Advertised from 10 July 2025

Role

At Beatson Cancer Charity we support and enhance the treatment, care and wellbeing of current, former and future cancer patients and their families. We work in partnership with the NHS, The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (BWoSCC) and all related facilities. We also offer the wider community a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of cancer care.

We are looking for two Counsellors to join our Outreach Services team to provide high quality holistic level three support for people impacted by cancer through 1:1 counselling and possibly group work. The Counsellors will be responsible for the ongoing delivery of 1:1 Counselling sessions, supporting people with distress relating to cancer. They will deliver sessions, conduct pre and post intervention evaluation measures, and input into the project’s wider overall aims and objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

• Provide a holistic assessment of the needs of people affected by cancer and their suitability for psychological intervention.
• To deliver evidence-based 1:1 counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions for people affected by cancer up to Psychological Therapies and Support Framework Level 3.
• Develop an understanding of presenting difficulties and implement and evaluate therapeutic programmes for clients, drawing on appropriate theories, models and measures.
• To co-ordinate and manage a defined caseload of people presenting with psychological difficulties.
• To communicate, with a high degree of skill and sensitivity, complex information while working with people to understand their personal difficulties and develop individual treatment interventions in collaboration with them.
• To undertake risk assessment and management, including suicide risk and safeguarding of vulnerable people, and escalate these promptly as required.
• Ability to recognise limits of own competence and make appropriate referrals, when necessary, either for specialist services or when the counsellor's expertise is not suited to the client's need.
• Ability to access and use clinical supervision and professional support systems effectively, in accordance with relevant professional body’s recommended minimum requirements.

Professional

• A strong ability to engage and form therapeutic relationships with people affected by life limiting health conditions.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills sufficient to enable the management of stressful and highly emotive situations.
• Support the management team in the development of the counselling service in accordance with the strategic aims of the charity.
• Regularly engage in clinical and professional supervision in line with professional standards.
• Keep up to date with mandatory training and commit to continuing professional development in line with professional standards and charity strategy.
• Assist and participate in on-going audit/evaluation of the counselling service and contribute to clinical outcome data.
• Adherent to GDPR requirements and maintain the highest level of clinical record keeping.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation and national and local guidance in mental health and Psycho-oncology.

Essential Candidate Criteria

• Postgraduate level or equivalent qualification in counselling or psychotherapy.
• Accredited by a Professional Standards Authority recognised professional body (e.g. BACP, BABCP; COSCA, UKCP).
• Skilled and experienced Counsellor.
• Experience working in a busy clinical environment.
• Experience of managing a busy caseload.
• Experience of supporting people with long term health conditions.
• Highly developed assessment and treatment planning skills.
• Ability to work flexibly across different services.
• Strong personal values and a valued based approach to work.
• Able to be on site/travel and be flexible to deliver services in a range of locations if required.
• A successful PVG check for working with Protected Adults.

Desirable Candidate Criteria

• Additional training in appropriate areas of psychological therapy (e.g. trauma-focused approaches, acceptance and commitment therapy).
• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to the people affected by cancer (patients, carers and family) including:
  • Biopsychosocial Impact of cancer and treatment.
  • Presenting challenges associated with the adjustment to a life limiting illness.
  • Fear of cancer recurrence.
  • Living with a rare or non-curative diagnosis or uncertain prognosis.
  • Loss, grief and bereavement.
  • Mental health/dual diagnosis.
• Sound understanding of evaluation and research.
• Have previous experience working within a setting providing psychological support with people living with cancer.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.

Reporting to: Outreach Services Manager

Application notes

Closing Date: Sunday 27 July 2025

Interview Dates: Monday 4 August and Wednesday 6 August 2025

For a full job description or to apply please send a cover letter and CV to recruitment@beatsoncancercharity.org

Beatson Cancer Charity is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to employing a wide range of employees who are reflective of the diverse community that we support.

www.beatsoncancercharity.org