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Job description

The Senior Therapist will conduct standardised psychological assessments and extended brief interventions, to inform advanced formulation, recommendation for and delivery of time limited counselling interventions. The role involves supporting people experiencing mild to moderate mental health and psychosocial difficulties. These may include substance misuse and self-harm. The role operates within a stepped-care, trauma-informed model aimed at promoting resilience and preventing deterioration. The post holder will work autonomously, manage a designated case load, hold risk, maintain accurate and up to date clinical records, alongside providing routine, formal supervision and acting as an escalation point for other Counsellors. The post holder will work within, input into existing and develop new integrated care pathways, lead on audit and service improvement activity and altogether contribute to the delivery of a high quality, safe, effective, and compassionate service.

Responsibilities

• Conduct standardised initial assessments, advanced collaborative formulation to include safety management and inform recommendation for treatment and agree counselling goals
• Manage the allocation of referrals based on the outcome of the initial assessment
• Administer standardised self-report outcome measures (e.g., CORE-OM / PHQ - 9 / GAD-7/AUDIT)
• Deliver individual counselling interventions to people experiencing mild to moderate mental health and psychosocial difficulties. This could include anxiety, low mood, trauma related presentations, substance misuse and self harming behaviours.
• Apply high fidelity, evidence informed therapeutic modalities in line with service specifications (e.g. Motivational Interviewing, person centred and CBT informed approaches)
• Promote behaviours that increase resilience and prevent deterioration.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• To be flexible as the role may involve travelling and working at various locations and times.
• Possess a full current driving licence and access to a car. Business insurance is also a requirement for this role.
• A professional Diploma in Counselling, covering psycho-dynamic, CBT and humanistic models of intervention or a person centred approach.
• Fully accredited membership with a professional registration Body (BACP category B/IACP, BABCP, UKCP, NCPS professional registrant or equivalent).
• 5 years’ post qualifying experience in Counselling and Psychotherapy, 3 years of which should include experience of providing clinical guidance, and direction in the assessment and management of risk and complex case presentations.
• Experience of delivering training to external stakeholders or employees.
• Experience of providing line management and clinical supervision to employed and associate counsellors, ensuring safe and ethical practice, effective caseload management, and ongoing professional development.
• Experience of working with adults presenting with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the presentations of substance misuse and self-harming behaviours.
• A minimum of 450 hours of supervised clinical practice
• Experience of assessment, management, and escalation of risk and or serious safeguarding concerns and including liaising with GP’s, multidisciplinary mental health, and allied professionals.
• Experience of undertaking standardised clinical assessments, formulation and delivering evidence-based or specialist treatment
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Demonstrable experience of using Microsoft Office and of using a client management system.