Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Oncology Counsellor in East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust to join the Specialist Psychological Therapies Service at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. You will be responsible for assessing patients and providing specialist psychological interventions tailored to the needs of cancer patients, while maintaining accurate and comprehensive clinical records. You will work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team, providing specialist psychological advice and supporting effective patient care. You will also contribute to the training and development of medical and non-medical staff and students, sharing your specialist knowledge and supporting high-quality psychological care across the service.

Main duties of the job
As a Oncology Counsellor, you will be supporting the Lead with research and clinical audit activities within the specialist area of cancer counselling. You will be responsible for maintaining your professional standards in line with the requirements of your governing professional body and will actively engage in continued professional development. You will also be managing your professional practice in accordance with relevant in-house guidelines, policies, and service requirements.

About us
Here at NHS Professionals, we run England's largest NHS staff bank and are experts at putting people in places to care. Every year we help thousands of dedicated and highly skilled NHS workers enjoy better career opportunities, more flexible shifts, and a healthier work-life balance across our partnered Trusts.

Career Progression access to Learning & Development opportunities, so that you can take on new roles and challenges

Work-life Balance flexible shifts, committed shifts, wellbeing resources and build paid annual leave

Opportunity & Access over 50 partner NHS Trusts to give you the flexibility of choice to work how and where you want

Job responsibilities

• To use highly specialised therapeutic skills and theoretical frameworks to assess the suitability of patients and carers for appropriate psychological interventions, considering their individual circumstances and needs.
• To autonomously plan and deliver short-term counselling interventions tailored to the individual needs of patients and carers, ensuring therapeutic approaches are appropriate and responsive.
• To implement a range of psychological therapies for individuals, carers, families, and groups, adapting interventions according to presenting needs and therapeutic requirements.
• To evaluate and make informed decisions regarding treatment options by considering complex historical and developmental factors, alongside relevant theoretical and therapeutic models.
• To facilitate therapeutic groups for patients and carers, creating a supportive environment that encourages engagement and addresses shared psychological and emotional needs.
• To undertake comprehensive risk assessments and develop appropriate risk management strategies, while providing specialist guidance to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management.

Qualifications
Essential

• BACP-accredited Counsellor with a minimum post-diploma counselling qualification.
• Working knowledge of a range of psychological therapies.
• Specialist knowledge of psychological therapy for cancer patients.
• Understanding of cancer-related impacts on patients, carers, and families.
• Knowledge of counselling law, confidentiality, ethics, evidence-based practice, and quality-of-life issues.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.