Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the West Team of NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies as an Accredited Counsellor.

You will provide Step 3 short-term counselling interventions through Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression (PCE-CfD), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) or Couples Therapy for Depression (CTfD) within the service.

The Counsellor role is offered at NHS Band 7 for those registered and accredited with the relevant professional body and holding IAPT-compliant modality training.

If not yet IAPT-compliant modality training, this can be offered as an IAPT Development Counsellor role (NHS Band 6).  You will work within the service whilst being sponsored to undertake training in an IAPT approved modality within a year of joining.

You will be fully supported by our management and clinical leads and surrounded by a friendly, highly competent supportive workforce.   We have taken time to create a model and culture in our service which ensures that you are happy in your work.

As one of the country’s leading IAPT services, we lead the way in the provision of NICE recommended psychological therapies, are focused on clinical excellence, innovation, and collaborative working.

We offer:

• Excellent CPD and career development opportunities
• Regular support, supervision and training
• Opportunity to engage in a number of interesting and social activities led by a Wellbeing lead in each locality

Main duties of the job

Applicants must be either BACP Accredited, or UKCP Registered as a Psychotherapist or Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, ACC Accredited, NCS Accredited Professional Registrant, or British Psychoanalytic Council Registered. Applicants must also have appropriate qualifications as detailed in the person specification.

Applicants holding an additional NHS Talking Therapies qualification, such as IPT, DIT, PCE-CfD or CTfD are appointed at Agenda for Change Band 7. Applicants who do not hold an additional NHS Talking Therapies qualification will be recruited at Band 6 and must be willing to undertake training and achieve certification in an NHS Talking Therapies approved module within 12 months. Once achieved, you will move up to Band 7 (please note that this training is funded by the service).

You will also need to demonstrate extensive experience of treating patients within a time limited counselling model, as well as experience of providing triage assessments.

Working for our organisation

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex. Our 6,000 staff serve a population of 1.3 million providing essential medical, nursing, and therapeutic care to adults and children.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community, helping people plan, manage, adapt to changes in their health, supporting avoidable hospital admissions and reducing hospital stay times.

We have opportunities for everyone across our wide variety of services including medical, clinical, support and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2022 NHS Staff Survey results, scoring highly in compassionate culture & leadership, and staff wellbeing support
• Variety of working environments across the community, in patients' homes, within our community hospitals and bases across the county
• Supportive flexible working patterns such as: part time, flexi time, annualised hours, and flexi retirement options
• Excellent training and development opportunities 
• Research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton
• Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
• Level 3 accredited Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces
• Veteran Aware Trust, achieving accreditation from Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
• Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast
• Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff