JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB DETAILS
JOB TITLE:
Senior Primary Care Counsellor
GRADE:
AfC Equivalent Band 7
BASIC QUALIFICATION: BACP or UKCP Accredited Counsellor
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Team Leader
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Operations Manager
LOCATION:
Derbyshire
WORKING HOURS:
TBN
SALARY (P/A):
£26,000 -36,000 (pro rata)
2. JOB PURPOSE
The post holder will be an accredited Counsellor with substantial clinical
experience in Primary Care mental health, with experience of treating depression
and anxiety disorders.
You will deliver short term Counselling, work focused interventions and evidence
based Psychological Therapy to service users of Trent PTS with mild to moderate
mental health problems, both on an individual and group basis.
You will implement a Stepped Care approach to clinical practice and implement
national outcomes monitoring systems adopted by Trent PTS (which includes
collating and electronically recording session-by-session symptom measures).
In addition, you will conduct Mental Health Assessment and Risk assessment of
Service Users and will provide liaison and consultation to Clinicians of Trent PTS
Service, GP’s and referring agents to facilitate User choice and access to
appropriate Psychological Therapies. As a senior mental health Clinician you will
provide Clinical Supervision in relation to Counselling/Psychotherapy.
3. KEY RESULT AREAS

Provide short term Counselling, work focused interventions and evidence
based Psychological Therapy to individuals, couples and groups as
required, within a wide range of settings (including GP surgeries,
community settings, therapy centres and Job centre offices etc).

Manage an allocated clinical caseload in collaboration with the Line
Manager.

Liaise with Line Manager or Clinical Supervisor when service users
require specialist Medication Review and symptom monitoring.

Conduct problem focused assessment and work focused assessment of
users of Trent PTS.

Conduct Mental Health Assessments and Risk Assessments for users and
formulate and implement Risk Management plans, according to Trent PTS
Risk Assessment & Risk Management policies and procedures.

Ensure that other personnel involved in the treatment and care of service
users are aware of all relevant issues in the clinical management of a
user’s care, including user’s history, current or potential risk to self or
others.

Provide information and education to users about choice and access of
Psychological Therapies available within Trent PTS to enable them to
make informed decisions about access to the most appropriate service.

Implement a Stepped Care approach to clinical practice and if unsuitable
for Counselling refer user for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy within Trent
PTS in consultation with the Line Manager or Clinical Supervisor.

Electronically record data regarding individual Service User contact
activity, Diary Events and Service Activity using Trent PTS Electronic
Patient Management Systems.

Maintain up to date accurate electronic clinical records relating to
individual Service Users, in accordance with Trent PTS policies and
procedures and adhering to NMC Guidelines for Good Record Keeping.

Implement national outcomes monitoring systems adopted by Trent PTS
(which includes session-by-session symptom measures).

Collate and electronically record assessment and treatment outcomes and
patient satisfaction data for national benchmarking in accordance with
Trent PTS Service’s individual contract requirements.
5.

Provide Clinical Supervision in relation to Counselling to trainee and
qualified Counsellors as required.

Actively participate in regular liaison and consultation with Trent PTS
Clinical Team and other Specialist Teams as required, in order to facilitate
seamless access between Primary and Secondary Care mental health
services.

Proactively develop robust professional relationships with General
Practice staff supporting the active integration of Psychological Therapies
provision into Primary Care.

Develop and maintain good professional relationships with mental health
workers in Primary and Secondary Care.

Provide consultation to and communicate as appropriate with external
agencies (including housing, police, local authority, Jobcentre Plus and
employers etc).

Exercise personal responsibility for the systematic clinical governance of
professional practice in your own Counselling practice and that of your
supervisees.

Receive regular individual and/or group Clinical Supervision from an
accredited Counsellor.

Be committed to developing and maintaining your own CPD in relation to
Counselling practice.

Fulfil the BACP / UKCP code of conduct and follow BACP / UKCP ethical
guidelines in your professional work.

Receive regular Case Management Supervision from the Line Manager
and/or Senior Manager.

Be aware of and comply with the policies, procedures and standards of
delivery in Trent PTS Service, in particular the service’s clinical operations
procedures, recommending updates for this as indicated.
SELF DEVELOPMENT
The post holder is responsible for maintaining Professional Development in
their Core Profession (Counselling/Psychotherapy) and will be expected to
participate in training and development as is deemed necessary to fulfil the
requirements of the post and to maintain professional registration with the
relevant professional body.
The post holder must adhere to their professional conduct, as well as Trent
PTS policies, procedures and the requirements of statutory legislation.
6. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will be expected to work closely with Clinicians of Trent PTS,
GP’s, referring agents, NHS Community Mental Health Teams, Jobcentre
Plus, local authority, non-statutory services and other specialist services.
7. CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
The post holder will be expected to:






Maintain and develop clinical knowledge and clinical expertise.
Actively participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision.
Maintain accurate electronic records of clinical work so as to allow the
effective monitoring, review, audit and evaluation of the service provided.
Collate and electronically record assessment and outcome measures and
patient satisfaction data for service audit and national benchmarking.
Participate in the effective monitoring, review and evaluation of the service
provided.
Participate in audit and research as required.
SENIOR COUNSELLOR (MENTAL HEALTH)
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Essential
Qualifications
and
Education
Experience &
knowledge
 Accredited
Counsellor (BACP
or UKCP)
 Post graduate
Diploma
Counselling
 Substantial post
registration clinical
experience in
Counselling
 Evidence of
ongoing
Professional
Development in
Counselling post
accreditation
 Full driving licence
 Car Owner/driver
 Minimum of one
year’s post
accreditation
experience of
providing
Counselling in a
Primary or
Secondary Care
setting
 Substantial
experience of
treating depression
and anxiety
disorders
 Experience of
working
autonomously
 Experience of
conducting mental
health assessments
and risk
assessments
 Experience of
implementing
Desirable
 Post registration
qualification in
Counselling




Method of
Assessment
Application Form
Professional
certificates
BACP / UKCP
register
Driving licence
 Community mental
 Application Form
health experience
 Interview
 Clinical experience of  References
working within a
Multidisciplinary
Team
 Experience of
providing basic
cognitive behavioural
interventions under
supervision
 Substantial
experience of
treating a wide range
of psychological
disorders using
Counselling
 Experience of
providing Clinical
Supervision in
relation to
Counselling
 Experience of
collating and
Stepped Care
 Engagement in
continued and
recent professional
development in
relation to
Counselling
 Evidence of
receiving regular &
recent Clinical
Supervision in
Counselling, post
accreditation
recording clinical
outcomes
 Experience of
providing Couple
Counselling
 Experience of
providing Counselling
on a group basis
 A basic
understanding of the
Cognitive
Behavioural Model