Job summary
St Werburgh's practice is a specialist practice for the homeless in Chester.
As such many of our patients have complex physical and mental health issues, including substance misuse.
We are looking for a counsellor to compliment our small existing clinical team with in-house counselling.
This is a challenging but very rewarding work environment and you will be part of a very experienced team.
You will also work with outside agencies as we aim to support patients back into mainstream living.
Main duties of the job
To offer free and confidential one to one trauma informed counselling to referred individuals with a history of homelessness.
To respond to the needs of the clients whether this be individual, group or drop-in services.
To work in partnership with representatives to support individuals on a pathway to maintaining their own accommodation.
About us
St Werburgh's is a very small, specialist practice in Chester and is part of a larger practice, Issa Medical who provide management and clinical support.
You will be part of a small team who work closely with patients and wider organisations to support patients who often have complex needs.
As such, we have a very flexible approach to encourage patients to engage in health care and work towards improving both their health and work towards maintaining their own accommodation.
You will provide 1:1 counselling for patients with complex needs and likely a history of homelessness.
We aim to provide a safe, individualised and effective service to all our patients.
Details
Date posted
17 December 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
Depending on experience
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number
A4240-25-0015
Job locations
St. Werburghs Practice
George Street
Chester
CH1 3EQ
Job description
Job responsibilities
Delivery of one-to-one counselling for clients with complex needs and a history of homelessness and registered at St Werburghs practice.
Provide accurate information tailored to individual need and understanding regarding the counselling process.
Ensure clients receive a safe, individualised and effective service by assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating their care.
Undertake risk assessments of clients, manage risk and make appropriate referrals to specialist services where significant risk is identified.
Manage potentially hostile and antagonistic situations caused by distressing circumstances.
Participate in the maintenance and development of high-quality trauma informed support and care to clients within the service using research evidence, best practice and expert clinical judgement.
Keep up to date, accurate clinical records
Organise own caseload taking professional responsibility and exercising autonomous judgement with regard to professional practice.
Work in collaborative partnership with the MARS project and its representatives.
Ensure ethical and legal standards are maintained including client confidentiality.
Access and utilise evidence-based practice in the day-to-day delivery of the service by participating in the gathering of assessment data for the purposes of audit research and evaluation.
Disseminate, implement and apply to practice, evidence and outcomes of best practice, research, audit and other quality indicators.
Promote quality measures within the Counselling Service in accordance with Hospice policies and practices.
Participate in relevant Clinical Governance activities within the Practice.
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with the BACP and with the Hospice policies and procedures.
Input all information collected for statistical purposes onto EMIS
Research, collate and provide accurate and timely information as required.
Ensure written and verbal communication is clear, concise, accurate, timely, well presented information and at an appropriate level for this post.
Work with shared objectives as part of a team.
Maintain security and confidentiality of manual and electronic data, allowing access to those who are authorised.
Within your position you will be expected to adhere to the Information Governance Policy that concerns your job role within the Practice.
You will be expected to attend security and confidentiality training as and when required.
Should you have any matters of concern you are encouraged to raise these with your line manager.
Be familiar with Healthy & Safety, Safeguarding, Equality & Divertsity policies
Job descriptionJob responsibilities
Delivery of one-to-one counselling for clients with complex needs and a history of homelessness and registered at St Werburghs practice.
Provide accurate information tailored to individual need and understanding regarding the counselling process.
Ensure clients receive a safe, individualised and effective service by assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating their care.
Undertake risk assessments of clients, manage risk and make appropriate referrals to specialist services where significant risk is identified.
Manage potentially hostile and antagonistic situations caused by distressing circumstances.
Participate in the maintenance and development of high-quality trauma informed support and care to clients within the service using research evidence, best practice and expert clinical judgement.
Keep up to date, accurate clinical records
Organise own caseload taking professional responsibility and exercising autonomous judgement with regard to professional practice.
Work in collaborative partnership with the MARS project and its representatives.
Ensure ethical and legal standards are maintained including client confidentiality.
Access and utilise evidence-based practice in the day-to-day delivery of the service by participating in the gathering of assessment data for the purposes of audit research and evaluation.
Disseminate, implement and apply to practice, evidence and outcomes of best practice, research, audit and other quality indicators.
Promote quality measures within the Counselling Service in accordance with Hospice policies and practices.
Participate in relevant Clinical Governance activities within the Practice.
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with the BACP and with the Hospice policies and procedures.
Input all information collected for statistical purposes onto EMIS
Research, collate and provide accurate and timely information as required.
Ensure written and verbal communication is clear, concise, accurate, timely, well presented information and at an appropriate level for this post.
Work with shared objectives as part of a team.
Maintain security and confidentiality of manual and electronic data, allowing access to those who are authorised.
Within your position you will be expected to adhere to the Information Governance Policy that concerns your job role within the Practice.
You will be expected to attend security and confidentiality training as and when required.
Should you have any matters of concern you are encouraged to raise these with your line manager.
Be familiar with Healthy & Safety, Safeguarding, Equality & Divertsity policies
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Essential
- Diploma in counselling
- Membership of BACP/UKCP/UKATA/NCS
- Evidence of ongoing development and education in relation to different counselling approaches
- Evidence of trauma informed counselling training
- Minimum three years relevant post qualification experience
- Experience of working with individuals who have adverse childhood experiences and trauma that have an impact into adult life. This can include mental health, physical health, and addictions.
- Experience of working with highly emotive material with challenging and complex clients
- Knowledge of assessment and delivery of trauma informed counselling support, applying this knowledge to practice
- Knowledge of risk assessment and clinical outcome tools such as CORE
- Awareness of quality and diversity issues in relation to counselling support
- IT literate
- Ability to liaise with health and social care professionals across a variety of settings
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
- Ability to work with shared objectives as part of a team
- Ability to work collaboratively with the wider multi-professional team
Desirable
- Educated to degree level
- Working towards BACP/UKCP editaccreditation / BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Experience of working with a multi-professional team
- Experience of working in a health care setting / team environment
Qualifications
Essential
- Essential
- Diploma in counselling
- Membership of BACP/UKCP/UKATA/NCS
- Evidence of ongoing development and education in relation to different counselling approaches
- Evidence of trauma informed counselling training
- Minimum three years relevant post qualification experience
- Experience of working with individuals who have adverse childhood experiences and trauma that have an impact into adult life. This can include mental health, physical health, and addictions.
- Experience of working with highly emotive material with challenging and complex clients
- Knowledge of assessment and delivery of trauma informed counselling support, applying this knowledge to practice
- Knowledge of risk assessment and clinical outcome tools such as CORE
- Awareness of quality and diversity issues in relation to counselling support
- IT literate
- Ability to liaise with health and social care professionals across a variety of settings
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
- Ability to work with shared objectives as part of a team
- Ability to work collaboratively with the wider multi-professional team
Desirable
- Educated to degree level
- Working towards BACP/UKCP editaccreditation / BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Experience of working with a multi-professional team
- Experience of working in a health care setting / team environment
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).
Additional informationDisclosure 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).
Employer details
Employer name
Issa Medical Centre
Address
St. Werburghs Practice
George Street
Chester
CH1 3EQ
Employer's website
https://www.issamedicalgroup.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Issa Medical Centre
Address
St. Werburghs Practice
George Street
Chester
CH1 3EQ