Health Exchange is a dynamic Birmingham-based charity that helps people make healthy choices. One of our main service provisions for adults and young people across the West Midlands is our ‘Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme (MH&WP)’. We are recruiting for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Counsellors/Therapists to join this programme as self-employed professionals, receiving patients from Health Exchange, including those from the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme, a Payment By Result programme (PBR) supporting the NHS in implementing National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders.
Health Exchanges MH&WP provides high-volume low- or high-intensity interventions – based on self-management interventions – to clients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. The Practitioners/Counsellors/Therapists will work with people from different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary. We offer complete ‘at home’ virtual working, with a high degree of flexibility and autonomy for those who want to work only on evenings or weekends as well as those seeking work through normal working hours. All of the sessions conducted by the Practitioners/ Counsellors/Therapists will be via telephone or online.
Health Exchange (www.healthexchange.org.uk) exists to help people make healthy choices. Our guiding belief is that everyone should and can be empowered to take positive control of their own health and wellbeing.
To achieve this, we provide health and wellbeing services for individuals, groups and communities across England; although much of our work remains concentrated in Birmingham and the Midlands, where we were first established in 2006. Since then, our portfolio of services and partnerships with external organisations have expanded; and we are proud to have helped hundreds of thousands of people make healthier choices and improve their lives.
Were proud to be delivering life-changing support to diverse communities of people across the Midlands through our network of staff, self-employed health practitioners and therapists, and volunteers. Were looking for someone whos as excited as we are at the prospect of helping and supporting them do that even better!
Full details and further information on how to apply is available via the Health Exchange website: https://www.healthexchange.org.uk/join-us/
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title: Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Counsellor/Therapist
Salary: Competitive Rates of Pay
Hours: Variable Dependent on the Therapist/Counsellor
Location: Virtual
Accountable to:Head, Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. CLINICAL
1.1. Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
1.2. Assess and support people with a common mental health problem in the self-management of their recovery.
1.3. Undertake patient-centred interviews which identify areas where the patient wishes to see change and or recovery; and can make accurate assessments of the risks to themselves and to others.
1.4. Make decisions on the suitability of referrals, adhering to Health Exchanges referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service, back to the referral agent, or to higher intensity treatment.
1.5. Provide clients with a range of information and support for evidence-based high-volume low-intensity psychological treatments. This will include guided self-help, referring a large proportion of clients into Wellbeing Groups, and a smaller portion into Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CCBT).
1.6. Educate and involve family members and others in the treatment as necessary.
1.7. Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week, in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
1.8. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
1.9. Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
1.10. Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
1.11. Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
1.12. Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process.
2. PROFESSIONAL
2.1. Ensure the maintenance of Health Exchanges standards of practice 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).
2.2. Be aware of, and keep up to date with, advances in the spheres of treatment for common mental health problems.
2.3. Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
2.4. Achieve high levels of activity and sustained attendance through the programme delivery.
2.5. Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
2.6. Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with the Head of MH&WP.
2.7. Participate in individual performance reviews and respond to agreed objectives.
2.8. Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuing Professional Development; and ensure a personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of the latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
2.9. Attend relevant conferences/workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
3. GENERAL
3.1. Contribute to the development of best practice within Health Exchanges MH&WP.
3.2. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.
3.3. Ensure their own health and safety, and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.
3.4. Ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.
POLICIES AND COMMITMENTS
It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties. All staff and self-employed consultants commissioned by Health Exchange must commit to:
Comply with Health Exchanges policies and procedures at all times, particularly those concerning mandatory training, equal opportunities, health and safety, control of infection, Information Governance, Equal Opportunities, and Equality and Diversity.
Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults, by being familiar with and adhering to safeguarding policies and participating in relevant training.
The national smoke-free policy, which prohibits smoking anywhere on office grounds.
Being a socially responsible organization by introducing measures that reduce or offset our environmental impact and becoming more sustainable.
Comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality in employment. The post-holder must treat everybody equally, fairly and with dignity and respect as determined by our Mission, Vision and Values and by the Equality Act (2010).
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade, as directed by the Head of MH&WP.
