Job Introduction

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA IAPT High Intensity Psychotherapeutic Counselling in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy | University of Roehampton, London DIRECTLY. ANY APPLICATIONS TO THE TP WEBSITE WILL NOT BE PROCESSED

Everyone's Turning Point is unique. It’s the moment when they realise they've made a small, but important, step forward. Very often, that small step is the start of something bigger. But only when the right support, advice and services are in place. That's where you come in, working in our Talking Therapies service, as part of our highly successful and innovative 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapies' (IAPT) delivery model. The Wakefield IAPT Service delivers a wide range of NICE and IAPT compliant psychological therapies to people with common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders.

This trainee position is an exciting opportunity for applicants to be part of a new initiative to receive training and work as part of the national improving access to psychological therapies programme (IAPT). Health Education England (HEE) is piloting a new salaried training pathway that will provide trainee Psychotherapeutic Counsellors with skills in the practical application of psychotherapeutic counselling and a defined standard of competency in the NICE-recommended Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy. The training provider for this pathway is to be the University of Roehampton in London. On successful completion of the 3 year course, the candidate will be employed as a permanent High Intensity DIT Therapist.

Role Responsibility

You will be an employee at the Wakefield IAPT service but also enrolled for up to 2 days a week with the University of Roehampton attending your training and on clinical placement at the Wakefield IAPT service for 3 days a week. University attendance will involve a combination of remote online learning, and mandatory block of face to face teaching in London (the first 3 weeks of the course in September 2022 must be attended face to face in London, and other blocks throughout the year). As this is a Postgraduate level degree, you will also be required to be able to study and write academic material at this level.

Your 3 days of clinical placement will be at the Wakefield IAPT team and you are required to come on site to see patients face to face and attend supervision. You will be required to work on an outreach and rota basis in the community as the service operates 7 days per week including evenings.  Your clinical placement will involve client screening assessments and therapeutic work, generating enough client facing hours to meeting BACP accreditation requirements for the course and your own learning.

On the 3 year course trainees will develop the qualities and skills to engage in and sustain strong therapeutic relationships and work effectively with IAPT service users with depression.  This includes developing core psychotherapeutic counselling practitioner competencies and the integration of Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), in line with the needs of service users, families and carers.  The training will also promote personal and professional development and self-awareness essential to successful psychotherapeutic counselling.

The Ideal Candidate

Whilst previous direct experience in mental health is not essential, we are looking for someone with the interpersonal skills and experience to make an empathetic, compassionate and authentic therapist. The ideal candidate will have a passion for  helping those experiencing emotional and psychological distress, which drives them to be able to manage the demands of a vocation in the helping profession in a target driven environment.

This role will be best suited for applicants that are able to balance a busy work and study schedule. You will be an employee at the Turning Point Wakefield IAPT service seeing patients in that geographical area and also be enrolled for 2 days a week on a Postgraduate Diploma course. As this is a Postgraduate level diploma, you will also be required to be able to study and write academic material at this level. Applicants must be prepared to study and write assignments outside of protected study time (such as on weekends and after work).

The entry requirements are found in more detail on the application webpage but shortlisted candidates will have a degree at 2:2 or above in any relevant subject, or equivalent plus have completed a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, which ordinarily involves a minimum of 10 days or 60 hours of face-to-face tuition at level 2 or level 3. Online courses are not acceptable. Training providers will be encouraged to apply contextual recruitment and to support the equivalence framework to widen participation.

Applications are via the University of Roehampton Website and interviews will take place in Mid July with clinical staff from Wakefield IAPT service. The advert will close 14^th July. Applicants will need to be ready to start work on 12^th September to complete an in service induction and start the course in London 26^th September 2022.

If you’re inspired by the social model of mental health that works holistically according to need rather than diagnosis and would like to help us achieve our vision, we can offer a competitive remuneration package and excellent training and development opportunities

About us

Why Turning Point?

As a leading health and social care provider with more than 300 locations across England, we take real pride in the services we offer.

We run all of our services on a not-for-profit basis; instead, we invest every penny back into our services and people. We never stop believing in change for the better, and we work constantly to improve the lives of the people we support.

What Benefits Will I Receive?

We know reward looks different to each person and so whether its ways to make your money go further, a culture supporting recognition and celebration, or opportunities to boost your career – we want to support you in every way we can with our total reward package that includes:

• Comprehensive learning and development opportunities so we can invest in your future – we’re proud to have a silver accreditation from Investors in People. Choose from our range of courses to gain recognised qualifications
• 28 days’ paid holiday a year, increasing with each year of service up to 30 days. Plus the option to buy or sell additional holidays and spread the cost
• An exclusive discounts hub for TP colleagues, to help make your money go further – including high street shopping, pubs and restaurants, mobile phones, gym memberships, and much more. You’ll also have access to the Blue Light Card, for even more discounts and savings!
• Flexible working solutions to support your work-life balance
• Life Assurance of up to 3x annual salary and a competitive Pension Scheme to support your savings and security
• Access to our Rightsteps Therapy service – free, confidential telephone based counselling sessions, access to an online wellbeing platform, and a Financial Education hub to support your total wellbeing
• A 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme including a Digital GP, legal advice and more – all free to you and your immediate family
• Recognition awards to recognise colleagues’ inspirational work and dedication, as well as Long Service bonuses to celebrate your commitment to us
• Flexible benefit options including a Cycle to Work scheme and interest-free Season Ticket Loans
• A £300 bonus if you successfully refer a friend as a new colleague through our Refer a Friend scheme, as a thanks from us!

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive sufficient applicants before the advertised closed date.

Turning Point