Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Counselling
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Bank: 2 to 3 days per week
Hours
  • Flexible working
  • Home or remote working
24 hours per week (Weekdays, some evenings and occasional Saturdays if possible. Remote and office work)
Job ref
159-LWH-135-25
Employer
Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Liverpool Women's Hospital - Occasionally Knutsford clinic
Town
Liverpool
Salary
£37,338 - £44,962 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/07/2025 08:00

Employer heading

Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust logo

Bank Infertility Counsellor

Band 6

Liverpool Women’s NHS FT became part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG) in November 2024, following the coming together with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS FT. UHLG was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide to our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, UHLG is also their local NHS, providing general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

At Liverpool Women’s Hospital, each year we deliver approximately 7,500 babies, carry out around 50,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly and premature newborns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles, and conduct over 4,000 genetic appointments.

We believe that this, along with a strong dedication to research and innovation, makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.

Liverpool Women’s has an excellent reputation and is a centre of excellence. It is an exciting environment to work in and a great place to develop your career for many years to come.

We invite you to review why Liverpool Women's Hospital is a great place to work:  https://vimeo.com/556197652 

We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a qualified and accredited counsellor to provide therapeutic, implications and support counselling to patients seeking fertility treatment.  

The candidate must possess a recognised qualification in counselling and have completed the BICA foundation course.  The candidate must be or be willing to work towards BACP and  BICA accreditation.  The candidate should demonstrate a sound knowledge and experience of working with emotional and psychological needs of individuals and couples suffering from fertility difficulties and the experiences of donor conceived people and donors.

This post is a unique specialist role which requires the counsellor to be confident and able to work autonomously and in an independent capacity as well as working closely with the multi-disciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of the individual client and couples, including donors and surrogates before, during and after treatment, taking into account stages of investigation and treatment and other sources of support.

To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of donor conceived people.  

Working for our organisation

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust delivers the highest standards of care for women, babies and families. Each year we deliver over 7,500 babies, carry out over 49,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly & preterm new-borns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles and have over 4,000 genetic appointments taking place. We believe that this along with a strong dedication to research & innovation makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.

We have some of the leading experts in their field, which has been showcased on national TV and news, making our teams famous across the world for professionalism, skill & compassion.

The Trust is constantly innovating and evolving its services to provide the most cutting edge and modern care possible. As well as developing services on our current site we have long-term aspirations for the future. We have recently launched a number of new strategies which provide a detailed long-term plan for our services.

Check out why Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work using the links below:

Video: https://vimeo.com/556197652

Online brochure: https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/media/4121/recruitment-pack-great-place-to-work-16pp-v4-final.pdf

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities

 

  • To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of the

individual client, couple and family – including donors and surrogates before, during and after treatment, taking into account forms of involvement in assisted conception, stages of investigation and treatment and other sources of support

·         To provide the three distinct types of counselling as outlined in the HFEA code of practice - implications counselling, support counselling and therapeutic counselling

·      Implications counselling for:

·         Patients and their partners taking part in gametes donation treatments (receiving or donating ovum, sperm or embryo) 

Support and Therapeutic Counselling for:

·         Patients suffering emotional and psychological distress and referring to relevant professional bodies when appropriate.

·         Patients who store sperm, eggs or embryos for fertility preservation such as prior to chemo- or radiotherapy.

·         Patients of deceased partners who have previously stored gametes.

·         Patients whose treatment has failed or who have experienced a pregnancy loss.

·         Prospective donors or surrogates who are found to be unsuitable for treatment.

   Welfare of the child assessment and safeguarding responsibilities:

Being able to know when and how to refer for safeguarding or welfare of the unborn child assessments. 

 

 

 

 

 

Other general responsibilities:

·         Keep appropriate records of patient contact.

·         Provides counselling skills training as appropriate for the staff of the Hewitt Centre.

·         Provides presentations for Patients Support Group and for Staff training

·         Works within ethical guidelines as set out by the British Infertility Counselling Association, and within the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Code of Practice.

·         Assists in induction and training of Counsellors and multi disciplinary staff in absence of Senior Counsellor.

·         To maintain and develop specialist knowledge and skills through
(i) a programme of continuous professional development [CPD] and training

(ii) engage with continuing professional supervision separate form management

(iii) regular review of current research, legislation, policy-making and other activity relevant to the specific patient/client group.

  • To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for assessment of and provision for the counselling needs of patients / clients referred to the service.
  • Preferably to be able to work from both Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Knutsford Hewitt Fertility Centres.
  • To be able to provide counselling online or via telephone as well as face to face.

 

 

This job description describes the main responsibilities of the post and is not intended to be exhaustive. It may be subject to change as the service develops and to meet the needs of the Trust.

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge & Aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • To prioritise work in conjunction with manager and colleagues
  • To manage ongoing caseload of patients
  • To follow policies applicable to role
  • To work effectively as part of a team and proactively contribute to the team
  • To know when and how to refer for safeguarding and/or welfare of the child issues
  • To contribute to and support and train a multi-disciplinary team
  • To provide written reports
  • To work unsupervised and under own initiative
  • To demonstrate a clear commitment to equal opportunities.
  • To have competent IT skills and ability to work with different systems

Qualifications & Learning

Essential criteria
  • An accredited qualification in Counselling
  • Certificate in online counselling as per BACP guidelines or evidence of working towards
  • BICA introduction course certificate
Desirable criteria
  • Qualification in couple therapy
  • Qualification in mindfulness

Professional requirements

Essential criteria
  • working towards BACP and BICA accreditation
  • To have attended BICA ‘Introduction to Infertility Counselling’ Course
  • To have supervision on a regular basis
  • Membership with BICA
Desirable criteria
  • Accreditation with BICA and BACP

Flexibility & Adaptability

Essential criteria
  • To work independently
  • To attend team meetings and mandatory training at Liverpool Women’s Hospital
  • To work effectively as part of a team and to proactively contribute to the team

Previous experience

Essential criteria
  • To be able to relate to the emotional and psychological needs of involuntarily childless patients.
  • Experience of setting and delivering therapeutic packages to meet the needs of patients.
  • Understanding of the experiences and needs of donors and donor conceived people
  • Have a sound knowledge and experience of working with the implications of fertility treatments (IVF, gametes and embryo donation)
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge/experience of LGBT experiences
  • Knowledge/experience of group work
  • Knowledge of welfare of the child
  • Knowledge of the DCR and OTR services

Special Conditions

Essential criteria
  • To be sensitive to important and relevant social, medical, legal, political, professional and cultural issues to fertility treatments
  • To understand ethical principles

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoInvestors in People: GoldCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerArmed Forces Covenant Bronze Award

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. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Patricia Lambert
Job title
Senior Counsellor
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07985780066
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies