Counsellor inOldham inOldham PUBLISHED 17 OCT 2024

Talking Therapies Oldham is a busy Talking Therapy service. We offer Primary Care Psychological interventions across the Oldham footprint.

This is your chance to join our multidisciplinary team, offering Counselling interventions face to face, via video link and potentially in group settings.

You will be liaising with other health care professionals, your manager and your clinical supervisor.

The team environment is friendly and supportive. We meet regularly to share ideas and provide any necessary training identified.

To provide Counselling to clients referred to Talking Therapies Oldham. You will have a core theoretical background e.g. Person Centered Counselling and be trained in Counselling for Depression. Please note this is not a CBT post.

Referrals are received via self referral or by professionals. You will be required to carry out assessments if necessary.

You will work to a short term therapy model and be adept at using computer technology.

About us

• To provide a Counselling Service to clients referred by General Practitioners and other agencies meeting the criteria for the NHS Oldham Talking Therapy service.
• To assist, when required, with the triage and thorough assessment of clients referred for psychological therapy.
• To provide, when requested, advice and guidance on the appropriateness of referrals and management of clients.
• To provide counselling to patients suitable for a Primary Care service with presentations of mild to moderate mental health difficulties relating to anxiety or depression within the scope of your training, qualifications and experience.
• To be able to deliver counselling in accordance with a brief therapy model and manage endings with patients.
• To maintain accreditation and professional standards of Counselling Practice in line with the BACP / CPC / UKCP, Code of Ethics for Counsellors in General Practice and other relevant professional body.
• To review, contribute and adhere to local procedures and protocols and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust policies in relation to record documentation and management.
• Organise workload and maintain appropriate records/reports written and computerised.
• To be able to work competently with distressed patients and manage difficult conversations regarding treatment and appropriateness for the service.
• To appropriately screen for risk of harm to self, others and safeguarding concerns in accordance with trust policies.
• To have knowledge and awareness of risk and safeguarding concerns and complete the required trust training in these areas.
• To manage risk and safeguarding concerns appropriately, implement risk management plans, liaise with other appropriate internal and external services in regards to the appropriate management of risk and safeguarding concerns such as managers, duty worker, access team, safeguarding team and Psychiatrists.
• To complete the Trust approved risk assessment, risk formulation and referrals to social services when required.
• To have the knowledge and awareness to understand when a patient is not appropriate for the service and step up, step down, discharge or signpost accordingly.
• To use the Healthy Minds diagnostic tool to inform assessment and treatment.
• To discuss their caseload in clinical and line management supervision.
• To be able to work towards individual and service targets.
• To be able to competently use outcome measures to inform therapy, assess progress and inform decision making in regards to treatment.
• To discuss all complex patients or patients presenting with risk or safeguarding concerns with the line manager and clinical supervisor.
• To document any actions taken in regards to identified risk and safeguarding concerns in accordance with service guidelines.
• To participate in supervision and training in accordance with BACP ethical guidance and trust supervision and training policies.
• To be responsible and accountable for their own caseload, up to date documentation and decision making.
• To be offer clinical supervision to other counsellors within the service or trust and to complete training to enable the provision of clinical supervision if this has not already been completed.
• To participate in research and service development relevant to the trust or department as required. This may involve the collection and analysis of data, writing case studies and contributing towards service events such as wellbeing days and other innovative initiatives.
• To submit accurate data on clinical activity and other audit information.
• To mentor future trainees once full competency has been achieved. This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process. General Duties of all post holders
• To undertake any other reasonable duty, which is appropriate to the band, when requested by Senior Staff.
• To be familiar with and comply with all Trust and departmental policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
• To be aware of and work towards the Trusts strategic goals. Standards of Business Conduct
• The post holder will be required to comply with the organisations standing order and standing financial instructions and at all times, deal honestly with the organisation with colleagues and all those who have dealing with the organisation including patients, relative and suppliers.
• The post holder must ensure that their behaviour and interests inside and outside work do not conflict with their Trust position, duties and/or responsibilities.
• The post holder must comply with and support the development of the performance standards within the service/department to ensure the service is responsive to and meets the needs of its customers.
• The post holder will be required to develop and maintain good working relationships with all patients, service users, staff, contractors and where appropriate, members of the public.
• The Trust aims to maintain the good will and confidence of its own staff, patients, service users, NHS contractors and the general public. To assist in achieving this objective it is essential that at all times, the post holder carries out their duties in a courteous, sympathetic and professional manager. All post holders who are members of a professional body must comply with standards of professional practice / conduct. It is the post holders responsibilities to ensure they are both familiar with and adhere to these requirements and maintain their professional membership to the relevant body. Equality and Diversity and Equal Opportunities
• The post holder must carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trusts Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies, avoiding unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with colleagues, service users, members of the public and all other stakeholders.
• The post holder must promote awareness of and respect for equality and diversity in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
• The post holder is responsible for treating all staff, patients, service users, NHS contractors and the general public with dignity and respect at all times. Safeguarding
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
• All staff have a responsibility to promote the welfare of any child, young person or vulnerable adult they come into contact with and in cases where there are safeguarding concerns, to act upon them and protect the individual from harm.
• All staff should refer any safeguarding issues to their manager and escalate accordingly in line with the Trust Child and Adult Safeguarding Policies.
• All staff should familiarise themselves with the NICE Guidelines when to suspect child maltreatment 2009. Professional and Personal Development
• The post holder must ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities by attending the Trust Mandatory Training and Induction Programme.
• The post holder will be involved in a formal IPDR/KSF review with their manager at least every 12 months. Once performance / training objectives have been set, the staff members progress will be reviewed on a regular basis, so that new objectives can be agreed and set, in order to maintain progress in the service delivery.
• The post holder will be expected to take responsibility for their own professional development and will be supported by the Trust to achieve development opportunities as appropriate. Confidentiality and Information Governance
• Confidentiality is of prime importance. In the normal course of duties, the post holder will have access to confidential documents and information relating to patients, service users, staff and contractors, as well as information of a commercially sensitive nature. Such information should not be communicated to anyone outside or inside the NHS unless done in the normal course of carrying out the duties of the post. Disciplinary action will be considered where a breach of confidence has been established.
• All information obtained or held during the post-holders period of employment that relates to the business of the Trust and its service users and employees will remain the property of the Trust. Information may be subject to disclosure under legislation at the Trusts discretion and in line with national rules on exemption.
• The post holder must maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date. The post holder must only access information, whether paper, electronic or in other media, which is authorised to them as part of their duties.
• The post holder must work to the requirements of data protection laws as applicable to the UK, which includes the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Health and Safety at Work
• The post holder is required to take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work and to co-operate with the Trust in adhering to statutory and departmental safety regulations.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they do not intentionally or recklessly misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health safety or welfare e.g. misuse of equipment.
• The post holder is required to contribute to the control of risk and must report immediately, using the Trust Incident reporting system, any incident, accident or near miss involving patients, service users, carers, staff, contractors or members of the public.