Senior Counselling Manager

Purpose of job

\n

\n

The Senior Counselling Manager role provides strategic leadership, clinical governance and operational oversight of counselling services across Tyneside and Northumberland Mind. This role is created during a period of significant, continuous growth within our organisation, directly reflecting the rising and evolving mental health needs of our local community.

\n

To meet this increasing demand, the postholder will drive departmental expansion, ensure safe, evidence-based service delivery and champion cross departmental collaboration. By aligning departmental resources with wider organisational strategy, the Senior Counselling Manager ensures we remain agile, resilient and highly impactful in supporting our community.

\n

\n

Key Responsibilities

\n

\n

\n
• Lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of counselling services across the organisation.
\n
• Work closely with other internal teams to build integrated service pathways.
\n
• Identify departmental growth opportunities, contribute to business planning, and assist with funding bids.
\n
• Represent the organisation at senior forums and build strong relationships with NHS partners and commissioners.
\n
• Hold accountability for departmental clinical governance, quality frameworks, and BACP/UKCP compliance.
\n
• Act as level 6 Safeguarding Lead, managing risk registers and complex case escalation.
\n
• Ensure strict departmental compliance with GDPR and Data Governance Requirements.
\n
• Manage day to day operations, departmental budgets, waiting lists and KPI performance.
\n
• Line Manage counselling managers, and clinical leads, embedding a supportive, high-performance culture.
\n
• Oversee recruitment, workforce planning and clinical supervision structures for the department.
\n
• Monitor departmental service data, equity of access and demand trends.
\n
• Produce high quality impact reports for senior leadership and the Board.
\n
• Use data and case studies to demonstrate crisis and suicide prevention outcomes.
\n

\n

\n

Expectations

\n

\n

1. Ensure that all responsibilities and activities discharged within this post are consistent with the terms and spirit of Tyneside and Northumberland Mind’s policies.

\n

\n

2. The nature of the post will require flexibility in terms of ways of working to deliver on objectives.

\n

\n

3. The post holder is expected to travel to meetings throughout the area of benefit

\n

\n

4. Complete an induction including mandatory training modules

\n

\n

5. Attend and complete training as required.

\n

\n

6. The post holder/s may be required to undertake other activities as deemed appropriate by their Line Manager

\n

\n

Person Specification

\n

\n

Essential Criteria

\n

1. Accredited counsellor/psychotherapist (BACP/UKCP or equivalent).

\n

2. Significant experience managing counselling or psychological therapy services.

\n

3. Proven experience of clinical governance and safeguarding leadership.

\n

4. Experience of leading teams, including senior staff.

\n

5. Strong experience of data analysis, impact reporting, and outcomes measurement.

\n

6. Experience working with commissioners or in contract-managed services.

\n

7. Excellent leadership, communication, and influencing skills.

\n

\n

Desirable

\n

1. Experience contributing to bids, tenders, or service growth.

\n

2. Experience presenting to senior leadership or Boards.

\n

3. Knowledge of regional mental health needs (Northeast context).

\n

4. Experience in suicide prevention or complex risk services.

\n

5. Level 6 Safeguarding Diploma or Designated Safeguarding Lead qualification.