Overview
The closing date is 04 May 2026. We are delighted to offer an opportunity to join the Cancer Psychological Service team at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust as a Band 6 accredited Counsellor or Psychotherapist. The post is a 0.8 WTE permanent contract within a rapidly expanding Clinical Health Psychology Department established in 2017.
An interest in working with patients with physical health difficulties is essential. While experience in cancer is appreciated, a willingness and enthusiasm to learn condition‑specific information will be supported by the department.
Interviews will be held on 19 May in person at CRH or HRI.
Main duties
* Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care and treatments using advanced clinical knowledge and skills.
* Provide counselling/psychological therapy to adult patients in line with NICE guidelines and other relevant guidance, within agreed activity levels under appropriate supervision.
* Offer advice and consultation to patients’ psychological care to non‑psychology colleagues.
* Work autonomously within professional guidelines, taking full responsibility for practice under the ethical framework of the accrediting organisation and in line with Clinical Health Psychology department and CHFT policies.
* Contribute to audit, policy, department meetings and service development as required.
* Support Cancer Psychological Service professionals with the development, delivery and coordination of groups, workshops and psycho‑education sessions.
* Assist in the development and facilitation of psychological supervision/reflective practice and peer support groups within the trust where needed.
* Work flexibly in response to service demands.
Qualifications and Training
* British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (or equivalent) accredited Diploma.
* Accredited status with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (or equivalent, e.g. full clinical membership UKCP).
* Additional training in models of psychological therapy.
Knowledge, Experience & Expertise
* Specialist knowledge of a range of counselling procedures and techniques.
* Experience of delivering counselling interventions within a formal setting.
* Experience of delivering short‑term, time‑limited work.
* Experience of regular supervised practice.
* Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the appropriate professional registration body.
* Diploma‑level knowledge of counselling practice with highly developed communication skills.
* Knowledge of the theory and practice of assessment and counselling interventions.
* Awareness of own limitations.
* Experience of delivering counselling interventions in a range of settings with a diverse range of patients.
* Experience of delivering group work.
* Experience of delivering counselling interventions within an NHS setting.
Communication & Relationships
* Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats, including complex and highly sensitive information, for example regarding risk and treatment to patients, their wider system and other professional colleagues.
* Plan, organise and flexibly manage own caseload, adapting to changing priorities of a complex organisational environment.
* Administer, score and provide feedback on psychometric outcome measures as part of patient work.
* Offer assessment and intervention with consent, sometimes in highly sensitive and distressing situations, and manage challenging behaviours, sometimes using interpreters.
* Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work.
* Engage in reflective practice and make appropriate use of clinical supervision.
* Maintain appropriate patient records.
* Reassure and empathise with the patient, engaging them in consenting to a therapy plan.
* Use own initiative and make decisions independently.
* Work flexibly and with clinical autonomy as part of a team in a multi‑professional context and in an acute healthcare context.
* Contain and manage organisational stress, and the ability to contain the stress of others.
* IT literacy skills for writing reports, letters and clinical programmes, which form part of treatment.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Equal Opportunities
This is a diversity and inclusion-friendly role – the employer encourages applications from all people irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. No discrimination or harassment will be tolerated.
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