Job summary
- Main area
- Rehab & Specialist Services
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 457-25-7448486
- Employer
- Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Citywide
- Town
- Sheffield
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/09/2025 09:00
Employer heading
Sheffield Talking Therapies Counsellor
NHS AfC: Band 6
About us
At Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust we provide a range of mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, primary care and other specialist services designed around the needs of people in our city.
We have a dedicated and skilful team of people caring in Sheffield, which you could become a part of.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do. These are: We work together, We are respectful and Kind, We are inclusive and We keep improving
Job overview
To provide evidence-based counselling modalities in line with NICE guidance and the Talking Therapies manual, to adults experiencing depression that meet suitability criteria to benefit from Talking Therapies.
To work collaboratively with Talking Therapies colleagues who ‘Step’ people assessed as requiring Counselling for depression.
To meet the National Talking Therapies standards (which currently includes an individual minimum 52% recovery rate, 48% reliable recovery rate and 67% reliable improvement).
To ensure productivity expectations are met in line with the National Talking Therapies manual, currently to deliver 20 clinical contact hours (pro-rata) per week. These standards are reviewed nationally, and it is expected that staff will continue to meet any updated standards
To meet patient needs by working across Sheffield according to demand.
Working a minimum of 22.5 hours per week & working Thursday afternoon to support you in the role. Thursday afternoons` are service wide non-clinical time which involves, meetings, forums and CPD opportunities.
Main duties of the job
Offer one early and one late appointment per week and Saturday working on occasion if required.
Deliver face-to-face and virtual treatment sessions with patients based on patient demand and service need. You may be expected to physically be in work for your full working week if there is a service need.
Manage all aspects of the appointments and waiting list system being aware that different systems may operate in different GP practices, working collaboratively and in conjunction with other Talking Therapies colleagues.
Provide an initial Counselling assessment once ‘stepped’ by a Talking Therapies colleague (as there are no direct referrals to Counselling) including a risk assessment and offer an appropriate Counselling contract; or signpost or refer onto a more appropriate service or intervention.
Offer professional advice and support to the referrers and Talking Therapies colleagues in Primary Care on all aspects of Counselling.
Work autonomously within professional guidelines and best practice Talking Therapies guidelines.
Liaise as appropriate with Talking Therapies colleagues and GPs regarding concerns and the treatment outcome.
Use data to reflect, guide and improve your own practice and performance in conjunction with supervision. Contribute to counselling forums and CPD events.
Working for our organisation
We are passionate about providing the very best care to the people we support, and we're looking for amazing people who share this passion to join us.
What is it that makes our Trust such a special place to work? Well, it's all about the people. Our staff, service users, carers and families all come from such diverse backgrounds and all have expertise and stories to share.
It’s important that you feel supported in your role, that the people who you work with are as passionate as you are and that your health and wellbeing is taken care of
If you're interested in developing your career, you'll have access to a range of training and education opportunities, including apprenticeships, work experience and placements, as well as the chance to get involved in research.
We are all very proud of the difference we make to people's lives each and every day and if that's something that you'd like to be part of we'd love to have you with us.
At SHSC, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front. However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To assess and treat people stepped to Counselling as appropriate.
To complete all mandated session by session outcome measures.
To have autonomous professional responsibility for clients referred.
To formulate and implement a counselling contract based on an appropriate conceptual framework, of the persons presenting issues within the protocols and procedures established by Talking Therapies (in line with NICE guidance, the Talking Therapies manual and suitability for a Talking Therapies service).
To recognise and assess risk (including child and vulnerable adult protection) and raise matters in line with Talking Therapies /SHSC policy.
To manage all aspects of arranging and working with interpreters when assessed as necessary for the Counselling contract.
To sensitively communicate complex information to clients to encourage therapeutic engagement.
To ensure record keeping in line with Sheffield Talking Therapies Standard Operating Procedures. This includes contemporaneous notes completed within 24 hours on the agreed patient record system, checking SHSC patient administration system prior to taking on new patients to check any risk or suitability issues and to send a discharge summary to GP practices once completed treatment.
To maintain a high level of clinical practice by attending Individual and Group Supervision; as well as being an active member of the Counsellor specific forum (pro rata if part time).
To provide evidence-based modality individual and/or group supervision as appropriate.
To provide counselling consultation and support to the Primary Health Care team where needed and to Talking Therapies colleagues on the suitability of the evidence-based modality for depression prior to ‘stepping.’
To participate in and contribute to the ‘Counsellor Forum’ and ‘Talking Therapies Team Meetings’ and ‘Talking Therapies Service Away Days.’
Participate in individual performance reviews and respond to agreed individual objectives aligned with meeting the service objectives of achieving all three National Talking Therapies standards on access, waiting times and recovery rates.
To continue to gain professional training and experience over and above that provided by the service making a commitment to continual professional development. Including responding to additional training request by NHS England in line with Talking Therapies providing evidence-based interventions.
Ensure all mandatory training is up to date in line with service protocol
Person specification
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of the role of Talking Therapies counsellor and skills to deliver evidence-based modalities in the treatment of depression in line with the National Talking Therapies manual
- To meet the National Talking Therapies standards (which currently includes an individual minimum 52% recovery rate, 48% reliable recovery rate and 67% reliable improvement).
- To ensure productivity expectations are met in line with the National Talking Therapies manual, currently to deliver 20 clinical contact hours (pro-rata) per week. These standards are reviewed nationally, and it is expected that staff will continue to meet any updated standards
- Ability to use session by session outcome measures to monitor practice
- Knowledge and skills in the use of methods of Counselling appropriate in Talking Therapies e.g., contracting; assessment; implementing clinically appropriate interventions for depression; caseload management to achieve clinical contact hours required and managing endings
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively (verbally and written); communicating complex, highly technical or clinically sensitive information to clients, organisations and to other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Able to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships and alliances as well work within the Talking Therapies model and hold firm boundaries when necessary
- Skilled in providing advice on suitability of evidence-based counselling interventions to other professions in Talking Therapies, GPs and other stakeholders as appropriate
- Skilled at working with, and in a variety of teams
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and Mental health
Training & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Qualified in a BACP approved Diploma in Counselling
- Registered and accredited with United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP or equivalent accrediting body). It is essential that registration and accreditation must be maintained throughout employment
- Trained in Counselling for Depression (CfD-PCET)
Desirable criteria
- In addition to CfD-PCET, trained in one or more of the Talking Therapies approved evidence-based modality training; Couple Therapy for Depression (CTfD); or Interpersonal Therapy (IPT); or DIT
- Supervision training in evidence-based modality (with relevant qualification and experience for the Talking Therapies counsellor role)
- Further formal and relevant post accreditation training (relevant to the Talking Therapies counsellor role)
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a Talking Therapies service delivering counselling for people with depression
- Experience of Counselling in Primary Care settings working collaboratively with GPs and the wider Primary Care Team
- Experience of delivering brief focus Counselling interventions with good patient outcomes
- Experience of working with adults, presenting with mild to severe symptoms of depression in line with suitability for a Talking Therapies service
- Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotional and distressing problems
- Demonstrate clinical leadership appropriate to banding where required.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of the application of evidence-based counselling modalities in different cultural contexts
- Experience of delivering evidence-based modality supervision
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to work across Sheffield depending on need and able to work a minimum of 22.5 hours in order to meet the demands of the role, maintain CPD and receive support/maintain wellbeing by attending counselling forums, masterclass, team meetings, group supervision and individual supervision
- Ability to be flexible with appointment times to meet patient need. To offer one early appointment and one late appointment per week and to work Saturdays if required, on occasion.
- Documented evidence throughout employment in line with requirements from professional body to maintain accreditation
- Strong evidence of commitment to personal development to maintain and deepen the capacity to withstand the emotional and ethical conflicts of the post and the capacity to maintain therapeutic focussed concentration for long periods of time. This can be demonstrated through different forms of continuing personal development and effective use of supervision
- Minimum of 22.5 hours over a minimum of 3 days working Thursday afternoon to support you in the role as Thursday afternoon is service wide non-clinical time which involves, meetings, forums and CPD opportunities
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Helen Knight
- Job title
- Professional Lead Counsellor
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0114 2264380
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