Trainee High Intensity Therapist - Counsellor | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust; Widnes; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare trust in the UK is expanding its Talking Therapies service and is looking for qualified counsellors passionate about making a difference in patients' lives. The role requires a Diploma Level in Counselling and significant experience with clients facing depression. The successful candidates will manage clinical caseloads while being supported for further training in high-intensity therapies. Flexible working conditions and comprehensive training opportunities are offered.

Benefits

Fully funded training

Weekly protected CPD time

Clinical supervision and support

Qualifications

• Must be qualified to Diploma Level in Counselling with significant clinical experience.
• Hold accredited membership of BACP or an equivalent registering body.
• Passionate about talking therapy and making a difference.

Responsibilities

• Hold a clinical caseload providing counselling for individuals with depression.
• Support clients through step 3 of the stepped care model.
• Participate in weekly CPD and clinical supervision.

Skills

Talking therapy

Clinical experience with depression

Commitment to patient care

Enthusiastic clinician

Education

Diploma Level in Counselling

Accredited membership of BACP or equivalent

Job description

We are excited to be expanding our workforce for counsellors here at Mersey Care in our Talking Therapies (previously known as IAPT) service. We are seeking someone who is passionate about talking therapy and has the purpose to make a significant difference to peoples lives whilst working in Primary Care.

We are seeking applications from qualified counsellors who wish to pursue additional modality training in the Talking Therapies (IAPT) compliant modalitiesin particular Counselling Therapy for Depression (CfD).

You will be qualified to Diploma Level in Counselling with significant clinical experience of working with clients presenting with depression. In addition the successful candidate will hold accredited membership of BACP or anequivalent registering body. Above all, you will be an enthusiastic clinician, committed to driving the Talking Therapies provision within our communities, and taking pride in making a difference to peoples lives

You will hold a clinical caseload providing Talking Therapies compliant counselling at step 3 of the stepped care model for individuals assessed and diagnosed with depression that are deemed as meeting the criteria for counselling, whilst being supported to undertake training in one of the evidence based Hight Intensity Therapies.

You will hold a clinical caseload providingTalking Therapiescompliant counselling at step 3 of the stepped care model for individuals assessed and diagnosed with depression that are deemed as meeting the criteria for counselling, whilst being supported to undertake training inone of the evidence based Hight Intensity Therapies.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles

As well as fully funded training and supervision, we offer our Talking Therapies team members weekly protected time for CPD as well as clinical supervision and support with caseload management. Our CPD is facilitated by Lead Clinicians and is made up of taught sessions, group discussions as well as self directed study and peer group discussions. You will benefit from being part of a clinical team made up of therapists with a variety of skills including CBT, EMDR, IPT, DIT CTfD and Counselling as well as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Employment Advisors.

We have opportunities available across our Talking Therapies Services covering Halton, Knowsley and Liverpool.



Please see Job Description for further details of responsibilities and person specification for this role.


This advert closes on Thursday 24 Jul 2025