About this role
Job summary
Employer: Sunderland Counselling Service
Department: Sunderland Talking Therapies
Location: Monkwearmouth Hospital, Sunderland, SR5 1NB
Salary: £39,959 (Comparable to Agenda for Change Band 6)
Contract Type: Permanent (subject to 12-month probation)
Working Pattern: Full-time
Closing Date: 28/06/2026
Interview Date: 09/07/2026 & 10/07/2026
NHS Sunderland Talking Therapies Service for anxiety and depression (STT), is provided in partnership between Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) and Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) and aims to develop and enhance the high intensity service provision across Sunderland.
Sunderland Counselling Service is seeking to recruit four enthusiastic and competent mental health practitioners into training posts within the NHS Talking Therapies Service in Sunderland. The post holder will work to provide High Intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role provided by Newcastle University. Training will focus on the delivery of evidence based psychological therapy on a one year full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Intervention (CBT) starting in October 2026.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking post holders with at least two years full time experience working in mental health who possess great interpersonal skills and the desire to develop while becoming a therapist.
The successful postholders will undertake training with Newcastle University from October 2026 two days per week whilst also working within Sunderland Talking Therapies for the remaining three days.
Please see the link below for further information on the course:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy PGDip | Postgraduate | Newcastle University
Further information regarding Sunderland Talking Therapies can also be found at:
Sunderland Talking Therapies For anxiety and depression
Applications will be accepted until 28th June but we reserve the right to close the application process early if we receive a high volume of submissions. Interviews will take place on the 9th and 10th July and we ask applicants to be mindful that alternative interview dates can unfortunately not be offered.
These roles are funded by Health Education England for home fees and not suitable for international fees. The University requires you either need to have a UK passport, or have settled status in the UK. Only applicants that have the right to work in the UK without time limits and working restrictions and are eligible for Home Fees status, are able to access the training needed for this role.
About us
We appreciate potential postholders may use Artificial Intelligence to support their application, but we are keen to hear peoples individual skills, knowledge and competencies. All applicants will therefore be required to confirm the content of their application is their own work and has not been generated by artificial intelligence tools beyond basic editing or proofreading.
Sunderland Counselling Service and Sunderland Talking Therapies are proud to offer high quality Continuing Professional Development, weekly 1-2-1 supervision, group supervision and reflective practice. The successful postholder will be part of a supportive team of highly experienced practitioners and leaders, who are passionate about making a difference to people's lives.
In addition, this exciting opportunity includes an NHS funded Postgraduate Diploma course which will give you the skills to assess and deliver NICE recommended CBT interventions in community settings, for people suffering with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
As an employee of SCS, successful candidates will receive a salary comparable to a band 6 AfC salary (£39,959) and will be entitled to our employee benefits including 30 days annual leave plus a pro-rata bank holiday entitlement, generous maternity / paternity and adoption leave, pension scheme and have access to our free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Bike2Work Scheme and critical illness cover.
Job description Job responsibilities
This is a training post within NHS Talking Therapies, and the post holder will work providing High Intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role provided by Newcastle University
This intensive training post will equip the post holder to provide cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to clients with a range of complex problems for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. The post holder will work into the service for approximately three days a week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme for the other days
The post holder will be employed on Sunderland Counselling Service terms and conditions and offered an NHS comparable agenda for change Band Six salary. They will be based within a multi-disciplinary team within Sunderland Talking Therapies (STT) Service and be expected to effectively comply with the CNTWs Clinical and Information Governance requirements
The post holder will work with people with diverse cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
The post-holder will be provided with regular line management, clinical and case management supervision by staff based within STT along with SCS.
This will be a permanent position subject to a successful probationary period.
The post holder may be called upon to use a personal means of transport while engaged in the work of the service for which travel expenses will be available.
The post holder will be entitled to 30 days annual leave at normal salary rate or pro rata for part of a year alongside entitlement to all statutory public holidays.
An enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required for this post.
COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIPS
Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information e.g. personal, familial, or attachment issues. This would include the ability to foster engagement and overcome barriers where there may be a highly emotive, hostile or antagonistic atmosphere
Ability to communicate highly complex condition related information to service users/clients, families and carers or with other agencies
Ability to liaise with and provide consultation to professionals working in universal, targeted or specialist services
Ability to develop and foster good working relationships and effective communication with:
Members of the STT team including:
Community Clinical Manager and Team Managers
Clinical Leads
Talking Therapies Practitioners
Clinical Data Manager
Admin Team
Members of SCS team including
Head of Services
Services Manager
Clinical Lead
Individuals who use the service
Training providers
Other professional teams within the Trust
General Practitioners and Practice Staff
Other agencies involved in client care e.g. voluntary agencies.
GP Leads
Trainees / students/volunteers on placement
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
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 e.g. Accredited counsellor (see BABCP for approved core professions)
OR
Evidence using the career framework of training in mental health and experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression (see BABCP guidelines for knowledge, Skills and Attitudes route)
An understanding of NICE guidance relevant to depression and anxiety disorders and how these may present in primary care
An awareness of the competencies and meta competencies required to deliver CBT
Demonstrates an understanding of CBT and how this may be used in clinical practice
An understanding of and ability to effectively use clinical measures within therapy
Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and the impact locally, including completion of safeguarding training
Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding employment and the impact it can have on mental health
Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
Demonstrates a clear of understanding of risk and risk formulation
ANALYTICAL AND JUDGEMENTAL SKILLS
Ability to provide a detailed assessment based upon the appropriate use, understanding and combination of clinical information available, including self-reporting information, self-rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations as well as interviews with patients, their family members and other agencies involved in their care within a complex nature
Ability to undertake a thorough risk assessment based on the information available for individual patients, develop a risk contingency plan and manage or refer to the appropriate treatment stream/service as appropriate
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PATIENT/CLIENT CARE
Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service
Assess clients for suitability for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary
Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients
Carry out risk and safeguarding assessments/formulations in clinical practice and follow the agreed service /Trust protocols to manage risk effectively
Educate and involve family members and others in treatment where appropriate, conveying CBT formulations with sensitivity and in easily understood language
Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient
Attend meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate
Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service. e.g. ensure full MDS collected for sessions, record provisional working diagnosis and utilise ADSMs in line with Talking Therapies requirements and best clinical practice
Maintain accurate clinical records in line with service and Trust Policies and Protocol
Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and stepdown arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach
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
Work into a number of locations as required by the service. This will be flexible and may change as and when required by the service, assist clients, patients and carers in accessing the most appropriate pathways through the mental health system
Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with GP Practices
Be an active member of the team, joining groups and attending meetings as required
Provide consultancy to primary care colleagues and colleagues within the service
Work collaboratively with Trust colleagues and partnership agencies where appropriate to provide a seamless service for clients
In line with Trust requirements, comply with all elements of the service Infection Control policy including the completion of relevant training
POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice in accordance with employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g. BABCP), 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 CBT and other agreed psychological therapies
Ensure that clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists, clinical supervisors and team leaders on a regular basis as part of the appraisal process to ensure successful completion of High Intensity Practitioner training
Attend clinical and managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with clinical supervisor and team leader
Actively participate in individual appraisal process and work on agreed objectives and development plans
Keep up to date records in relation to Continuing Professional Development and ensure personal development plans reflect up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments
Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives
Provide written reports as required
Contribute to the service research projects as appropriate
FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES
Safe use of shared equipment
Ensure the preservation of SCS and NHS property and resources
MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION
Engage in effective line management with a Service Team Leader / SCS Services Manager
Be accountable to Senior Therapists for clinical practice and clinical supervision
Fulfil all the requirements of the High Intensity training programme required for the post
Apply learning from the training programme into clinical practice
Actively participate in clinical supervision arrangements as agreed with both service and educational provider and meet required standards
FREEDOM TO ACT
Work independently whilst being guided by the appropriate evidence base, seeking supervision and support whenever required
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities of the post, and the post holder may be requested to carry out any other duties appropriate to the grade or post
The post may change over time to meet organisational requirements, and the job description may be changed after consultation with the post holder at any time
Person Specification
Other Essential
Available to attend university as required. Able to work from home. Able to meet the mobility requirements of the post
Desirable
Ability to attend away days/CPD as and when required. Fluent in languages other than English. Experience of working with diverse communities and within a multicultural setting
Additional Information Essential
This post will require the following - PHYSICAL EFFORT Combination of sitting, standing and walking. MENTAL EFFORT Provide intense concentration for interaction with service users/clients and families as required. Provide under supervision, intensive and non-intensive specialist psychoanalytical psychotherapy as appropriate. Undertake intensive personal analysis. EMOTIONAL EFFORT Frequently deal support clients with developmental issues, family breakdown, enduring and serious mental illness, sexual abuse, self-harming, suicidal ideation.
Skills and Competencies Essential
Effective interpersonal skills to engage and develop working alliances with colleagues and patients. Evidence of an openness to learning new knowledge and skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to implement and evaluate the knowledge and skills acquired from training and supervision. Ability to assess and formulate using a basic CBT model. Ability to utilise basic CBT knowledge and skills in clinical practice. Computer literate. Ability to complete risk assessments within the scope of practice.
Experience Essential
An understanding of NICE guidance relevant to depression and anxiety disorders and how these may present in primary care. An awareness of the competencies and meta competencies required to deliver CBT. Demonstrates an understanding of CBT and how this may be used in clinical practice. Knowledge of psychological, social and biological models of depression and anxiety. An understanding of the usage of clinical measures within therapy. Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services. Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and the impact locally. Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post. Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding employment and the impact it can have on mental health. Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems. Demonstrates a clear of understanding of risk and risk formulation. Basic understanding of service contracts and performance targets and of the importance of recording activity.
Desirable
Experience of working in an adult Talking Therapies service. Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes. Trained in the provision of supervision for CBT / CBT / another relevant modality. Completed clinical audits within a service.
Attributes Essential
Ability to be self-reflective whilst working with service users and within personal and professional development and in supervision. Ability to work flexibly. Ability to work within a rapidly changing environment. Ability to meet agreed / specified targets. High level of enthusiasm and motivation. Ability to work well under pressure. Excellent time management skills.
Qualifications Essential
A recorded/registered/accredited qualification in one of the following Nursing (RMN / RNLD), Social Work, Art Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Counselling, Psychotherapeutic Counselling Or Be able to meet the BABCP Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes KSA Portfolio criteria for entry to the course e.g. 2 years experience post qualification as a PWP Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
Desirable
Evidence of foundation level or sustained CPD in CBT. Membership of the BABCP
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.
Employer details Employer name Sunderland Counselling Service
Address Monkwearmouth Hospital
Newcastle Road
Sunderland
SR5 1NB
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.sunderlandcounselling.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)