Sheffield Talking Therapies Counsellor

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider in Sheffield seeks a Counsellor to provide evidence-based counselling to adults experiencing depression. Responsibilities include managing appointments, delivering clinical sessions, and collaborating with healthcare professionals. Candidates should have a relevant counselling qualification and a commitment to ongoing professional development. The role requires a minimum of 22.5 hours per week, with potential for evening and weekend work as needed.

Qualifications

• Evidence-based counselling modalities in line with NICE guidance.
• Experience in delivering clinical contact hours.
• Capability to work collaboratively in a healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based counselling to adults with depression.
• Meet National Talking Therapies standards and productivity expectations.
• Manage appointments and waiting list systems.

Skills

Counselling techniques

Collaboration

Autonomy in practice

Data-driven practice

Education

Relevant counselling qualification

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.

Responsibilities

• 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 working Thursday afternoons to support 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 be in work for your full working week if there is a service need.
• Manage all aspects of the appointments and waiting list system, being aware that different systems may operate in different GP practices, working collaboratively and in 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.
• 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 as appropriate with Talking Therapies colleagues and GPs regarding concerns and the treatment outcome.
• Use data to reflect, guide and improve your own practice and performance in conjunction with supervision. Contribute to counselling forums and CPD events.
• Provide counselling services in line with the Trust’s values and service objectives.
• Maintain a high level of clinical practice by attending Individual and Group Supervision; and being an active member of the Counsellor-specific forum (pro rata if part time).
• Provide evidence-based modality individual and/or group supervision as appropriate.
• Provide counselling consultation and support to the Primary Health Care team where needed and to Talking Therapies colleagues on the suitability of the evidence-based modality for depression prior to stepping.
• 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 objectives aligned with meeting the service objectives of achieving all three National Talking Therapies standards on access, waiting times and recovery rates.
• Continue to gain professional training and experience beyond that provided by the service, committing to continual professional development, including responding to additional training requests by NHS England in line with Talking Therapies providing evidence-based interventions.
• Ensure all mandatory training is up to date in line with service protocol.

Other

At SHSC, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both service users and employees. Employees must join the DBS Update Service; details of costs and reimbursement are in the Trust policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, registration for a DBS Online Account is necessary.