Counsellor inEltham London inEltham London PUBLISHED FRI 6 DEC 2024

Band 6: £42,939 to £50,697 a year pro rata pa inc PERMANENT GOOD SALARY

CASELOAD FAMILY HIV MENTAL HEALTH MULTI-DISCIPLINARY NHS

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust rGNKMGB5

The role of Counsellor at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in Eltham, London, focuses on providing psychological therapy services, primarily through individual and group counselling interventions for clients experiencing anxiety and depression. The successful candidate will be BACP or UKCP accredited and will work within a supportive and experienced counselling team, contributing to both the assessment and management of clients. The position requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to handle sensitive information, and a commitment to equal opportunity practices, with an understanding of cultural diversity being an asset.

In addition to clinical responsibilities, the Counsellor will engage in management and leadership tasks, participate in clinical governance, maintain comprehensive client records, and uphold professional standards in line with Trust policies. They will also be involved in teaching, training, and supervising trainee counsellors, while regularly updating their own professional knowledge through CPD. Effective communication with other healthcare professionals, clients, and community services is essential for this role, which may also include remote work and occasional evening shifts.

Greenwich Time To Talk, NHS Talking Therapies is a primary care psychological therapy service. CBT and counselling interventions are offered to clients within the Royal borough of Greenwich.

We are seeking a highly motivated Counsellor who is accredited with the BACP/UKCP to enhance our thriving NHS Talking Therapies service. The post-holder will have experience of working with people with anxiety and depression in a primary and/or secondary care setting. The post-holder will be part of a strong experienced counselling team and will be expected to provide individual and group counselling interventions.

Oxleas has a large, well-established and supportive psychology department which is part of the Psychological Therapies Directorate within the Trust. This provides strong leadership and professional management and supports staff by prioritising supervision and continuing professional development. The department contains clinical/ counselling psychologists with extensive training and experience in CBT, psycho-dynamic and systemic approaches.

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities. Community languages would be an advantage. The post-holder will be expected to work one shifted day (till 8pm) a week and will also be required to work remotely under Agenda for Change terms and conditions.

About us
Key Task and Responsibilities

Clinical

Contribute to the provision of the Locality Psychological Therapies Service, a direct access service that is part of the Trusts Mental health services, by undertaking counselling with individual clients or, when appropriate, in groups.

Using communication and relationship skills to undertake assessment of clients referred to the service by themselves, GPs or other professionals including risk assessment and referral on to appropriate services.

To prioritise and manage own client caseload.

To exercise professional responsibility for the assessment, intervention and discharge of clients, using highest level of interpersonal and communication skills when presenting and receiving complex, sensitive and contentious information to clients, family, support workers and other professional

To provide counselling, collaboratively with clients including:

Assessments: Psychometric assessments including the full range of NHS Talking Therapies data set requirements making use of Data management systems; behavioural assessment; observational assessment; assessment by interviewing; assessment by analysis of archive material, multi-disciplinary notes and discussions, reviews, and supervision.

Interventions: Counselling and other psychological therapies as appropriate with a range of presenting problems primarily Anxiety, Depression, but including the full range of primary care mental health problems.

To provide advice to other professionals within and external to the multi-disciplinary team, and agencies that provide services to this client group.

To keep adequate clinical records in accordance with Trust guidelines, the BABCP/UKCP/BACP or BPS Division of Counselling Psychology and DoH guidance.

To frequently sit in a restricted position for substantial proportion of working time during clinical sessions and meetings, requiring long periods of concentration.

Dealing with frequent highly distressing situations i.e. clients with severely distressing mental health experiences, past and current abuse. Dealing with unpleasant working conditions i.e. verbal aggression, physical threats from client, family or others.

Management responsibilities

To provide information and guidance to other primary care staff on the issues of psychological therapy.

To attend meetings when required, within the working times of your post.

To maintain statistical data.

To liaise, collaborate and communicate with GPs and others concerned with the care and treatment of clients. This may also include the communication of sensitive information requiring knowledge and skills of data protection issues.

Leadership

Workshops/presentations relevant to counselling.

To sit on relevant working groups of the service as required.

Clinical Governance

To implement and maintain the principles of Clinical Governance, including risk management.

To implement and maintain good information governance in respect of British Psychological Societys (or other relevant professional bodies) and Department of Healths codes and guidances on the proper management of client information, the Caldicott principles and the Data Protection Act.

To maintain up to date clear client records and case notes in line with the policies and procedures and service standards of the Trust, using the electronic clinical record system.

To abide by the postholders appropriate Code of Professional Conduct and to follow guidance from NICE and the Department of Health.

To engage in ongoing personal professional development.

To maintain professional accreditation with relevant professional body eg the BACP, keep an updated CPD log and attend training to maintain therapy skills and competencies as appropriate.

To collect session by session outcome measures.

Research and service development

To use published research and information on good practice regularly to keep clinical practice up-to-date and evidence based.

Participate in discussion and review regarding the development and evaluation of the locality counselling service, within the NSF directives.

To undertake clinically relevant evaluation within the locality psychological therapy service.

To provide information relating to the post-holders clinical and administrative activities as determined by the management of the Trust and the psychological therapy service.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

To provide when appropriate, induction, line management and clinical supervision to counsellors on trainee clinical placement.

Attend for regular supervision as agreed within the locality counselling service and professional ethical framework.

To keep abreast of current developments in the professional field of psychological therapy through reading and attendance at appropriate training courses and CPD in accordance with the requirements of your own professional accrediting body.

Communication

Clinicians within Greenwich Time To Talk service and clinicians within Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

Senior Trust Officials, when indicated or appropriate i.e. service development

General Practitioners and GPs with special interest.

Service providers from both statutory and voluntary organisations e.g. Adult Mental Health Services, CAMHS, Social Services, Greenwich Mind and WDP.

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More about the NHS

The National Health Service (NHS) is a cornerstone of healthcare in the United Kingdom, established in 1948 with the simple yet profound principle of providing healthcare to all citizens, free at the point of use. This revolutionary system aimed to ensure that access to medical services would not depend on an individual’s financial situation, a concept that has since become fundamental to British societal values. Learn more...

More about MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health has emerged as a critical issue in the United Kingdom, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis highlighted the fragility of mental well-being across different demographics, from children and adolescents to adults and the elderly. It has sparked a wider conversation about the importance of mental health care, accessibility, and the stigmas often associated with mental illnesses. Learn more...

Useful skills for a Counsellor: Click to view

To work as a counsellor in the UK, several skills and qualifications are important. Here are some key skills and attributes you should consider developing:

1. Active Listening: Essential for understanding clients’ issues, concerns, and feelings.

2. Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of clients, creating a supportive environment.

3. Communication Skills: Clear verbal and written communication skills are crucial for building rapport and conveying information effectively.

4. Interpersonal Skills: Building trust and a strong therapeutic relationship with clients is fundamental.

5. Critical Thinking: The ability to assess situations, understand different perspectives, and develop appropriate interventions.

6. Cultural Competence: Understanding and respecting diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and values in clients.

7. Emotional Resilience: The capacity to withstand emotional stress and maintain personal well-being while helping others.

8. Ethical Awareness: Understanding ethical guidelines and maintaining professionalism in a counselling setting.

9. Organisational Skills: Managing appointments, case notes, and administrative tasks efficiently.

10. Problem-Solving Skills: Assisting clients in finding solutions and coping strategies for their issues.

Qualifications and Training

To be a professional counsellor in the UK, you typically need:

- Education: A recognized qualification in counselling, such as a diploma or degree in counselling or psychology.

- Accreditation: Membership with a professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) enhances credibility. They also have specific training and ethical standards that must be met.

- Supervised Experience: Practical experience through placements or supervised practice is often required to develop skills in real-world settings.

- Continuous Professional Development (CPD): Engaging in ongoing training and learning to stay updated with best practices and new developments in the field.