Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job SummaryThe post holder will provide short-term counselling online or in-person for staff struggling with mild to moderate emotional difficulties.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical
• Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service
• To provide specialist brief structured counselling service for adults (18+) with mild to 
moderate mental health problems. This will normally be individual counselling but may 
also include group work where appropriate and requested by Line Manager. Therapy will 
be delivered in-person in community venues or online/ by phone.
• To assess clients presenting with multiple and complex issues regarding suitability for 
counselling e.g. treatment of depression, anxiety, phobias, childhood trauma (physical / 
sexual / emotional abuse), complex bereavement/loss issues.
• To select appropriate therapeutic treatment and make decisions regarding referrals e.g. 
If another intervention is more appropriate, or referral requires secondary care 
intervention.
• To assess risk of harm to client / self / others / property and take action as appropriate. 
This may involve breaching client confidentiality in interest of client or others safety e.g. 
Safeguarding Children or Adults, acts of terrorism, etc. This will be assessed in line with 
Primary Care Mental Health Services risk assessment policies.
• To organise and manage a counselling workload and plan appropriate brief interventions
• To maintain appropriate records according to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust 
policies and HMR Primary Care Mental Health Services protocols as directed by Line 
Manager 
• Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and stepdown arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
AFC 5/11/25 JME-260-25 Counsellor Band 6
• Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy 
process
• Carry out clinical audits of service performance, including service user surveys and 
evaluations, and help to collate and disseminate the results for feedback.
• Liaise with other health and social care staff from a range of agencies in the care 
provided clients.
Training and Supervision
• Contribute to the teaching and training of mental health professionals and other staff 
working in the service (as appropriate due to level of training).
• Supervise staff in the service (as appropriate due to level of training).
Professional
• Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any 
regulating, professional and accrediting bodies and keep up to date on new 
recommendations / guidelines set by the Department of Health (e.g. NHS plan, National 
Service Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence).
• Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
• Be aware of and keep up to date with advances in counselling or other areas of 
expertise.
• Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior 
therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development (CPD).
• Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.
• Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
• Keep up to date all records in relation to CPD and ensure personal development plan 
maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery 
models / developments.
• Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
• Participate in service improvement by highlighting issues and implementing changes in 
practice.
General
• To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and 
procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.
• It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal 
gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of 
their official duties.
This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. 
Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The 
duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process