Specialist Counsellor

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Specialist Counsellor to join our excellent Fertility Team at Wrightington Hospital. Part time permanent position 25 hours Monday - Friday (over 3 days). We are a leading provider of fertility treatment in the North West. We offer a comprehensive range of Fertility investigations and treatments, with access to lifestyle advice, counselling services and therapies. Must be a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychology (BACP) and ideally have British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA) accreditation.

To work in close collaboration with the Consultant Gynaecologist/Lead Fertility Nurse Specialist to provide a specialist counselling facility for patients of Fertility Fusion.

To adhere to the requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology act, associated UK standards for assisted conception centres and practice within the British Association of Counselling and Psychology (BACP) ethical framework and British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA)

The post holder will be expected to work within a multidisciplinary framework with staff at all levels within the division and seek opportunities to work collaboratively with the trust staff to develop services and improve patient care.

We are a small team based at Wrightington Hospital in a purpose build unit. Our team is made up of Clinical staff, Nursing staff, Biomedical Scientists, Counsellor and Administrative staff. We are also licence with the HFEA for Partner Intrauterine Inseminations (IUI) and work as a satellite clinic for IVF/ICSI and FER
Choose Well - Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values ‘the WWL Way’.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

On-Call

Please note that senior positions (AFC band 8A or above) may be expected to participate in an on-call rota, if the role is predominantly operational.

To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of the individual client and/or couples before, during and after treatment, whilst taking into account physical health and emotional well-being during involvement in assisted conception treatments and stages of investigation.

Provision of confidential therapeutic face to face and virtual clinic counselling support to individuals and couples in line with BACP ethical framework and BICA.

Time limited support to patients and couples who may wish to access the counselling service at difficult stages within the fertility treatment process in line with the HFEA code of practice.

Provide a wide range of counselling to individuals and/or their partners who have experienced loss from still birth, miscarriage or treatment failure.

To provide implications counselling support to individuals and couples who may wish to donate or recieve donated gametes in line with the HFEA code of practice.

To have knowledge of psychosexual and relationship counselling, to provide telephone counselling where required.

To undertake welfare of the child assessments in liaison with the patients multidisciplinary team and external agencies when indicated in line with the HFEA code of practice.

To compile client records and maintain ongoing case notes as necessary, ensuring their appropriate storage and disposal in line with the HFEA and professional guidelines.

To adhere to the trusts vulnerable adult and child protection procedures that may evolve from welfare of the child assessment.

Under the guidance of the clinical lead and unit manager exercise professional responsibility for assessment of and provision for the counselling needs of patients/clients referred to the service.

To receive highly complex, sensitive, distressing or contentious information, taken into account confidentiality whilst maintaining client and or public safety.

The post holder will be expected to maintain the confidentiality of all material and information to which they have access and process accordingly for submission to the multidisciplinary team for audit and service utilisation.