NHS

Infertility Counsellor


Pay37,338.00 - 44,962.00 / year
LocationLiverpool/England
Employment typeFull-Time

This job is now closed

  • Job Description

      Req#: C9159-25-0082?language=en&page=80&sort=publicationDateDesc

      Job summary

      An opportunity has arisen for a qualified and accredited infertility counsellor to provide therapeutic, implications and support counselling to patients seeking fertility treatment and to donor conceived people and/or donors wishing to register with the Donor Conceived (DCR) register.

      The candidate must possess a recognised qualification in counselling, be BACP accredited and be willing to work towards BICA accreditation. The candidate should demonstrate a knowledge, experience of working with emotional and psychological needs of individuals and couples suffering from fertility difficulties and the experiences of donor conceived people and donors who wish to obtain information from the Donor Conceived Register (DCR). Applicants will also need to show the skills and knowledge to be able to contribute to assessments of the Welfare on the Unborn Child in accordance with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

      This post is a unique specialist role which requires the counsellor to be confident and able to work autonomously and in an independent capacity as well as working closely with the multi-disciplinary team.

      Main duties of the job

      To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of the individual client - including donors, couple and family before, during and after treatment, taking into account stages of investigation and treatment and other sources of support.

      To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of donor conceived people.

      About us

      Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust delivers the highest standards of care for women, babies and families. Each year we deliver over 7,500 babies, carry out over 49,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly & preterm new-borns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles and have over 4,000 genetic appointments taking place. We believe that this along with a strong dedication to research & innovation makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.

      We have some of the leading experts in their field, which has been showcased on national TV and news, making our teams famous across the world for professionalism, skill & compassion.

      The Trust is constantly innovating and evolving its services to provide the most cutting edge and modern care possible. As well as developing services on our current site we have long-term aspirations for the future. We have recently launched a number of new strategies which provide a detailed long-term plan for our services.

      Check out why Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work using the links below:

      Video:https://vimeo.com/556197652

      Online brochure: https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/media/4121/recruitment-pack-great-place-to-work-16pp-v4-final.pdf

      Date posted

      02 May 2025

      Pay scheme

      Agenda for change

      Band

      Band 6

      Salary

      £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum pro rata

      Contract

      Permanent

      Working pattern

      Full-time

      Reference number

      159-LWH-81-25-A

      Job locations

      Liverpool Women's Hospital - Occasionally Knutsford clinic

      Crown Street

      Liverpool

      L8 7SS


      Job description

      Job responsibilities

      To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of the individual client, couple and family before, during and after treatment, taking into account physical health and abilities, form of involvement in assisted conception, stages of investigation and treatment and other sources of support.

      To provide the three distinct types of counselling as outlined in the HFEA code of practice as follows:

      Support counselling and therapeutic counselling as well as implications counselling for patients taking part in gametes donation treatments (receiving or donating ovum, sperm or embryo) and surrogacy (surrogate and commissioning couples).

      To provide face to face, online and telephone counselling.

      To perform Welfare of the Unborn Child assessments

      To provide support to donor conceived people and donors wishing to register with the DCR

      To attend regular team meetings

      To adhere the HFEA, The Hewitt fertility Centre and Trust policies and be up to date with mandatory training and role related competencies.

      Job description

      Job responsibilities

      To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of the individual client, couple and family before, during and after treatment, taking into account physical health and abilities, form of involvement in assisted conception, stages of investigation and treatment and other sources of support.

      To provide the three distinct types of counselling as outlined in the HFEA code of practice as follows:

      Support counselling and therapeutic counselling as well as implications counselling for patients taking part in gametes donation treatments (receiving or donating ovum, sperm or embryo) and surrogacy (surrogate and commissioning couples).

      To provide face to face, online and telephone counselling.

      To perform Welfare of the Unborn Child assessments

      To provide support to donor conceived people and donors wishing to register with the DCR

      To attend regular team meetings

      To adhere the HFEA, The Hewitt fertility Centre and Trust policies and be up to date with mandatory training and role related competencies.

      Person Specification

      Skills, Knowledge & Aptitudes

      Essential

      • To prioritise work in conjunction with manager and colleagues
      • To manage ongoing caseload of patients
      • To follow policies applicable to role
      • To communicate relevant information to colleagues.
      • To work in participation with tertiary agencies.
      • To contribute to and support and train a multi-disciplinary team
      • To provide written reports
      • To work unsupervised and under own initiative
      • To demonstrate a clear commitment to equal opportunities.
      • To have competent IT skills and ability to work with different systems

      Qualifications & Learning

      Essential

      • A recognised Diploma in Counselling
      • Certificate in online counselling as per BACP guidelines or evidence of working towards

      Desirable

      • A Professional Qualification in Social Work.
      • Qualification in couples therapy

      Professional requirements

      Essential

      • Accreditation with BACP
      • To attend BICA 'Introduction to Infertility Counselling' and advanced Courses
      • To have supervision on a regular basis

      Desirable

      • Membership of BICA
      • Accreditation with BICA

      Flexibility & Adaptability

      Essential

      • To work independently
      • To attend team meetings and mandatory training at Liverpool Women's Hospital
      • To work effectively as part of a team and to proactively contribute to the team

      Previous experience

      Essential

      • To be able to relate to the emotional and psychological needs of involuntarily childless patients.
      • Experience of setting and delivering therapeutic packages to meet the needs of patients having fertility treatment.
      • Understanding of the experiences and needs of donor conceived people and donors
      • Have a sound knowledge of and experience of working with the implications of fertility treatments
      • Knowledge of the DCR service

      Desirable

      • Knowledge/experience of Welfare of the Child Issues.
      • Knowledge/experience of LGBT experiences
      • Knowledge/experience of group work
      • Experience in psychosexual counselling

      Special Conditions

      Essential

      • To be sensitive to important and relevant social, medical, legal, political, professional and cultural issues related to fertility treatment
      • To understand ethical principles
      Person Specification

      Skills, Knowledge & Aptitudes

      Essential

      • To prioritise work in conjunction with manager and colleagues
      • To manage ongoing caseload of patients
      • To follow policies applicable to role
      • To communicate relevant information to colleagues.
      • To work in participation with tertiary agencies.
      • To contribute to and support and train a multi-disciplinary team
      • To provide written reports
      • To work unsupervised and under own initiative
      • To demonstrate a clear commitment to equal opportunities.
      • To have competent IT skills and ability to work with different systems

      Qualifications & Learning

      Essential

      • A recognised Diploma in Counselling
      • Certificate in online counselling as per BACP guidelines or evidence of working towards

      Desirable

      • A Professional Qualification in Social Work.
      • Qualification in couples therapy

      Professional requirements

      Essential

      • Accreditation with BACP
      • To attend BICA 'Introduction to Infertility Counselling' and advanced Courses
      • To have supervision on a regular basis

      Desirable

      • Membership of BICA
      • Accreditation with BICA

      Flexibility & Adaptability

      Essential

      • To work independently
      • To attend team meetings and mandatory training at Liverpool Women's Hospital
      • To work effectively as part of a team and to proactively contribute to the team

      Previous experience

      Essential

      • To be able to relate to the emotional and psychological needs of involuntarily childless patients.
      • Experience of setting and delivering therapeutic packages to meet the needs of patients having fertility treatment.
      • Understanding of the experiences and needs of donor conceived people and donors
      • Have a sound knowledge of and experience of working with the implications of fertility treatments
      • Knowledge of the DCR service

      Desirable

      • Knowledge/experience of Welfare of the Child Issues.
      • Knowledge/experience of LGBT experiences
      • Knowledge/experience of group work
      • Experience in psychosexual counselling

      Special Conditions

      Essential

      • To be sensitive to important and relevant social, medical, legal, political, professional and cultural issues related to fertility treatment
      • To understand ethical principles

      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.

      UK Registration

      Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

      Additional information

      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.

      UK Registration

      Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

      Employer details

      Employer name

      Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust

      Address

      Liverpool Women's Hospital - Occasionally Knutsford clinic

      Crown Street

      Liverpool

      L8 7SS


      Employer's website

      https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

      Employer details

      Employer name

      Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust

      Address

      Liverpool Women's Hospital - Occasionally Knutsford clinic

      Crown Street

      Liverpool

      L8 7SS


      Employer's website

      https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  • About the company

      National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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