; caseload management to achieve clinical contact hours required and managing endings
• Well-developedskills in the ability to communicate effectively (verbally and written);communicating complex, highly technical or clinically sensitive information to clients, organisations and to other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• Able to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships and alliances as well work within the Talking Therapies model and hold firm boundaries when necessary
• Skilled in providingadvice on suitability of evidence-based counselling interventions to other professions in Talking Therapies, GPs and other stakeholders as appropriate
• Skilled at working with, and in a variety of teams
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and Mental health

Training & Qualifications

• Qualified in a BACP approved Diploma in Counselling
• Registered and accredited withUnited Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP or equivalent accrediting body).It is essential that registration and accreditation must be maintained throughout employment
• Trained inCounselling for Depression (CfD-PCET)
• In addition toCfD-PCET, trained in one or more of theTalking Therapies approvedevidence-basedmodality training;Couple Therapy for Depression (CTfD); or Interpersonal Therapy (IPT); or DIT
• Supervision trainingin evidence-based modality(with relevant qualification and experiencefor the Talking Therapies counsellor role)
• Further formal and relevant post accreditation training (relevant to the Talking Therapies counsellor role)

Experience

• Experience of working in a Talking Therapies service delivering counselling for people with depression
• Experience of Counselling in Primary Care settings working collaboratively with GPs and the wider Primary Care Team
• Experience of delivering brief focus Counselling interventionswith good patient outcomes
• Experience of working withadults, presentingwith mild to severe symptoms of depressionin line with suitabilityfor a Talking Therapies service
• Maintaininga high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotional and distressing problems
• Demonstrate clinical leadership appropriate to banding where required.
• Experience of the application ofevidence-based counselling modalitiesin different cultural contexts
• Experienceof deliveringevidence-based modalitysupervision

Other

• Ability to work across Sheffield depending on need and able to work a minimum of 22.5 hours in order to meet the demands of the role, maintain CPD and receive support/maintain wellbeing by attending counselling forums, masterclass, team meetings, group supervision and individual supervision
• Ability to be flexible with appointment times to meet patient need. To offer one early appointment and one late appointment per week and to work Saturdays if required, on occasion.
• Documented evidencethroughout employment in line with requirements from professional body to maintain accreditation
• Strong evidence of commitment to personal development to maintain and deepen the capacity to withstand the emotional and ethical conflicts of the post and the capacity to maintain therapeutic focussed concentration for long periods of time. This can be demonstratedthrough differentforms of continuing personal developmentand effective use of supervision
• Minimum of 22.5 hours over a minimum of 3 days working Thursday afternoon to support you in the role as Thursday afternoon is service wide non-clinical time which involves, meetings, forums and CPD opportunities
• Experience of working within a multicultural framework

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.

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust