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Job summary

Main area
Counsellor
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (9am-5pm Monday to Friday, with limited flexibility to work earlier morning and evening clinics each week)
Job ref
351-CEN2428-CC
Employer
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Talking Therapies West Lancs
Town
Ormskirk
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/02/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Counsellor

Band 5

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism, community, and physical health services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) delivers a comprehensive range of services, including:

  • Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults, including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, and forensic services with low and medium secure care.
  • Specialist mental health inpatient care for individuals with learning disabilities, alongside specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
  • Extensive community physical health and well-being services for children and adults, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term condition management.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,500 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health, general nurses, children’s nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers, as well as those specialising in learning disabilities and community physical health services.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and self-motivated individual to work for Talking Therapies Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) Service.

The Talking Therapies service have dedicated teams of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs), Cognitive Behavioural Therapists and Counsellors who offer a range of support to help people make positive changes to reduce stress and anxiety and improve their wellbeing. 

An opportunity exists for one qualified Counsellor who is passionate about providing meaningful and effective therapeutic experiences to address common mental health problems. 

Applicants who have not completed their training as a Counsellor will not be considered.

Main duties of the job

Talking Therapies Counsellors offer accessible assessment and treatment for mild to moderate mental health problems, giving service users a greater degree of choice and flexibility by providing 1:1 brief time limited counselling within primary care. This service is provided across a number of primary care and other community venues in the locality. There is also the opportunity to provide Telephone and , remote clinical sessions as part of the role.

You will have a proven track record of delivering high quality service outcomes against robust performance measures and have excellent interpersonal qualities; time management skills; an ability to work autonomously; and an enthusiasm for working in an ever-developing Talking Therapies environment.

Talking Therapies is an innovative and forward thinking service.  We provide rapid accessible mental health screening, assessment and treatment whilst enabling people accessing the service to have a collaborative role in the choice of intervention they receive.

The services are underpinned by a philosophy of mental health promotion, health recovery, choice, empowerment and personal responsibility. 

The post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance.

This post may close early due to high numbers of applications so you are advised to apply promptly.

Working for our organisation

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you’d like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about the role, please see the attached recruitment pack which includes a detailed job description and person specification, or visit our website via Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accredited Diploma (or evidence of BACP certificate of proficiency if course was not BACP accredited)
  • Hold Registered status with BACP
  • Evidence of working towards British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Accreditation (to be achieved within 12 months of taking up the post).

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of NHS structures and policy within a Primary Care context
  • Good record of Continuing Professional Development and willingness to continue this

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of psychological work with common mental health issue
  • Experience of short term time-limited work
  • Experience of promoting wellbeing and social inclusion
  • Evidence of regular supervised practice

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Highly developed interpersonal skills and communication skills both oral and written
  • Ability to sustain intense levels of concentration, responding and participating as required.
  • Evidence of ability to organise own workload

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. You are therefore advised to consider applying for this vacancy as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Amanda Riley
Job title
Counselling Team Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

For further information or an informal discussion about the post please contact Holly Eggboro Professional Lead for Counselling [email protected] or Amanda Riley [email protected] Team Lead.

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