Job Summary
Therapy For You is an NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression service based in NE Essex working from our own premises, GP surgeries and community settings. We deliver a range of services including self-help psycho educational courses, therapy groups, online/digital therapeutic services and individual therapies.
An opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic and highly motivated applicants to apply for a three year post-graduate programme that enables qualifiers to provide Counselling for Depression (CfD), a NICE-recommended therapy for adults with depression in NHS Talking Therapies.
The course will provide a Foundation level, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma (Level 7) training in CfD, leading to a qualification to practise as a High Intensity Therapist in IAPT services delivering NICE-recommended evidence based psychological therapy for adults with depression.
You will be required to submit two applications – one to Metanoia and the second via this advert. Please complete the Metanoia application first.
To begin the Metanoia Institute element of the application process, please click here to start your application
The first interview will be with Metanoia, with suitable candidates then being shortlisted for a second interview with Therapy for You.
Whilst training you are required to undertake a minimum of 50 hours of self-funded personal therapy during the course.
Main duties of the job
ROLE SUMMARY
- To develop high intensity psychotherapeutic counsellors with the qualities, skills and competences to develop, engage in and sustain strong therapeutic relationships and work effectively with NHS TT service users with depression, and their families where appropriate.
- To develop core psychotherapeutic counselling practitioner competency, including integration of practical competence in CfD, in line with the needs of service users, families and carers.
- To ensure clinical practice in accordance with local and national NHS TT Service policy, including working to create inclusive and effective services for all.
- To promote personal and professional development and self-awareness essential to successful psychotherapeutic counselling.
Applicants will be required to attend in-person training at Metanoia alongside working with our service.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- A degree at 2:2 or above in any relevant subject, or equivalent, should be considered the minimum requirement for entry OR Candidates without a degree at 2:2 or above may be able to secure a place by demonstrating competency via a portfolio of evidence, which meets specified academic equivalence requirements.
- All candidates should have completed a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, which ordinarily involves a minimum of 10 days or 60 hours of tuition at level 2 or level 3. Online asynchronous courses are not acceptable. Please note: L2 Award, Helping Skills and Introductory courses are not accepted.
Desirable
- In a psychology related field
Experience
Essential
- Show a commitment to working with people with common mental health problems
- Demonstrable interpersonal skills and values consistent with providing hopeful, person centred care
- Evidence of working within a team environment
- Evidence of ability to communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to write clear reports and letters
Desirable
- Evidence of working with people who have experienced a common mental health problem
- Previous clinical or professional expertise in mental health
- Worked in a setting where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience managing own caseload and time
- Evidence of working in local community
- Experience of working in partnership with other services
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Ability to integrate training into practice
- Demonstrates warmth, kindness, compassion and empathy
- Demonstrates authenticity, self-awareness, maturity and stability
- Able to listen, be present and attentive
- Ability to come alongside people experiencing emotional and psychological distress
- Capacity for reflexivity
- Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course
- Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirement
- Awareness of and ability to explore issues of difference and equality, and the nature of prejudice and oppression
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships and maintain professional boundaries
- Excellent organisational and time management skills, including ability to manage conflicting demands and work under pressure
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Computer literate – with skills required to manage electronic patient records
- Demonstrates and understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
- Able to meet all the requirements of the training
- Able to complete academic components of the full training programme
- High level of motivation to complete the training and to work in NHS Talking Therapies services
- Ability to foster good working relationships
- Ability to be self-reflective whilst working with patients, and in own personal and professional development and in supervision
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- Willingness and ability to travel to the training provider and within the service geographical area
- Willingness and ability to work through interpreters
Desirable
- Received training in and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development activities positively and effectively
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
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.
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: 01 August 2025
