Counsellor

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced an Accredited Counsellor, Psychotherapist to join our team at Brent Talking Therapies.

We are a large, well established service based in a diverse borough of London. Our service provides low and high intensity therapies at Step 2 and Step 3, alongside our Step 3 counselling service. We are passionate about the work we do and care provided to service users, and work by the trust values of compassion, respect, empowerment and partnership.

You will join a team of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP), CBT Therapists and Counsellors, with experienced supervisors and colleagues. Candidates should be competent in providing brief focused counselling using an evidence-based approach e.g. focal psychodynamic, client centred, solution focused, humanistic. Ability to deliver therapy in local languages is desirable.

We welcome applicants who:

• Are passionate about the benefits of short-term focused therapy
• Have worked in the past two years with adults with common mental health problems in a primary care/IAPT or NHS  setting
• Have extensive experience of assessments & enjoy working independently
• Enjoy working within a fast paced & busy setting with diverse populations
• Want to develop clinical skills & access further training
• The advertised post is full time however, we welcome part time applicants and also support flexible working patterns as long as core service commitments are covered.

Main duties of the job

NHS Talking Therapies services require all counsellors/psychotherapists to be registrants on the Accredited Register of Counsellors with the Professional Standards Authority.

To be shortlisted, recruiters search the PSA Accredited Register for Counsellors of your professional organisation’s register (BACP, BPC, COSCA, NCS, UK AHPP, UKCP). Please ensure you provide the correct Registration Number in your application for us to confirm you are an Accredited Counsellor or Psychotherapist with your registering association.

This is within London borough of Brent. The main hub is at Fairfields House in Kingsbury and a satellite hub at Bell House in Willesden Green.  You will be required to work across both hubs and in other parts of the borough, e.g.  GP surgeries/community settings.

We operate an agile working policy. Staff combine remote working and being on-site to deliver face-to-face appointments and other service commitments that require a hub-based presence. The post-holder may be required to work at any times between 8am and 8pm on weekdays including an evening clinic as required by the service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please note: This vacancy does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship, unless you meet the criteria by temporary exemption from current changes to immigration rules put in force on 22/07/2025. “Separate provisions are applied to workers who have been sponsored and held continuously Skilled Worker visa since prior to 04/04/2024."

As such, if you don’t meet the Transitional Provision (above) we are unable to consider your application unless you can provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the United Kingdom. If you believe you are eligible for sponsorship or already hold a valid right to work in the UK, please ensure you provide full details of your immigration status in the Pre-Screening Immigration section of your application form.

Please note role eligibility also depends on whether the role meets the salary threshold for the relevant occupational code (SOC CODE).

For further info please visit: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK

Please review the attached job description for move information about the role

• Provide a systematic time-limited assessment and counselling / psychological therapy service to people with defined common mental health difficulties within the Primary Care setting.
• Exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients whose problems are managed by psychologically based care plans.
• Provide consultation to referring GPs and the primary and community care teams about psychological therapy aspects of patient care and a range of mental health issues; attend primary care meetings where appropriate.
• When necessary, arrange onward referral of patients to other NHS and non-NHS teams and organizations in consultation with the referring GP.
• Work as part of local mental and physical health services to provide a clear patient pathway for patients receiving a range of psychological therapies and interventions.
• Provide comprehensive and timely clinical information when referring within and between these teams and services.
• Liaise with voluntary organizations and other mental and physical health agencies over patient care and provide advice around primary care issues; have extensive local knowledge of associated services.
• Use analytical and judgement skills across complex presenting facts or situations in devising an appropriate response and intervention.
• Responsible for keeping clinical records and maintaining patient records in secure locations across sites;  ensure any patient identifiable data is not carried outside of these NHS premises or between sites.