Counsellor in Oncology | University Hospitals and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Overview

Are you looking for a fantastic opportunity as an experienced Counsellor to work in a busy regional Oncology Centre?

An opportunity has arisen for an accredited counsellor to join the Oncology Team at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire. We are seeking an enthusiastic and innovative individual who would like to work alongside MDT colleagues in supporting patients with a cancer diagnosis and their families and carers. The team serves a busy acute hospital working within the Arden Cancer Centre and a wider range of nurses, medics and allied professionals supporting cancer patients.

There is an opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of cancer conditions and cutting edge treatments, working with inpatients and outpatients. You will be working alongside the service lead and part of a wider psychology team across the trust with excellent support provided for your development. We also have excellent administrative support for the team. This position is for a band 6 counsellor, 22.5 hours per week.

Please note applications are accepted from Counsellors who are currently accredited, awaiting confirmation of accreditation or who have gained the required experience (3 years post qualification) and supervised practice hours to apply for accreditation - gaining accreditation will be a condition of employment. Please state this in your personal statement.

To ensure the systematic provision of a high quality counselling service to patients diagnosed with and treated for cancer, and their families under the care of the Arden Centre  manage own caseload and work autonomously within professional guidelines, exercising clinical responsibility, and implementing changes where necessary. To participate as a member of the Oncology (and where appropriate Haematology) Psychological Service team and to work co-operatively with multidisciplinary colleagues to achieve service goals.

To ensure the systematic provision of the psychological service, including the responsibility to prioritise work appropriately. To use self-report measures, rating scales, direct and semi-structured interviews with patients, family members and others involved in the client’s care. To formulate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors that have shaped the individual or family.

This post will require onsite working with little or no opportunity for remote working.

• Post qualification experience (3 years) and supervised practice hours to apply for accreditation; gaining accreditation will be a condition of employment.
• Band 6 level with 22.5 hours per week.
• Currently accredited or awaiting confirmation of accreditation or equivalent experience as specified.

Closing Date:
The advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply promptly if interested. Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report from their current UK occupational health provider or GP. The post is on-site with little or no opportunity for remote working.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is rated as good by the Care Quality Commission and is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK. We are proud of our employees across hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do. The Trust is known for modern facilities and leadership in research and innovation.

We are recognised as a Pathway to Excellence® designated organisation. Details about the award can be found here:
Pathway To Excellence ® - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire ().

Joining our team provides access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities. The Trust is committed to equality, diversity and human rights, promoting fairness, respect, dignity and autonomy as core values.

Communication: To communicate with patients in a skilled and sensitive manner about the psychological aspects of their care and therapy, and to monitor therapy progress; to communicate sensitive information where the recipient may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotional; to elicit highly sensitive information, sometimes through interpreters or advocates, and to work collaboratively with patients and carers; to communicate effectively with service users, carers, groups, colleagues and other agencies using various means (verbal, written and electronic).

Analytical and Judgemental Skills / Freedom to Act: To conduct initial assessments of people presenting with multiple and complex issues related to their cancer and to consider appropriate therapy interventions, including referring to other services; to work independently within policies and codes of conduct; to participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision, working within professional guidelines and standards set by the relevant…