# Trainee High Intensity Therapist - Counsellor > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/trainee-high-intensity-therapist-counsellor/e13cb2e7-7bc5-41f4-a74d-e8e7495738db - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/trainee-high-intensity-therapist-counsellor/e13cb2e7-7bc5-41f4-a74d-e8e7495738db.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Prescot - **Region:** North West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Mental health professionals - **Grade:** Band 6 - **Salary:** £39,959 - £48,117 per annum - **Contract type:** 12 months (FIXED TERM TRAINEE POST) - **Employment type:** Full time, Flexible working, 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-06-19T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-06-04T23:02:37.680Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Merseyside/St_Helens/Mersey_Care_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Counselling_Talking_Therapies/Counselling_Talking_Therapies-v8046059 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8046059?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview PLEASE NOTE THE ADVERT IS FOR COUNSELLING FOR DEPRESSION THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION (CFD) TRAINING PLACES. PLEASE ENUSRE THAT YOU HAVE THE RELEVENT ACCREDITABLE COUNSELLING QUALIFICATION LISTED IN THE PERSON SPEC FOR THIS ROLE PRIOR TO APPLYING. We are excited to be expanding our workforce for counsellors here at Mersey Care in our Talking Therapies service. We are seeking applications from qualified counsellors who wish to pursue additional modality training in the Talking Therapies compliant modalities. You will be qualified to Diploma Level in Counselling with significant clinical experience of working with clients presenting with depression. In addition the successful candidate will hold accredited membership of BACP or an equivalent registering body. Above all, you will be an enthusiastic clinician, committed to driving the Talking Therapies provision within our communities, and taking pride in making a difference to peoples lives You will hold a clinical caseload providing Talking Therapies compliant counselling at step 3 of the stepped care model for individuals assessed and diagnosed with depression that are deemed as meeting the criteria for counselling, whilst being supported to undertake training in Counselling for Depression. We have positions available across all of our Talking Therapies localities which include St Helens, Halton, Liverpool and Knowsley and our clinical staff are to hold sessions both in person and remotely. ### Main duties of the job You will hold a clinical caseload providing Talking Therapies compliant counselling at step 3 of the stepped care model for individuals assessed and diagnosed with depression that are deemed as meeting the criteria for counselling, whilst being supported to undertake training in Counselling for Depression. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities As well as fully funded training and supervision, we offer our Talking Therapies team members weekly protected time for CPD as well as clinical supervision and support with caseload management. Our CPD is facilitated by Lead Clinicians and is made up of taught sessions, group discussions as well as self directed study and peer group discussions. You will benefit from being part of a clinical team made up of therapists with a variety of skills including CBT, EMDR, IPT, DIT CTfD and Counselling as well as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Employment Advisors. We have opportunities available across our Talking Therapies Services covering St Helens, Halton, Knowsley and Liverpool. Please see Job Description for further details of responsibilities and person specification for this role. ## Job Details PLEASE NOTE THE ADVERT IS FOR COUNSELLING FOR DEPRESSION THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION (CFD) TRAINING PLACES. PLEASE ENUSRE THAT YOU HAVE THE RELEVENT ACCREDITABLE COUNSELLING QUALIFICATION LISTED IN THE PERSON SPEC FOR THIS ROLE PRIOR TO APPLYING. We are excited to be expanding our workforce for counsellors here at Mersey Care in our Talking Therapies service. We are seeking applications from qualified counsellors who wish to pursue additional modality training in the Talking Therapies compliant modalities. You will be qualified to Diploma Level in Counselling with significant clinical experience of working with clients presenting with depression. In addition the successful candidate will hold accredited membership of BACP or an equivalent registering body. Above all, you will be an enthusiastic clinician, committed to driving the Talking Therapies provision within our communities, and taking pride in making a difference to peoples lives You will hold a clinical caseload providing Talking Therapies compliant counselling at step 3 of the stepped care model for individuals assessed and diagnosed with depression that are deemed as meeting the criteria for counselling, whilst being supported to undertake training in Counselling for Depression. We have positions available across all of our Talking Therapies localities which include St Helens, Halton, Liverpool and Knowsley and our clinical staff are to hold sessions both in person and remotely. ## Job Description You will hold a clinical caseload providing Talking Therapies compliant counselling at step 3 of the stepped care model for individuals assessed and diagnosed with depression that are deemed as meeting the criteria for counselling, whilst being supported to undertake training in Counselling for Depression. ## Responsibilities As well as fully funded training and supervision, we offer our Talking Therapies team members weekly protected time for CPD as well as clinical supervision and support with caseload management. Our CPD is facilitated by Lead Clinicians and is made up of taught sessions, group discussions as well as self directed study and peer group discussions. You will benefit from being part of a clinical team made up of therapists with a variety of skills including CBT, EMDR, IPT, DIT CTfD and Counselling as well as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Employment Advisors. We have opportunities available across our Talking Therapies Services covering St Helens, Halton, Knowsley and Liverpool. Please see Job Description for further details of responsibilities and person specification for this role. ## Person Specification ### Skills **Essential** - Able to travel to attend training course and clinical venues - Able to demonstrate ability to complete the academic element of the training - Able to integrate training into practice - Computer Literate - Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively both orally and written, sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professionals both within and outside of the NHS. - Has received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice - Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients - 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 personal development 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 a 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 **Desirable** - Accredited with a professional psychological therapy organisation - Completed clinical audits within a service. - Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation. - Fluent in languages other than English ### Values **Essential** - Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services - Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets. - Ability to manage own caseload and time. - Demonstrates high standards in written communication. - Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers. - Experience with routine outcome monitoring - Responsive to service users - Engaging leadership style - Strong customer service belief - Transparency and honesty - Discreet - Change oriented ### Knowledge **Essential** - Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it 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 - Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post - Knowledge of child protection issues and other relevant legislation **Desirable** - Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems ### Experience **Essential** - Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services - Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets - Ability to manage own caseload and time. - Demonstrates high standards in written communication. - Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers. - Experience with routine outcome monitoring **Desirable** - Experience of working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression - Experience of working in Primary Care mental health Services - Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes - Relevant experience in Primary Care treating anxiety and depression - Clinical experience within NHS Talking Therapies ### Qualifications **Essential** - For trainee counselling for depression roles: A recognised and recorded/registered qualification at graduate/diploma level in counselling. - For trainee CBT therapist roles: A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy. - Evidence of meeting the Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) requirements of BABCP. 2 years post qualified experience for Psychological Well-being Practitioners - For other training roles (e.g., DiT, IPT, EMDR etc.): Relevant graduate/diploma qualifications that meet the specific high intensity course/training requirements. ## Documents - [jd (pdf, 345.9kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10334874) - [a great place to work (pdf, 2.1mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=1400) - [functional requirements (pdf, 370.1kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10334873) - [our people promise and charter (pdf, 5.8mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2513) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.