Counsellor (Band 5 or Band 6 dependant on experience) - Counsellor - Lincolnshire Talking Thera[...]

Main area Counsellor - Lincolnshire Talking Therapies (LTT) Grade Band 5 or Band 6 dependant on experience Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 217-11305-AC

Employer: Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Employer type: NHS

Site: Lincoln Lincolnshire Talking Therapies, The Archway Centre

Salary: £29,970 - £44,962 per annum

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 23/01/2025 23:59

Counsellor

Band 5 or Band 6 dependant on experience

Job overview

Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust (LPFT) delivers an NHS Talking Therapies service. An opportunity has arisen for a qualified counsellor Band 5 or Band 6 to join the Lincolnshire Talking Therapies service based in Lincoln although you may also be required to cover alternative bases to meet service need. The Service provides evidence-based interventions within a stepped care model, treating people with mild to moderate common mental health problems. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a major national service, which has fundamentally changed the way in which psychological treatments are provided.

In return we can offer you:

• A well-established, friendly and supportive therapy team.
• Personal and Professional Development opportunities.
• Regular management and clinical supervision.
• Early access to our staff wellbeing service and psychology therapies
• Excellent working environment.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be able to work within a team environment and be thoroughly conversant with the use of clinical systems.

The Band 5 counsellor will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing counselling for depression. The post holder will be expected to hold a clinical caseload and will be provided with clinical supervision. The service will provide the relevant training to acquire a qualification in a Talking Therapies modality (cfc/IPT/ccfd).

To acquire the Band 6 post the candidate will need to continue to hold a caseload, be accredited with a professional body, complete and pass a qualification in a Talking Therapy modality (cfc/IPT/ccfd). They will be responsible for providing clinical supervision to counselling colleagues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL

• Screening referrals for service suitability via agreed protocols within the service.
• Undertake psychological assessments of patients referred to the service, including identification of the patient’s problem, comprehensive risk assessment, and identification of goals for therapy.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate counselling therapy programmes for clients.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Attend meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
• Keep coherent and contemporaneous records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
• Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.

TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

• To attend CPD and mandatory training provided by the Trust.
• To attend clinical supervision.
• To complete one of the IAPT approved modalities within the agreed timescale.

PROFESSIONAL

• Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the Trust and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g., BPS, UKCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g., IAPT, National Institute for Clinical Excellence).
• Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
• Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of counselling and other agreed psychological therapies.
• Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed, and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
• Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.
• Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
• Keep up to date all records in relation to Continued Professional Development (CPD) and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
• Attend relevant conferences/workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

GENERAL

• To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures.
• All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health and safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.
• All employees have a responsibility and legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.
• It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma in counselling (therapeutic).
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Meets the criteria for accreditation with BCAP.
• Accreditation with BCAP.

Experience

• Demonstrable evidence of supervised practice.
• Knowledge of the application of counselling in mental health practice.
• Knowledge of a broad range of psychological therapies including time-limited interventions.
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
• Ability to manage own caseload and time.
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
• Knowledge of and commitment to appropriate ethical framework.
• Delivery of time-limited interventions.
• Counselling in a GP practice or Healthcare setting.

Skills

• Good written and communication skills.
• A good level of analytical and judgemental skills.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to carry out assessment.
• Awareness of Child Safeguarding requirements.
• Awareness of adult safeguarding requirements.
• Understanding of common mental health problems and of current approaches to treatment (e.g., NICE Guidelines).
• Worked in a service with agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.

As an ethical recruiter, we will not pursue applications from red list countries as defined by the World Health Organisation. In order to pursue and apply for this role, you must have UK NHS experience.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.