Job summary Sunderland Counselling Service is delighted to be recruiting to a new Step Two Lead position within NHS Northumberland Talking Therapies Service for anxiety and depression (NTT). This service is provided in partnership between Mental Health Matters (MHM) and Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) and aims to develop and enhance the low intensity service provision across Northumberland. The post holder will work as part of the senior management team and provide line management and leadership for members of the Step 2 Low Intensity Team. It represents an exciting opportunity for an experienced manager with a history of working in Talking Therapies Service and committed to the implementation of low intensity services to develop their careers within our organisation, whilst supporting the delivery of a timely and excellent service for those who wish to access it. The post-holder will join a committed management and leadership team providing regular line management for staff at Step Two within NTT, with a focus on two geographical bases across Northumberland. The post holder will be expected to be office based but may be required to work from home according to service need. This is a full-time position (37.5 hours) and the successful post holder will provide cover one evening per week. Main duties of the job The successful applicant will work effectively alongside another Step Two Lead to bea primary point of contact for matters relating to the management decisions within the Step 2 team and promote and maintain links with other staff within the service to help co-ordinate the provision of an effective Psychological Therapies Service. They will lead in the recruitment of trainee and qualified staff and line manage members of the Step Two Team in line with SCS polices and procedures. A key element of the role will be to liaise with the Service Manager, Deputy Service Manager and Clinical Lead to ensure communication and protocols between the teams are robust and that patients experience a seamless service. They will ensure the Step Two team receive adequate and effective clinical supervision and identify training needs within the team to maintain professional standards. The Step Two Lead will ensure practitioners working within NTT sites are able to offer rapid screening and assessment and are adequately skilled to provide low intensity interventions e.g. psycho-educational interventions, Guided Self Help, computerised CBT based on evidence and on CBT theories and techniques. The post holder will support the Step 2 Team to meet service targets and KPIs both individually and as teams in each of our sites. About us SCS offers services across the North East area and works closely with a range of partner agencies including NHS partners, local charities and community groups. We are recognised for the value we bring to clients and communities and a member of staff recently said the following about working for SCS: ' An ethical organisation who cares equally about the staff and the service users. I feel the provisions are brilliant, management are very approachable, they make you feel your opinions matter. I find it a lovely place to be employed" The salary for the post is comparable to the NHS Agenda for Change, band 7 and the terms and conditions of employment are provided by Sunderland Counselling Service. This includes 30 days annual leave per year, salary sacrifice pension scheme, access to a free and confidential employee assistance programme and a health programme. The post holder will be employed on a permanent contract, subject to a successful probationary period and work as part of the Northumberland Talking Therapies Team and have access to support provided within the service and by Sunderland Counselling Service. They will be supported through regular operational line management. We are committed to supporting and developing our staff and we will support the post holder to access role specific personal development opportunities. Date posted 21 March 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £46,148 a year Comparable to band 7 (AfC) Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number B0330-25-0001 Job locations 51 John Street Sunderland SR1 1QN Talking Matters Northumberland 4 Telford Court Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2DB Job description Job responsibilities For further information relating to the role, please download a copy of the job description from the additional documents section of this advert. You can also contact Leanne Davis (Head of Services) for Sunderland Counselling Service on 0191 514 7007 or Jo Ludbrook, Deputy Service Manager in Northumberland Talking Therapies on 0300 3030 700 to discuss this role further. to discuss this role further. Job description Job responsibilities For further information relating to the role, please download a copy of the job description from the additional documents section of this advert. You can also contact Leanne Davis (Head of Services) for Sunderland Counselling Service on 0191 514 7007 or Jo Ludbrook, Deputy Service Manager in Northumberland Talking Therapies on 0300 3030 700 to discuss this role further. to discuss this role further. Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of supervising and/or mentoring clinical staff (min 2 years). Experience of providing line management. Experience of recruiting and selecting staff. Significant experience of working with people with common mental health problems. Ability to demonstrate a range of post-qualifying experience (min 1 year) in offering and delivering the range of evidence-based Talking Therapies low intensity interventions such as guided self-help and group psycho-education. Experience of working with clients in a primary care setting. Experience of partnership working. Experience of working with suicidal clients and of risk management. Experience of working within the Talking Therapies culture. Desirable Experience in a senior PWP role. Experience of managing staff through informal and formal HR processes. Experience of conducting annual appraisals. Experience in drug/alcohol management. Experience of dealing with clients whose children are subject to Child Protection legislation. Experience of coworking with general nurses and health visitors in a Primary Care setting. Experience of screening, assessing and working with a wide spectrum of mental health issues and working with people with moderate common mental health problems. Experience of audit and research. Qualifications Essential Graduate Mental Health Worker or PWP qualification, or equivalent. Training in risk assessment. Desirable Training in CBT. Possession of the Step 2 supervision qualification. A qualification or substantial experience in Professional Supervision. Recognised management or leadership qualification. Skills and knowledge Essential Understands the importance of individual performance and rationale for supporting underperforming staff members. Knowledge of different models of mental health/mental illness. Understanding of models of assessment, screening, referral, record-keeping and evidence-based brief psychological intervention. Knowledge of outcome measures and their use for clinical and audit purposes. Knowledge of Child Protection legislation. Ability to working within a team and foster productive working relationships. Ability to mentor junior staff. The capacity to adapt core psychological approaches to the primary care culture, incorporating a range of skills to meet a broad spectrum of presenting issues. Clinical risk assessment. Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision. Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients. Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively. Ability to work under pressure. Able to communicate clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to liaise and network with a wide range of organisations and members of the public. Comprehensive IT skills, including word processing and database packages. Ability to use outcome measures for both clinical and audit purposes Desirable An awareness of serious mental health presentations. Evidence of further training in psychological interventions/therapy. Ability to carry out a range of evaluation and monitoring techniques. Able to work through interpreters. Personal attributes Essential A thorough understanding of Talking Therapies gained through experience. Ability to manage own caseload and diary. Able to work shift pattern. Willingness to attend community events some of which may be held in non -working hours. Desirable Fluent in languages other than English. Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of supervising and/or mentoring clinical staff (min 2 years). Experience of providing line management. Experience of recruiting and selecting staff. Significant experience of working with people with common mental health problems. Ability to demonstrate a range of post-qualifying experience (min 1 year) in offering and delivering the range of evidence-based Talking Therapies low intensity interventions such as guided self-help and group psycho-education. Experience of working with clients in a primary care setting. Experience of partnership working. Experience of working with suicidal clients and of risk management. Experience of working within the Talking Therapies culture. Desirable Experience in a senior PWP role. Experience of managing staff through informal and formal HR processes. Experience of conducting annual appraisals. Experience in drug/alcohol management. Experience of dealing with clients whose children are subject to Child Protection legislation. Experience of coworking with general nurses and health visitors in a Primary Care setting. Experience of screening, assessing and working with a wide spectrum of mental health issues and working with people with moderate common mental health problems. Experience of audit and research. Qualifications Essential Graduate Mental Health Worker or PWP qualification, or equivalent. Training in risk assessment. Desirable Training in CBT. Possession of the Step 2 supervision qualification. A qualification or substantial experience in Professional Supervision. Recognised management or leadership qualification. Skills and knowledge Essential Understands the importance of individual performance and rationale for supporting underperforming staff members. Knowledge of different models of mental health/mental illness. Understanding of models of assessment, screening, referral, record-keeping and evidence-based brief psychological intervention. Knowledge of outcome measures and their use for clinical and audit purposes. Knowledge of Child Protection legislation. Ability to working within a team and foster productive working relationships. Ability to mentor junior staff. The capacity to adapt core psychological approaches to the primary care culture, incorporating a range of skills to meet a broad spectrum of presenting issues. Clinical risk assessment. Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision. Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients. Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively. Ability to work under pressure. Able to communicate clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to liaise and network with a wide range of organisations and members of the public. Comprehensive IT skills, including word processing and database packages. Ability to use outcome measures for both clinical and audit purposes Desirable An awareness of serious mental health presentations. Evidence of further training in psychological interventions/therapy. Ability to carry out a range of evaluation and monitoring techniques. Able to work through interpreters. Personal attributes Essential A thorough understanding of Talking Therapies gained through experience. Ability to manage own caseload and diary. Able to work shift pattern. Willingness to attend community events some of which may be held in non -working hours. Desirable Fluent in languages other than English. Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer details Employer name Sunderland Counselling Service Address 51 John Street Sunderland SR1 1QN Employer's website http://www.sunderlandcounselling.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)