Job summary
- Main area
- Allied Health Professions
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- 24 months (Fixed Term)
- Hours
- Full time - 30 hours per week (There is also the opportunity for part time hours)
- Job ref
- 156-7502806
- Employer
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Cove Macmillan Centre
- Town
- Truro
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 Pa pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/11/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Macmillan Counsellor
NHS AfC: Band 5
Job overview
This is a 24 month Fixed Term Contract, open to internal candidates only.
To provide counselling to people living with and beyond cancer who are inpatients and outpatients at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT).
To support patients, with their carers and families in coping with and adjusting to challenges and changing circumstances as a result of cancer.
To work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service policies and procedure.
Main duties of the job
Accept referrals via agreed service protocols and refer on to appropriate services if required.
Assess the emotional needs of people affected by cancer who may present with multiple issues. Negotiate a therapy contract with a rationale and plan for sessions, or refer on to appropriate services as appropriate.
Deliver counselling based on current needs for people affected by cancer using appropriate models of level 3 psychological interventions (NICE, 2004). This will usually be one-to-one, but may include couple, family or group work and seeing patients on the ward.
Communicate with a high degree of skill and sensitivity, complex information while working with people to understand their individual difficulties in adjusting to a cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and sometimes a life-limiting illness.
Make and keep appropriate notes of clinical sessions and accurately record and analyze screening and outcome measures.
Undertake risk assessment and management to include suicide risk and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and make referrals as necessary.
Exercise autonomous professional responsibility and accountability for clinical work undertaken and organize and manage own clinical caseload, supported day to day by The Cove Centre Manager and professionally by the Macmillan Lead Clinical Psychologist.
Working for our organisation
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people - a figure that can increase significantly with
visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £580 million.
We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.
The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles.
Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is a research active organisation.
It’s established South West Clinical School in Cornwall exists to promote clinical academic career opportunities for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals interested in research and evidence-based activities. Read their research paper to find out more.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.
To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following:
- Identity Checks
- Professional registration and qualification checks
- Employment history and reference checks
- Occupational Health clearance
- Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check
- Right to work in the UK
For further information please visit:
https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/employment-standards-and-regulation
We reserve the right to close this advert early.
We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.
We may be able to offer sponsorship but this is not guaranteed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Professional counselling qualification to Level 4 Diploma as recognised by the BACP
- Accreditation with the BACP/UKCP (or accreditation applied for)
Desirable criteria
- Qualifications and experience in a variety of psychotherapeutic modalities
Experience
Essential criteria
- Ability to assess the appropriateness of counselling for patients
- Experience of providing time limited therapy using a range of therapeutic approaches
- Experience of working as a member of a team as a counsellor
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in an oncology &/or physical health setting
- Participation in audit and research
- Experience of delivering teaching/training
Practical and intellectual skills (including any special knowledge)
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Understanding of common psychological difficulties
Desirable criteria
- Good teaching and presentation skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Louise Brown
- Job title
- Macmillan Lead Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01872 256363
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