Therapeutic Manager/ senior therapist
Grief Encounter | London, , with some hybrid working considered | Full time
Salary: £50,000–£58,400 per annum, dependent on experience
Contract: Permanent | 5 days per week | 40 hours per week, including a one-hour rest break per day, some flexibility needed.
About Grief Encounter
Grief Encounter is a specialist bereavement charity supporting children, young people and their families after the death of someone close. Our vision is a world where no child grieves alone, and our services help families find hope and healing through counselling, therapeutic support, group work, resources, training, and in school support when needed.
We are looking for an very experienced, compassionate and organised Therapeutic Manager/ senior therapist to lead the effective, safe and high-quality delivery of our therapeutic service, including online support, through a team of staff, freelance counsellors, arts psychotherapists, supervisors and students and volunteers.
About the Role
Reporting to the Director of Clinical Services, the Counselling Manager will play a key role in service delivery, clinical governance, safeguarding, referral pathways and practitioner support. The post holder will help implement and develop therapeutic projects, contribute to service planning, and ensure that children, young people and families receive timely, appropriate and sensitive bereavement support and therapeutic intervention.
Key Responsibilities
· Manage and support a cohort of freelance counsellors, lead practitioners, therapists students and supervisors, ensuring adherence to Grief Encounter policies, procedures and standards.
· Monitor the quality and consistency of clinical work through case reviews, line maagement oversight, invoice reviews, assessment paperwork, case notes and ending documentation.
· Carry out assessments with families, allocation and triage, ensuring appropriate referral pathways.
· Support practitioners with complex cases, liaising with supervisors and senior colleagues where appropriate.
· Contribute to the development of therapeutic services, including groups, workshops, online support and new service initiatives.
· Act as part of the safeguarding team, responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns and ensuring practitioners understand and follow safeguarding responsibilities.
· Build effective relationships with therapists, supervisors, families, schools, partner organisations and internal teams.
· Deliver or support training for staff, practitioners, volunteers and external professionals where required.
· Contribute to service planning, reporting, evaluation and continuous improvement.
· Have small case laod
About You
You will be a qualified and experienced therapeutic practitioner with strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills and a clear commitment to supporting bereaved children, young people and families. You will bring confidence in managing practitioners, supporting safe practice, handling complex cases and contributing to a reflective, compassionate and professional service culture.
Essential experience and qualities
· A recognised counselling, psychotherapy, arts therapy, social work or relevant therapeutic qualification. Registered professional body eg, HCPC, UKCP
· Experience of working therapeutically with children, young people and families.
· Experience of bereavement, trauma, loss or complex family work.
· Experience supervising, managing or supporting practitioners, clinicians, volunteers or freelance staff.
· Strong understanding of safeguarding practice and responsibilities.
· Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
· Ability to remain calm, boundaried and compassionate when working with sensitive or complex situations.
· Commitment to confidentiality, professional boundaries, inclusion and non-judgmental practice.
· Confidence using systems, records and reporting processes to support safe, accountable service delivery.
Desirable experience
· Experience working within a charity, voluntary sector, education, health or social care setting.
· Knowledge of BACP, HCPC or other relevant professional standards.
· Experience developing groups, workshops, online services or therapeutic projects.
· Experience delivering training or consultation to professionals, schools or community partners.
What We Offer
· The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to bereaved children, young people and families.
· A supportive, skilled and values-led clinical team.
· Opportunities to contribute to service development and innovation.
· Professional development and reflective practice within a specialist bereavement organisation.
· A warm, collaborative working culture rooted in compassion, courage, belonging and dedication.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV and a short covering letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation for the role to Karen Fenna, Director of Clinical Operations, at [email protected].
Closing date: Please apply as soon as possible. We may interview on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the advert early if an appointment is made.
Grief Encounter is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and families. The successful candidate will be required to complete appropriate checks in line with the responsibilities of the role.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Attention is drawn to the confidentiality aspects of this post. Matters of a confidential nature, including information relating to clients or staff must not under any circumstances be divulged to any unauthorised person's.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £50,000.00-£58,400.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
Licence/Certification:
- BACP, UKCP or other relevant accreditation (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London NW7 4ST
