Job overview
Sandwell Healthy Minds Counsellor, Band 6
Secondment Post for 3 months
1 x 37.5 hrs per week
We are looking to recruit a Band 6 Counsellor to Sandwell Talking Therapies Service. Sandwell Talking Therapies provides a service to people who present in care clusters 1-4, providing step 2 and 3 services through psychological therapy and interventions and we would like to welcome a new counsellor to the team.
Ideally candidates should have experience of working in an ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ Service and must have a minimum of a Level 5 Diploma in Counselling and 450 hours supervised counselling practice.
The post holder will help with developing the counselling service within Sandwell Healthy Minds and offer clients short term counselling, work towards specific targets and contribute to the development of the service as a whole.
In return we will offer supervision, training and support your continued professional development.
The successful applicant may be based in any of the GP surgeries or other venues in the community within the Sandwell area.
For further information about the post please contact Natalie Tolley - Maternal Team Manager 0121 612 6650
Main duties of the job
Offer Telephone Triage assessments and signposting to internal or external services .
To meet KPI targets
To offer short term therapeutic interventions for anxiety and depression
Supervise other members of team
Work on Duty Rota
To support service development - improving access
Working for our organisation
You will be joining a well established supportive counselling service.
Working times are flexible within the allocated number of hours per week
Good home/work balance
Buddy system for new appointees
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide a short term counselling to clients referred to the service. The Service is operational Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm. There is a rota to provide staff cover during these hours which the post holder will form part of
This work to be undertaken in line with the policies of Sandwell Talking Therapies and Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust (BCHFT)
To provide counselling to clients referred to Sandwell IAPT, within a brief framework. Clients will present with mild, moderate or severe depression and anxiety, life event adjustment difficulties and relationship problems. Counselling will be carried out in community venues. To offer evening appointments in line with service need. To offer telephone assessments to clients referred into the service.
To work with the Healthy Minds Team Leader to develop and establish working practices to promote and maintain the mental health of people living within Sandwell. The work with clients to improve their mental health by providing counselling. Outcomes will be measured using IAPT measures, indicating when clients have moved to recovery.
To provide accurate and informed feedback of client progress to the GP and other appropriate primary care staff. To liaise with other staff within the NHS, Social Inclusion, the Voluntary Sector and carers on matters relating to client wellbeing and care.
Person specification
Interview
Essential criteria
1. Post Graduate level qualification in counselling OR Diploma level 5 qualification in counselling or RMN
2. BACP/UKCP accredited or attended an accredited course and working towards completion of accreditation within 12 months
3. A minimum of 450 hours counselling experience with a relevant voluntary or statutory organisation, within the last 5 years
4. Significant experience with a relevant voluntary or statutory sector organisation
5. Experience of carrying out assessments of client’s suitability for counselling
6. Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based
7. Completed or near completion of an IAPT accredited Counselling top-up course
Desirable criteria
8. Experience of developing and running skills groups
9. Experience of working in an IAPT service