Job overview
Are you a relational therapist/counsellor looking to be part of an innovative and dynamic Talking Therapies service, joining part of an already well established Relational Therapies Team? The post holder will provide high intensity therapies to patients who have experienced anxiety disorders and depression as a result of relational difficulties. They will also have the opportunity to undertake Talking Therapies compliant training to qualify in an accreditable specific relational modality.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be expected to carry out telephone and face to face assessments, individual and group work as part of their case load. We value experience of delivering therapy in a group format as well as being dual trained in more than one modality.
The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and work in various community settings (including GP surgeries) and psychological treatment centres or Children’s Centres. At present, the majority of clinical work is delivered remotely, with a small provision of face-to-face contacts being offered from our clinical bases across the county.
As a Talking Therapies service we seek to provide ease of access for service users and to this end there will be a requirement to work flexible hours between 8am and 8 pm based on service requirements, including one late evening per week.
Whilst this post is based in Bedfordshire you may, at times, be required to provide cover and assistance to other East London Foundation Trust Talking Therapies teams, for example supervision by the medium of Teams, cross service trainings, etc.
The post holder will be expected to work constructively and flexibly as part of the Bedfordshire Talking Therapies team and with colleagues in other East London Foundation Trust Talking Therapies teams.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and person specification please see attached JD & PS.
For contact information please see below.
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.
Person specification
Training
Essential
- Good record of Continuing Professional Development and willingness to continue this
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety disorders and depression and how these problems 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
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide range of Psychological problems in Primary Care/ Talking Therapies settings
- Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology (HCPC registered) or counsellor/qualified psychotherapist
- AND Training/willing to train in at least one of the following NICE recommended psychological therapies: - Couple Therapy for Depression - Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) - Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) - PCE-CfD
- Current registration with required registration body (BACP, UKCP or HCPC)
Desirable
- Talking therapies experience
- Experience in delivering recognised and approved psychological therapies in a primary care setting
Other Requirements
Essential
- 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 case management 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 the 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
Skills & Competencies
Essential
- Full range of skills and competencies as laid out in the competence framework
- Computer literate
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out safety assessments within scope of practice
- Understanding of issues surrounding clinical safety
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with patients
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for HI Relational Therapist with East London NHS Foundation Trust in Union Street Clinic. It is listed as a Band 6 Mental health professionals role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum. The contract type is The vacancy is offered as a permanent post, with the expectation that all clinical staff work one late evening per week (12pm until 8pm). We currently offer blended working, working from both home and from the office. We will continue to review this approach in line with future service needs.. The application deadline is 31 Aug 2026.
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