Counselling jobs in Honiton

Job summary

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking enthusiastic and compassionate Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) to join our NHS Talking Therapies Service within the Mental Health & Learning Disabilities Directorate.

This Band 5 role offers the opportunity to deliver evidence based, low intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions to adults experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Posts are based in Bridgwater, South Somerset, Wells or Taunton, with blended working options. Support is delivered via telephone, face to face, video sessions and through courses.

We are recruiting three full time PWPs and one parttime PWP (4 days) on hybrid contracts.

You will join a dynamic, friendly and supportive NHS Talking Therapies team committed to improving mental health outcomes across Somerset, with a strong focus on staff wellbeing and professional development.

What can we offer you?

• Preceptorship to help you settle into the role
• A welcoming and supportive service with a strong focus on PWP wellbeing
• Development opportunities, including potential supervisor training and progression into management roles
• A service with consistently high recovery rates, excellent staff survey results and no internal Step 2 waiting list
• CPD opportunities, including LongTerm Conditions (LTC) training
• Opportunities to progress into champion roles
• Blended working (balance of office and remote work)
• Excellent NHS benefits, including generous annual leave and pension
• NHS incremental pay rises

Main duties, tasks & skills required

As a PWP, you will:

• Deliver high-volume, low-intensity CBT-based guided self-help interventions.
• Provide treatment via telephone, online platforms, and face-to-face sessions.
• Facilitate psychoeducational courses and workshops.
• Assess and support individuals in managing their recovery.
• Make decisions on referrals and step-up/step-down care in line with the stepped care model.
• Liaise with GPs, secondary care, and other services to ensure continuity of care.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service audits and evaluations.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job description

You will be responsible for:

• Clinical Care: Accepting referrals, conducting patient-centred assessments, and delivering structured interventions tailored to individual needs. You'll also educate and involve family members and carers where appropriate.
• Communication & Collaboration: Working closely with clinical colleagues and external services to ensure seamless care pathways. You'll attend multidisciplinary meetings and contribute to service development.
• Supervision & Development: Engaging in regular case management and line management supervision, attending relevant training, and maintaining professional registration.
• Governance & Quality: Adhering to clinical governance standards, safeguarding policies, and data protection regulations. You'll contribute to continuous improvement through feedback and reflective practice.
• Administration & Data Management: Using Trust systems (e.g. RiO, IAPTus) to record clinical activity, monitor outcomes, and support service performance reporting.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy.
NHS Talking Therapies PWP Supervisor Training
NHS Talking Therapies PWP Long Term Health Conditions and MUS Training

Experience

Essential

Evidence of working with people who have suffered with a mental health problem
Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
Computer literate
Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
Experience of assessing and managing safety within scope of practise
Listen to others' views, respecting and valuing individual needs.
Professional and patient focussed approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.
Able to record and retrieve information on paper or electronic records as appropriate.
High level of enthusiasm and motivation
Able to work within a team and foster good working relationships
Able to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
Able to work under pressure
Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
Able to be self reflective, whilst working with service users within own personal and professional development and in supervision
Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives (as appropriate), remaining sensitive and empathic.
Intuitive and caring nature.
Act in ways that support equality and diversity.
Able to demonstrate an understanding of the impact frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
Able to demonstrate a good standard of English language
Advanced communication skills
Able to write clear reports and letters.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
High standards of written communication skills with the ability to use email and internet
Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the patients.
Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own caseload and time

Desirable

Experience of working in Primary Care Services
Experience in a service where agreed targets are in place to demonstrate clinical outcomes
Fluent in languages other than English

Additional Criteria

Essential

Demonstrate an understanding of anxiety and depression and how they present in Primary Care
Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
Access to a private car and ability to drive across the county to attend meetings or to any designated venue within the locality to provide treatment or run courses.
Ability to work one evening shift per week, currently a Wednesday however this is subject to change
Willingness to work/study from home or other venue as required via telephone/video call

Desirable

Demonstrate a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

For help with your application, contact:

Louise Mappin

louise.mappin@somersetft.nhs.uk

07876034752