• Job Description

  Req#: C9350-25-0881?language=en&page=36&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  We are excited to be expanding our workforce for counsellors here at Mersey Care in our Talking Therapies (previously known as IAPT) service. We are seeking someone who is passionate about talking therapy and has the purpose to make a significant difference to peoples lives whilst working in Primary Care.

  We are seeking applications from qualified counsellors who wish to pursue additional modality training in the Talking Therapies (IAPT) compliant modalities in particular Counselling Therapy for Depression (CfD).

  You will be qualified to Diploma Level in Counselling with significant clinical experience of working with clients presenting with depression. In addition the successful candidate will hold accredited membership of BACP or an equivalent registering body. Above all, you will be an enthusiastic clinician, committed to driving the Talking Therapies provision within our communities, and taking pride in making a difference to peoples lives

  You will hold a clinical caseload providing Talking Therapies compliant counselling at step 3 of the stepped care model for individuals assessed and diagnosed with depression that are deemed as meeting the criteria for counselling, whilst being supported to undertake training in one of the evidence based Hight Intensity Therapies.

  Main duties of the job

  You will hold a clinical caseload providing Talking Therapies compliant counselling at step 3 of the stepped care model for individuals assessed and diagnosed with depression that are deemed as meeting the criteria for counselling, whilst being supported to undertake training in one of the evidence based Hight Intensity Therapies.

  About us

  Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

  We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

  At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

  Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles

  Details

  Date posted

  10 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 6

  Salary

  £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Flexible working

  Reference number

  350-CC7323937

  Job locations

  St Johns Unit

  Alforde Street

  Widnes

  WA8 7QA

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  As well as fully funded training and supervision, we offer our Talking Therapies team members weekly protected time for CPD as well as clinical supervision and support with caseload management. Our CPD is facilitated by Lead Clinicians and is made up of taught sessions, group discussions as well as self directed study and peer group discussions. You will benefit from being part of a clinical team made up of therapists with a variety of skills including CBT, EMDR, IPT, DIT CTfD and Counselling as well as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Employment Advisors.

  We have opportunities available across our Talking Therapies Services covering Halton, Knowsley and Liverpool.

  Please see Job Description for further details of responsibilities and person specification for this role.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  As well as fully funded training and supervision, we offer our Talking Therapies team members weekly protected time for CPD as well as clinical supervision and support with caseload management. Our CPD is facilitated by Lead Clinicians and is made up of taught sessions, group discussions as well as self directed study and peer group discussions. You will benefit from being part of a clinical team made up of therapists with a variety of skills including CBT, EMDR, IPT, DIT CTfD and Counselling as well as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Employment Advisors.

  We have opportunities available across our Talking Therapies Services covering Halton, Knowsley and Liverpool.

  Please see Job Description for further details of responsibilities and person specification for this role.

  Person Specification

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
  • Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
  • Ability to manage own caseload and time.
  • Demonstrates high standards in written communication.
  • Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
  • Experience with routine outcome monitoring
  • Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
  • Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health / benefits & employment systems
  • Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
  • Knowledge of child protection issues and other relevant legislation

  Desirable

  • Experience of working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression
  • Experience of working in Primary Care mental health Services
  • Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
  • Relevant experience in Primary Care treating anxiety and depression.
  • Clinical experience within NHS Talking Therapies
  • Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • For trainee counselling for depression roles: A recognised and recorded/registered qualification at graduate/diploma level in counselling.
  • For trainee CBT therapist roles: A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy.
  • Evidence of meeting the Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) requirements of BABCP. 2 years post qualified experience for Psychological Well-being Practitioners
  • For other training roles (e.g., DiT, IPT, EMDR etc.): Relevant graduate/diploma qualifications that meet the specific high intensity course/training requirements.

  Skills

  Essential

  • Able to travel to attend training course and clinical venues
  • Able to demonstrate ability to complete the academic element of the training
  • Able to integrate training into practice
  • Computer Literate
  • Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively both orally and written, sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professionals both within and outside of the NHS.
  • Has received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
  • Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
  • High level of enthusiasm and motivation
  • Advanced communication skills
  • Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
  • Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
  • Ability to work under pressure.
  • Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
  • Ability to be self reflective, whilst working with service users, & in own personal and professional development and in supervision
  • The ability and skills to act as an advocate for a new service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system

  Desirable

  • Accredited with a professional psychological therapy organisation
  • Completed clinical audits within a service.
  • Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation.
  • Fluent in languages other than English

  Values

  Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
  • Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
  • Ability to manage own caseload and time.
  • Demonstrates high standards in written communication.
  • Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
  • Experience with routine outcome monitoring
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change oriented

  Person Specification

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
  • Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
  • Ability to manage own caseload and time.
  • Demonstrates high standards in written communication.
  • Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
  • Experience with routine outcome monitoring
  • Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
  • Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health / benefits & employment systems
  • Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
  • Knowledge of child protection issues and other relevant legislation

  Desirable

  • Experience of working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression
  • Experience of working in Primary Care mental health Services
  • Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
  • Relevant experience in Primary Care treating anxiety and depression.
  • Clinical experience within NHS Talking Therapies
  • Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • For trainee counselling for depression roles: A recognised and recorded/registered qualification at graduate/diploma level in counselling.
  • For trainee CBT therapist roles: A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy.
  • Evidence of meeting the Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) requirements of BABCP. 2 years post qualified experience for Psychological Well-being Practitioners
  • For other training roles (e.g., DiT, IPT, EMDR etc.): Relevant graduate/diploma qualifications that meet the specific high intensity course/training requirements.

  Skills

  Essential

  • Able to travel to attend training course and clinical venues
  • Able to demonstrate ability to complete the academic element of the training
  • Able to integrate training into practice
  • Computer Literate
  • Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively both orally and written, sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professionals both within and outside of the NHS.
  • Has received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
  • Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
  • High level of enthusiasm and motivation
  • Advanced communication skills
  • Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
  • Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
  • Ability to work under pressure.
  • Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
  • Ability to be self reflective, whilst working with service users, & in own personal and professional development and in supervision
  • The ability and skills to act as an advocate for a new service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system

  Desirable

  • Accredited with a professional psychological therapy organisation
  • Completed clinical audits within a service.
  • Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation.
  • Fluent in languages other than English

  Values

  Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
  • Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
  • Ability to manage own caseload and time.
  • Demonstrates high standards in written communication.
  • Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
  • Experience with routine outcome monitoring
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change oriented

  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

  Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  St Johns Unit

  Alforde Street

  Widnes

  WA8 7QA

  
  

  Employer's website

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

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  St Johns Unit

  Alforde Street

  Widnes

  WA8 7QA

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.merseycare.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.

Notice