
Job requirements
Essential
10 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Car owner/driver
Level 2 - Must be a car driver and be able to use own car for official duties when required
- Personal qualities /aptitudes
To be personally responsible for maintaining self-care to enable safe provision of treatment.
- Personal qualities /aptitudes
Ability to maintain sustained and intense concentration in a pressurised, target driven environment.
- Personal qualities /aptitudes
Capacity to work in situations demanding careful clinical judgement and to maximise the use of clinical supervision with planning and preparation of clinical caseload
- Skills, Experience and Knowledge
Fully competent with data input and IT systems
- Skills, Experience and Knowledge
Experience in the assessment and evaluation of risk associated with mental health and related psychopathology
- Skills, Experience and Knowledge
Effective communication in written and spoken English
- Educational Requirements and Qualifications
A recognised Diploma or Degree in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, Psychotherapy or Counselling
- Educational Requirements and Qualifications
Registration or Accreditation with BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council), UKCP, (UK Council for Psychotherapy), NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society), ACC (Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professionals)
- Educational Requirements and Qualifications
In current practice as a Counsellor
Desirable
9 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Personal qualities /aptitudes
To work as part of a team and to develop personal, team targets and objectives.
- Personal qualities /aptitudes
An ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Personal qualities /aptitudes
An ability to work flexibly to meet the demands of patient care and service requirements.
- Skills, Experience and Knowledge
Previous experience of working in an NHS Talking Therapy/Primary Care service or NHS setting and working across other healthcare services.
- Skills, Experience and Knowledge
Experience in providing short term, time limited therapy, including routine outcome monitoring
- Skills, Experience and Knowledge
Experience and skills of providing psychological treatment for people presenting with depression and related mental health difficulties
- Educational Requirements and Qualifications
Further training in a recognised model of psychological therapy
- Educational Requirements and Qualifications
Qualification or experience in providing group facilitation
- Educational Requirements and Qualifications
Qualification or suitable experience in the provision of clinical supervision
Job overview
We have a part- time 6 month fixed-term position available in the North Dorset Counselling team for either a B5 Counsellor, B6 Senior Counsellor or B7 High Intensity Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with the appropriate skills, experience and qualifications to join a highly motivated, professional and committed team.
Please see the PS/JD for each banding requirements including being in current practice as a Counsellor and registration with the appropriate professional body.
Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.
Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
Main duties of the job
To provide a systematic, comprehensive counselling service within the NHS Talking Therapy programme, offering guidance, counselling and psychological therapy to patients referred by the GP partners, other healthcare Professionals or self-referrals accessing the service; to provide advice and guidance to other members of the Steps to Wellbeing Service (S2W) on psychological and mental health-related issues concerning their patients. The post holder is expected to act in a largely autonomous way, operating within recognised professional guidelines and codes of conduct, and the overall framework of DHC service’s policies and procedures.
Home visits, working with interpreters, providing a combination of face to face, online or telephone treatment. Opportunity for co-facilitation of counselling groups/courses. Regular clinical supervision and case/line management will be provided.
You may be required to work one late shift (12:00 - 20:00)
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate’s individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.
All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Counsellor/Senior Counsellor/HI Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust in Poole, England. It is listed as a Band 5, Band 6, Band 7 Counsellor role. The advertised salary is £19243.00 to £33909.00. The contract type is 6 months (Fixed Term Contract). The application deadline is 01 Nov 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (16 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.
