Psychotherapeutic Counsellor Foundation Trainee: Sponsorship Available

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Job Summary

BTT is an integrated NHS Talking Therapies service providing a range of TT approved interventions.

The service delivery is predicated on a stepped care model, delivering interventions recommended by NICE and set out in the NHS TT Manual. TT Psychotherapeutic Counselling trainees will complete the TT national curriculum for High Intensity Psychotherapeutic Counsellors and provide a portion of the high intensity interventions of the service, delivering one of the following TT approved modalities, based on the specific training pathway that they undertake within the national curriculum: Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy for Depression (DIT).

The TT Psychotherapeutic Counselling national curriculum will provide a Foundation level, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma (Level 7) training in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, leading to a qualification to practise as a High Intensity Therapist in TT services. This position is for trainees undertaking the foundation stage of the training. Recruitment for the courses will be aimed at graduates (and those who can demonstrate professional and academic equivalence) with a commitment to the TT model. Trainees will be jointly recruited by TT services and training providers and will be employed within TT services. On completion of the foundation training, trainees will be eligible to apply to continue on to the Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma.

 

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to attend all taught and self-study days required by the education provider, as specified within the agreed national curriculum and work in the service for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills.The post holder is also required to attend 105 personal counselling hours over the course of the training, the cost of which will be covered by the service.

The post holder will be expected attend University and complete all University assignments including clinical supervision provided by the University.

Accept referrals, assess and support services users with mild to moderate depression in the service in the self-management of their recovery using either a humanistic/ person-centred or psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapeutic counselling approach, under close supervision within a TT stepped care setting

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary. At present, the majority of clinical work is delivered remotely, with a small provision of face-to-face contacts being offered from our clinical bases in Bedford and Dunstable and the surrounding communities.

The training and service experience will equip the post holder with the necessary knowledge, attitude and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

  • Degree at 2:2 or above in any relevant subject
  • Level 2 Counselling Skills Certificate (minimum of 10 days F2F (on-line N/A))

Experience

Essential

  • Ability to manage own caseload and time
  • Demonstrate high standards in verbal communication
  • Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers, clients and other professionals.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with groups
  • Experience of delivering therapeutic interventions to patients with common mental health problems
  • Experience of running groups
  • Experience of working in primary care psychological service

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Computer literate
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Understanding of issues surrounding clinical risk
  • Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with patients

Desirable

  • Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety disorders (Social Phobia, BDD, OCD, GAD, Health Anxiety etc) and depression and how these problems may present in Primary Care

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 27 July 2025

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.