Specialist Counsellor

• Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service
• Assess clients for suitability for Counselling using one the of Talking Therapies approved Counselling models. Where the problems appear to be too complex or severe to be appropriate for the Talking Therapies service, to refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how to manage the case.
• Contribute to diagnostic decisions and advise on the suitability of new referrals, adhering to the departments referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients. IAPT modalities include Counselling for Depression (CfD), Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression (IPT), Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) and Couple Therapy for Depression (CTFD) and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy.
• To make an assessment of risk for patient and others and take appropriate action when necessary.
• Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying Counselling formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.

Essential

• Completed a PG Diploma in CBT or in High Intensity (IAPT Pathway) and be accredited with the BABCP or a registered doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology, with PG level training in CBT with BABCP accreditation

Essential

• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
• Computer literate
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Has received training in, and carried out, risk assessments within scope of practice
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication
• Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers
• Experience of providing evidence based psychological interventions (in particular CBT)
• Experience with routine outcome monitoring
• Demonstrates an understanding (and formal training) of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
• Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post

Desirable

• Experience of working in Primary Care Services
• Experience in teaching and liaising with other professionals
• Experience in establishing diagnoses
• Experience in using IAPTUS
• Experience of working in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes

Essential

• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision