Pros
I really can't quite decide but there are some positives, outweighed by some hefty negatives to be too positive. I enjoy the work and it has been great experience within a CBT role. My manager is supportive and the company is allowing time to attend CBT (although required by the BABCP to maintain registration). Fully remote, which has some benefits ie. No commute and being at home. I do take pride from supporting people with their mental health. Feel able to leave work at work. Monthly supervision with a good supervisor.
Cons
The pay is very average for the role and there is no incentive to work harder as no pay reviews outside of annual increases. 25 clinical contacts per week is very draining, often rushing to complete notes, prepare for next person etc. There is supposed to be a set limit on caseload, but there is continuous pressure to accept more and more new patients and it is becoming unsustainable in terms of upkeeping clinical quality. Isolation and lack of identity are major factors - only initiatives are 15 minutes calls (in your own time) with your team, which everyone is too busy to attend. You can go at least a week with no contact with colleagues. Staff turnover seems high and you do wonder if it's rats on a sinking ship - having to pick up patients halfway through treatment is hard. New staff don't seem to be supported very well, assessments are often strewn with errors making life difficult. 30 minute lunch (unpaid) just doesn't seem long enough to decompress enough. There is little communication from seniors, I feel as though I don't know any of them except my direct line manager. I get the sense they speak often and seem somewhat blind to how this comes across to staff. When things go awry you will have to work late as there is not enough time in-between sessions to account for this.