Senior Counselling Manager
Newcastle Upon Tyne & Gateshead
Vacancy listed 24/09/2026
Application deadline 11/10/2026
Details
Job Title:                              Senior Counselling Manager  
Responsible to:                  CEO 
Based at:                              Tyneside and Northumberland, Hybrid Working
Hours:                                   Part-time , 25hours per week
Contract length:                Permanent 
Salary:                               £25,337 [PTE] / £37,500 [FTE]
Benefits:                               Private health cash back plan, Access to employee discount scheme, Enhanced pension contribution, 24 days annual leave increasing depending on length of service

Purpose of job
The Senior Counselling Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership across Tyneside and Northumberland Mind’s counselling services, ensuring they are high quality, accessible, sustainable and responsive to the needs of the communities we support.

Working within a period of continued organisational growth, the postholder will oversee the effective delivery and development of counselling services, ensuring that teams are well led, resources and budgets are managed effectively, and performance, outcomes and quality are closely monitored. They will provide strong professional and clinical governance, promoting evidence-based practice, safeguarding and high standards of service delivery.

The role will lead and support managers and teams to deliver against agreed objectives, creating clarity around expectations, accountability and responsibility, while using data, reporting and service insight to identify opportunities, address challenges and drive continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

1.    Provide strategic and operational leadership for the organisation’s counselling and therapy-related services.

2.    Ensure services are safe, accessible, person-centred and delivered in line with professional, ethical and regulatory standards.

3.    Oversee clinical governance, safeguarding, risk management, supervision and quality assurance.

4.    Manage service performance, demand, capacity, outcomes and access, taking action to address risks and improve delivery.

5.    Lead managers and teams, setting clear priorities, strengthening accountability and supporting professional development.

6.    Manage budgets, staffing and resources to ensure services are efficient, effective and financially sustainable.

7.    Use data, feedback and insight to drive continuous improvement, demonstrate impact and support strategic decision-making.

8.    Contribute to organisational strategy, business planning, service development and funding opportunities.

9.    Build strong internal and external partnerships, representing the organisation with commissioners, NHS organisations and other stakeholders.

10.  Report to senior leadership and the Board on performance, quality, finance, risk and strategic opportunities.
 
Expectations

  1. Ensure all responsibilities and activities undertaken within the role are consistent with Tyneside and Northumberland Mind’s values, policies, procedures and relevant professional standards.
  2. Work flexibly and collaboratively, adapting to the needs of the organisation, services and the people we support.
  3. Demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to trauma-informed, person-led practice.
  4. Maintain confidentiality and comply with relevant requirements relating to safeguarding, data protection, information governance, health and safety and professional practice.
  5. Travel to meetings and locations across the organisation’s area of benefit as required.
  6. Complete organisational induction, including all mandatory training, and undertake relevant training and professional development as required.
  7. Contribute positively to the wider work of the organisation as a member of the Senior Management Team, supporting organisational priorities and effective cross-departmental working.
  8. Undertake other reasonable duties and responsibilities appropriate to the level and nature of the role, as agreed with the Line Manager.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria
1.     Significant experience of working within counselling, psychotherapy, mental health, wellbeing or a closely related service environment.
2.     Experience of managing or overseeing counselling, psychotherapy or related services, with a strong understanding of effective service delivery.
3.     Experience of leading and developing teams, including supporting staff, managing performance and creating clear accountability.
4.     Experience of managing budgets, resources and competing priorities within a service environment.
5.     Experience of monitoring service performance, using data and reporting to understand outcomes, identify issues and support improvement.
6.     Good understanding of clinical or professional governance, safeguarding, risk management and quality assurance within relevant services.
7.     Knowledge of relevant legislation, ethical frameworks and professional standards relating to counselling, psychotherapy or therapeutic services.
8.     Strong communication, leadership and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with staff, senior colleagues and external partners.
9.     Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions and manage competing demands.
10.  Commitment to trauma-informed, person-led, inclusive and evidence-informed practice.


Desirable 

  1. Current or previous professional registration or accreditation with BACP, UKCP or another relevant professional body, and/or a professional qualification in counselling, psychotherapy or another relevant therapeutic discipline.
  2. Experience of working within the voluntary, community or charity sector.
  3. Experience of working with commissioned services and external stakeholders, including NHS, local authority or other public-sector partners.
  4. Experience of contributing to funding applications, tenders or business development activity.
  5. Understanding of the mental health landscape across the North East.
  6. Experience of supporting services working with people experiencing complex mental health needs, suicidal ideation or increased levels of risk.
  7. Experience of clinical or professional supervision, quality assurance or service improvement.
  8. Training or qualifications in leadership, supervision, safeguarding or service management.

Conditions of Employment 

In the light of legislation [Section 8 Asylum and Immigration Act, January 1997], as a condition of being able to commence employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide documentation to prove that they are able to work in the UK. Such documents will include one or more of the following, as appropriate:

·                National Insurance number.
·                Birth certificate or British passport.
·                Certificate of registration, or naturalisation as a British citizen.
·                Passport or documentation evidencing citizenship of an EEA country.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS check)

This post is subject to a Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Travel requirements:

For roles that involve regular travel to various locations to meet the operational needs of the business, offer holders must have:
·       A full driving licence.
·       Ideally access to private vehicle.
·       Valid business travel insurance.

Probation 
The appointment is subject to a probation period of 6 months.

Expenses
Out of pocket expenses will be payable at rates set out in Tyneside and Northumberland Mind's expenses policy. 

Holidays
On joining, pro rata on a 24 working days per annum. Thereafter, the holiday entitlement increases depending on length of service. (The holiday year runs from 1 April to 31 March.)

Tyneside and Northumberland Mind pension scheme
Tyneside and Northumberland Mind has a group personal pension plan. Further details about the pension plan are available from the HR Advisor.   

Interested in joining us?
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement 
Tyneside and Northumberland Mind embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.
We are committed to being an anti-discriminatory organisation and positively welcome and encourage applications from diverse and marginalised groups. 
Tyneside & Northumberland Mind recognises that there are systemic and individual barriers which people face in maintaining good mental health, accessing support and treatment when they need it, and being accepted for who they are in terms of their mental health. We pledge to do all we can to recognise and tackle these barriers, and to monitor our progress.
We strive to be diverse and inclusive in our workforce, our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion runs through our employee experience.  We promote an inclusive workplace where our staff can bring their full selves to work and strive to ensure that everyone is offered equality of opportunity to achieve their full potential.  In recruiting our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender, age, religion, disability and sexual orientation and beliefs.  
When you join us, you will also have the opportunity to join our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group and help champion DE&I throughout our organisation. 

Here is how to apply.

Tyneside and Northumberland Mind is an Equal Opportunities employer and will apply objective criteria to assess merit. It aims to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age or disability or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. 

Selection criteria and procedures are always reviewed to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted, and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. All employees will be given equal opportunity and where appropriate and possible, special training to enable them to progress both within and outside the organisation. Tyneside and Northumberland Mind is committed to a programme of action to make this policy fully effective.  Candidates who consider that they have not been fairly treated should write to the Chief Executive Officer, Tyneside and Northumberland Mind, 3rd Floor Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6UF within seven days of an interview, after which the matter will be investigated.

Required for application:

1x Curriculum Vitae (CV, preferred in Pdf format)

Complete pre-screening questions.


Further questions and inquiries about the role? Email:
Alex Wilson (CEO) 

Benefits

Private health cash back plan, Access to employee discount scheme, Enhanced pension contribution, 24 days annual leave increasing depending on length of service

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