Fixed term contract 22.5 hours per week
12 months extension subject to funding
Salary FTE £36,000 Pro Rata £21,600
- Cut off date for application is 1pm on Thursday 11th June
- Interview dates will be WC Monday 15th June
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Counselling Coordinator to work across the Greater Manchester footprint, working specifically with women. The post-holder will work alongside the Counselling & Psychotherapy Manager to support with the assessment and allocation of women for the appropriate therapeutic intervention. You will play an integral role in supporting and developing our service model, including recruitment, development and line management of volunteer, trainee and sessional therapists.
The post-holder will be part of our multi-disciplinary team and will work flexibly to meet the needs of the service. You will work alongside the team to ensure safe and effective delivery of therapeutic interventions across the Greater Manchester Women’s Support Alliance. You will be required to form strong working relationships with our partner agencies and local training establishments to ensure that our excellent reputation is further enhanced.
You will receive a competitive salary and benefits package, as well as joining a supportive group of Counselling & Psychotherapists and other professionals, so will receive peer support and CPD opportunities.
If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Andrea Bettinson 0161 355 4455.
Please send your CV plus covering letter to Stockport Women’s Centre, 39 Greek Street, SK3 8AX. Phone 0161 355 4455 or e-mail [email protected]
Closing date for applications is 13:00 on Thursday 11th June
Interviews from w/c Monday 15th June
Please note that because of the nature of our work, this post is restricted to women applicants only under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010
ROLE DESCRIPTION:
Accountable to: SWC Board of Trustees
Responsible to: Counselling and Psychotherapy Manager
Based: Stockport Women’s Centre
PURPOSE: Provide support to the Counselling & Psychotherapy Manager and oversee the team including counselling co-ordinators, qualified counsellors, psychotherapists, sessional therapists, supervisors and students on placement. Support the team to deliver appropriate talking therapies and group work to local women in line with the Strategy as agreed by the Trustees which is to support, empower and educate women to improve their physical health, mental health and well-being, enabling them and their families to have improved life chances. The postholder will be responsible for co-ordinating a Counselling & Psychotherapy Service at each Women’s Centre across Greater Manchester and HMP Styal.
MAIN DUTIES:
Client Care
- Provide support to the team of counselling volunteers & counselling team staff.
- Undertake counselling assessments, identifying stressors and problems which are responsive to counselling.
- Identify women who may benefit from group work and assist with the organisation and delivery of group work as appropriate and agreed by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Service Manager.
- Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, ensuring that all relevant parties (both internal and external) have been informed as appropriate. SWC Senior Counselling Co-ordinator RD and PS May 2026
- Oversee the counselling assessment process, ensuring that appropriate referral pathways are identified and followed through.
- Take responsibility for the allocation of clients to counsellors with an appropriate level of skills, experience and competence.
- To manage own small caseload of clients/supervisees/groups
- To maintain personal BACP/UKCP membership and a commitment to ethical practice to ensure safety of clients.
Operations
- Support and monitor a service user’s pathway to counselling, ensuring appropriate allocation.
- Arrange operational meetings and Counselling Team meetings and training as required.
- Ensure that existing and future services develop in accordance with the changing needs of service users and the priorities of the Women’s Centre.
- Co-ordinate and promote the setting of quality standards for services and the means of monitoring agreed standards.
- Support the monitoring, evaluation and development of the quality of service delivery
Human Resources
- Participate in the recruitment, training and development of supervisors, qualified counsellors and psychotherapists and counsellors in training.
- Support the induction process and liaise with other staff members about suitable training packages to support the development of the Counselling team.
- Contribute towards Human Resource functions, including involvement in the annual appraisal (personal development review) and disciplinary and grievance procedures for counselling volunteers & sessional therapists.
Communication and Leadership
- Deputise for the Counselling & Psychotherapy manager when required.
- When needed, promote the Counselling Service and its services locally, regionally and nationally to build awareness and understanding.
- Liaise with statutory and voluntary third sector non-profit organisations to maintain up-to-date knowledge of good care practice.
- Maximise the involvement of Service Users in the work of and decision-making processes of the Centres.
- Communicate with the Counselling Team and include them in the work of and the decision-making processes of the Service.
Policy and Service Development
- Ensure that the Counselling Services operates within the quality standards as informed by the BACP/UKCP ethical framework and SWC policies and procedures with special reference to those pertaining to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, confidentiality, risk assessment and management, and health and safety
- Support the work involved in maintaining BACP registration for the GMWSA Counselling Service and support the service to attain accreditation.
- Support the work of future service developments within the GM Counselling Service.
Analysis and data management
- Ensure the completion of statistical data as required and ensure its availability for analysis.
Finance and Business Support
- As part of the staff team, identify key risks to the operation of GMWSA Counselling Service and to plan to minimise these risks.
Fundraising and Income Generation
- As part of the staff team, identify opportunities for potential funders to support the work of SWC Counselling Service including opportunities to support the development of new services.
General Work Related Expectations
- Work within SWC Values, Ethos and Vision
- Contribute to the development of SWC
- Work in accordance with all Policies and Procedures of SWC
- Identify and attend training as required
- Work in accordance with all relevant legislation
- Undergo supervision
- Comply with operational reporting procedures
- Work as part of a team
- Adhere to ethical, legal and quality standards
- Take responsibility for ensuring the provision of high quality, effective services
- Support and promote user involvement in all aspects of service development and delivery
- Undertake any other duties as required, appropriate to the post
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Essential:
Education/ Qualifications
- Counselling / psychotherapy diploma
- Actively working towards accreditation
- Member of BACP/UKCP
- Certificate in Supervision
Knowledge
- Awareness of specific issues affecting women
- Specialist knowledge of a cross range of counselling procedures and techniques
- Knowledge of NHS Assessment Tools
- Understanding of Safeguarding Children, Vulnerable Adults and ‘High Risk’ Adults
- Understanding of working within a trauma responsive service and delivering interventions to support this
Experience
- Counselling experience of a minimum of 3 years’ supervised practice (with adults)
- Experience of assessing and working with a broad range of clinical issues
- Experience of working with clients who have experienced trauma
- Experience of multiagency working to safeguard clients
Skills and abilities
- Experience of supervising counsellors
- Experience of mentoring counsellors
- Communication skills
- Teamwork skills
- Leadership skills
- Assessment skills
- Therapeutic skills
- IT skills
- Analytical skills
Work related circumstances
- Able to organise and prioritise own workload
- Able to inspire and motivate other people
- Commitment to continual professional development and ethical practice
- Ability for occasional work-related travel across Greater Manchester
Desirable:
Education/ Qualifications
- 1 st degree or degree at Masters Level
- BACP/UKCP Accredited
Knowledge
- Understanding of voluntary sector
- Understanding of the scope and limits of counselling
- Understanding of monitoring and evaluation of counselling
Experience
- Experience as a group work facilitator/trainer
- Experience of interviewing
- Experience of using NHS assessment tools
- Experience of managing teams
Skills and abilities
- Group work Skills
- Interview skills
Work related circumstances
- Able to be flexible on occasion with working hours
- Understanding the importance of self-care
Job Types: Part-time, Temporary
Contract length: 12 months
Pay: £21,600.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Please provide a cover letter with your application
Licence/Certification:
- Counselling Level 4 or above qualification (required)
Work Location: In person
