Psychotherapeutic Counselling Trainee (Counselling for Depression)
| Posting date: | 17 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £31,049 - £37,796 Year 1 - Band 5, Years 2 and 3 - Band 6 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 20 August 2025 |
| Location: | Colchester, CO3 3BT |
| Company: | Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 7358721/364-A-9190 |
Summary
A Vacancy at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
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.
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 linewith 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.
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES CLINICAL
• To accept referrals via agreed pathways and protocols within the service.
• Following sign off as meeting a foundation standard of competence through simulation, trainees will assess and support service users with mild to moderate depression in IAPT services in the self management of their recovery using either a humanistic/ person-centred or psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic psychotherapeutic counselling approach, under close supervision within an IAPT stepped care setting and in line with theIAPT Manual.
• Undertakes patient-centred interviews which identifies areas where the person wishes to see change and or recovery and makes an accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
• Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service’s referral protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the relevant part of the service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-down the person’s treatment to low intensity intervention.
• Following assessment, identify and negotiate the focus and contract for time limited counselling as per service contract and protocols.
• Deliver time limited counselling interventions in accordance with the IAPT Manual, the evidence base, service protocols. This work may be in person, via video consultation or telephone.
• Adhere to an agreed level of activity relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service utilising electronic record and data collection systems as required.
• Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.
• Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped case approach within the IAPT Service.
Further details available from JD and PS documents.
This advert closes on Friday 1 Aug 2025
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.
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 linewith 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.
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES CLINICAL
• To accept referrals via agreed pathways and protocols within the service.
• Following sign off as meeting a foundation standard of competence through simulation, trainees will assess and support service users with mild to moderate depression in IAPT services in the self management of their recovery using either a humanistic/ person-centred or psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic psychotherapeutic counselling approach, under close supervision within an IAPT stepped care setting and in line with theIAPT Manual.
• Undertakes patient-centred interviews which identifies areas where the person wishes to see change and or recovery and makes an accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
• Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service’s referral protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the relevant part of the service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-down the person’s treatment to low intensity intervention.
• Following assessment, identify and negotiate the focus and contract for time limited counselling as per service contract and protocols.
• Deliver time limited counselling interventions in accordance with the IAPT Manual, the evidence base, service protocols. This work may be in person, via video consultation or telephone.
• Adhere to an agreed level of activity relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service utilising electronic record and data collection systems as required.
• Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.
• Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped case approach within the IAPT Service.
Further details available from JD and PS documents.
This advert closes on Friday 1 Aug 2025