An exciting opportunity has arisen for our Health in Mind (IAPT) team to recruit up to three Primary Care Counsellors to offer Counselling for Depression treatment. As a service we have a commitment to develop and diversify our workforce to be able to offer all NICE recommended evidence based therapies for Depression in primary care. We believe that the ability to offer multiple therapeutic modalities within the team would be a huge benefit for our service users to enable choice, and treatments that are individualised to meet the service user's needs. Candidates can be either trained in Counselling for Depression or have the appropriate qualifications to be able to attend the training.

Main duties of the job

We are pleased to advertise this position within our Health in Mind (IAPT) Service. In line with the National IAPT programme, Health in Mind provides evidence based talking therapies for people with mild to moderate mental health problems. The post holder will deliver IAPT compliant Counselling for Depression to patients referred or self-referred to the IAPT Health in Mind Service.We would welcome applications from people preferably from a humanistic/person centred/integrative counselling background, who may also be accredited in other evidence based, IAPT compliant therapies such as CBT, IPT, DIT.

Candidates will already be trained in the Counselling for Depression modality OR will be eligible for the Counselling for Depression modality training which will be funded by our service once appointed to post.

As part of the full time role there may be opportunity to provide such alternative modalities for an agreed number of weekly sessions. Accreditation with BACP/UKCP/HCPC/BABCP is a requirement for this post.

The post requires clients to be seen face to face at local sites and as online appointments, as required and appropriate to the client.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Then please read on...

Job description Job responsibilities

To provide a comprehensive assessment and therapeutic service for adult patients with common mental health problems referred to the IAPT service based on the IAPT counselling for depression modality, working within the context of primary care services.

To identify the nature, severity and complexity of adult patients mental health problems, the associated level of risk and to advise both patients and their GP on appropriate management of those problems, including a referral to secondary care specialist, mental health services if appropriate.

To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions within the Trust on psychological aspects of risk assessment including risk of self-harm.

To offer guidance to patients on the appropriate psychological and psychosocial management of their problems, and when appropriate to offer time limited Counselling for Depression to patients whose mental health problems can be addressed and ameliorated by the application of psychological therapy.

To make appropriate use of formal methods for the assessment of patients mental health, including structured and semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, rating scales and guided inquiry methods.

To provided specialist psychological treatment based upon clearly accepted, evidence- based principles (e.g.NICE guidelines for Depression and Anxiety) to treat common mental health problems, including mood and anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders and other problems not of a severity requiring multidisciplinary specialist mental health services.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are within the service remit.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of their treatment within the Trust.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• A Diploma in person centred or humanistic counselling or psychotherapy or equivalent
• Accreditation with the BACP or UKCP
• Post graduate qualification in IAPT Counselling for Depression modality

Desirable

• Post graduate qualification in additional IAPT compliant modality

Experience Essential

• Experience of the assessment and psychological treatment of people with a wide range of mental health problems, of varying severity and complexity within NHS or Social care settings
• Significant experience of working as a qualified specialist mental health counsellor
• Experience of Psychological assessment and treatment of a wide variety of client groups from different ethnic backgrounds across a broad range of settings
• Minimum two (2) years post qualifying experience to providing brief counselling to clients with common mental health problems, particularly depression.

Desirable

• Experience of working in both Primary and Secondary Mental Health Care settings
• Experience of Mental health problems and the capacity to use that experience to the benefit of patient care

Knowledge and skills Essential

• Knowledge of a range of psychological counselling procedures and techniques and practitioner level knowledge of at least one model of psychological therapy
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of providing psychological therapy in a brief, time-limited way
• Knowledge of the BACP or UKCP code of ethics and particularly of confidentiality issues in Primary Care settings
• Awareness of therapeutic issues arising out of work in a multicultural setting and the potential impact of discrimination and disadvantage on mental health
• Knowledge of legislation and its implication for clinical practice and the appropriate management of people presenting with mental health problems
• Skills in the provision of brief time-limited counselling/psychotherapy
• Skills in the assessment and evaluation of risk associated with mental ill health and related psychopathology
• Skills in the presentation and dissemination of complex, emotionally highly sensitive information to both clinical and social care colleagues and patients and their families
• Excellent communication skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of the structure and provision of Primary Care Services and how they relate to other health and mental health services
• Able to draw upon a broad theoretical knowledge base.
• Skills in the entry of information into the PCMIS clinical records and data entry system and in managing the care pathway within the PCMIS system
• Skills in the production of reports suitable for public presentations and presentations in a medico-legal setting
• High level knowledge in the assessment and evaluation of counselling and psychological therapies

Other Essential

• Commitment to continuing professional development to partnership working and to reflexive clinical practice
• Commitment to flexible working and to provide early or late clinics as required by the Service
• Capacity to work in situations demanding careful clinical judgement and with time limited specialist support

Additional Essential

• Car driver and valid UK licence

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

367-IAPT-6922