What are the responsibilities and job description for the Counsellor position at Freeman Hospital?
Employer heading
Counsellor
Band 6
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
Join NewcastleOHS, a well-established Occupational Health & Wellbeing service dedicated to supporting NHS staff. As a Band 6 Counsellor, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality mental health support through 1:1 counselling, facilitating group therapy sessions, and designing and delivering educational workshops. You will contribute to service development initiatives, ensuring the service remains responsive to the evolving needs of NHS staff. This role requires a compassionate, skilled professional with experience in counselling, group work, and mental health education, committed to promoting wellbeing and resilience. Join us in making a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of those who care for others.
Main duties of the job
Deliver 1:1 counselling as well as educational group sessions to support NHS staff with mental health and wellbeing needs. Design and facilitate educational workshops to promote resilience and self-care. Contribute to service development, ensuring the service remains effective and responsive. Provide supervision within counselling team, fostering a collaborative and skilled team environment. Maintain accurate records and adhere to professional and ethical standards. Engage in continuous professional development to enhance practice. This role requires a compassionate, experienced counsellor committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff.
Working for our organisation
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Josh Bell Job title Clinical Service Manager Email address Joshua.bell5@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 2821188
Counsellor
Band 6
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
Join NewcastleOHS, a well-established Occupational Health & Wellbeing service dedicated to supporting NHS staff. As a Band 6 Counsellor, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality mental health support through 1:1 counselling, facilitating group therapy sessions, and designing and delivering educational workshops. You will contribute to service development initiatives, ensuring the service remains responsive to the evolving needs of NHS staff. This role requires a compassionate, skilled professional with experience in counselling, group work, and mental health education, committed to promoting wellbeing and resilience. Join us in making a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of those who care for others.
- Interview Date Wednesday 26 March 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
Deliver 1:1 counselling as well as educational group sessions to support NHS staff with mental health and wellbeing needs. Design and facilitate educational workshops to promote resilience and self-care. Contribute to service development, ensuring the service remains effective and responsive. Provide supervision within counselling team, fostering a collaborative and skilled team environment. Maintain accurate records and adhere to professional and ethical standards. Engage in continuous professional development to enhance practice. This role requires a compassionate, experienced counsellor committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff.
Working for our organisation
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
- Freeman Hospital
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
- Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
- Newcastle Dental Hospital
- Newcastle Fertility Centre
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
- Northern Genetics Service
- Cramlington Manor Walks
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
- To provide counselling for staff and external occupational health contracts in designated occupational health clinics, with responsibility for managing own caseload and for maintaining accurate and relevant client records
- Contribute to service development including education and delivery of group interventions
- To work at all times in line with the policies, procedures and service standards of the Trust and within the Code of Ethics and Practice for Counsellors (BACP)
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
- Diploma level qualification in counselling on a BACP accredited course
- Eligible for membership of the BACP
- Current professional registration to practice as a qualified counsellor (BACP/UKCP)
- Evidence of recent/relevant CPD
- Post graduate qualification in Counselling
- Supervisor/mentor training relevant to professional practice
Essential criteria
- Experience of dealing with clients presenting multiple and complex issues, including risk assessment and management
- Experience of prioritising and managing own caseload
- Experience of maintaining clear and up to date client records
- Audit and/or change management/service development
- Awareness of local mental health system, social and community networks
- Experience of working in Occupational Health setting
- Experience of delivering interventions or mental health education in a group setting
- Experience of providing in house training
- Evidence of contribution to service development
Essential criteria
- Well-developed communication and relationship skills
- Appropriate IT skills to enable effective working within modern NHS environment including Microsoft office, remote delivery platforms & electronic patient management systems
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Documents to download
- JD & PS (PDF, 159.3KB)
- Newcastle Staff Benefits (PDF, 274.4KB)
- Behaviour and Civility Charter (PDF, 93.8KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Josh Bell Job title Clinical Service Manager Email address Joshua.bell5@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 2821188
