At Vita Health Group our mission is “making people better”, and we are looking to recruit experienced counsellors to achieve that mission.

We have an exciting opportunity to join a growing team of qualified counsellors providing immediate counselling support to our helpline callers (not sessional counselling). Our counsellors work remotely from home, but never alone, and we can provide flexible working arrangements over a variety of shifts, clinical supervision, and training and CPD opportunities. Once you have completed 6 months on the helpline, there will be the option to provide short-term (video/telephone) counselling sessions for those looking for variety or working towards accreditation. If you have the listening, empathy and communication skills we need in our counsellors, get in touch today to apply.

The Role:

As a Helpline Counsellor, you have a fantastic opportunity to make a tangible difference to people’s emotional health and wellbeing. As part of our EAP Helpline you will work as part of a team to provide in the moment counselling support, signposting and referrals into our interventions team for ongoing support if required.

Our EAP helpline operates 24/7, 365 days a year to ensure people receive emotional support when they need it most. Alongside working as part of a multi-disciplinary team you will be responsible for:

• Answering calls from a varied client base from corporate, membership and healthcare helplines
• Providing immediate in the moment advice and counselling support to callers
• Signposting and connecting callers to appropriate services as necessary
• Conducting structured mental health assessments to aid you in your clinical decision making
• Using evidence-based practice to make pathway placement recommendations
• Completing a range of clinical administrative tasks
• Ensuring you deliver high quality services to our customers, in line with in line with your governing body's code of practice and ethical guidelines
• You may also be asked to attend team meetings, clinical supervision outside of your normal working hours at a mutually convenient time, paid as overtime.

The candidate we are looking for:

• Recognised Counselling Qualification – ideally Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling (Level 4 or above)
• BACP (or equivalent - NCS Accredited Professional status is also accepted) Registered Membership is essential, preferably working towards accredited status (unfortunately Individual/Student Membership cannot be accepted)
• 1 year experience in providing emotional helpline support is desired
• Previous experience of working overnight is desired
• Self-motivated and confident in remote working to cover agreed shift patterns
• Competent IT skills, experience of MS Office and MS Teams is essential.

• Knowledge of using the Stepped Care Model and use of assessment tools PHQ9 and GAD7 desirable.

Next Steps  

• If successful after an initial screening call and interview, we will discuss and agree your shift pattern and contract.
• We will provide you with all the IT equipment needed, and check in with you prior to your start date to ensure you have everything you need
• You will receive a full 2 week induction, online and with others, which starts with a introduction from the service mangers and meeting some of your new colleagues
• This will then be followed by 2 weeks of working days to cement your learning before moving on to your nights rotation
• We will then support you with “on the job” training to help you practice and use your telephone and IT skills. We have a team of seniors there to support you every step of the way

Why Vita Health Group?

Vita Health Group celebrates life. Improving lives physically and mentally drives everything we do.  Now part of Spire Healthcare Group plc we have been providing physical and mental health services for over 30 years. We work in partnership with the NHS, are engaged by insurers and some of the UK’s largest corporate companies to support their workforce and provide a full range of physiotherapy services to private customers.

To achieve our mission of Making People Better, we recognise the importance of investing in our staff. We are an award-winning employer recently recognised nationally as “Best Company to Work for” at the Health and Wellbeing Awards 2024.

This is also recognised by current employees – our most recent Employee Survey results showed the top 5 reasons to work here as being:

• Supportive team and management
• Positive work environment
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Trust and respect
• Autonomy and flexibility

We are keen to progress your skills and enable career development and provide regular Continued Professional Development opportunities including secondments, management training, a mentoring scheme, apprenticeships and regular events and webinars across a range of clinical disciplines.  In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer the opportunity of a flexible work life balance and a comprehensive benefits package which you can view here: https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/join-us/careers/

Vita Health Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and is seeking to improve the diversity of its workforce.  We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion best practice and positively encourage applications from candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion/belief, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity.  For further information on our EDI commitments please view here: Vita Health Groups commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to being equitable and supporting the wellbeing of all employees.

• We are a Mindful Employer
• Our status as a Disability Confident Leader dedicated to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. All disabled candidates that meet the minimum essential criteria will be invited to interview.
• Our Ethnicity Matters Scheme where all applicants for senior roles (£40,000+) from a minority ethnic group that meet the essential criteria will be invited for interview.
• Our Gender Matters Scheme where all women applicants for senior roles (£60,000+) that meet the essential criteria will be invited to interview.
• Our sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant.  
• Our status as a Menopause Friendly Committed employer. 
• Our sign up to the Employer with Heart Charter.  
• Our commitment to meet the standards outlined in the NHS Equality Delivery System (EDS). Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES).
• Access to health and wellbeing services for colleagues including Mental Health Advocates and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• An embedded “speaking up” culture facilitated by Freedom to Speak Up Guardians.
• Treating transgender individuals with dignity and recognising the potential complications that may arise when taking references. We encourage applicants to contact HR at hr@vhg.co.uk to discuss or amend how we manage reference requests.

Should you wish to discuss any adjustment or assistance you need in the application or interview process please contact recruitment@vhg.co.uk and we will facilitate.

Please note, all applicants must be legally entitled to accept and perform work in the UK and all positions are subject to a DBS check. 

Any data which you share with us throughout the hiring process will be stored securely within the UK and is accessible only by staff who require it. Should your application be unsuccessful, your data will be securely destroyed after 6 months. 

Vita Health Group reserves the right to close this job when sufficient applications have been received.

Vita Health Group