Clinical Counselling Service Development Lead
Permanent - Full Time £60,000 - £70,000 / yearJob Overview
The Clinical Counselling Service Development Lead is responsible for the strategic development, implementation and management of Freeda’s counselling service. This includes overseeing service delivery, ensuring compliance with professional standards, managing and developing the counselling team, and holding a small therapeutic caseload.
As clinical lead, the post-holder will model best practice in trauma-informed counselling, particularly with survivors of domestic abuse and VAWG, and will ensure that Freeda’s service remains safe, ethical, inclusive and effective. They will provide clinical guidance, supervision and leadership to the team, while also shaping the service to meet evolving community needs.
The counselling service is a new service line for Freeda and we intend to grow it slowly and safely over the next 12 months, starting initially with clients already onboarded to Freeda’s services, in order to ensure a world class service for our clients. We anticipate that demand across the Island will be high though and will strive to meet it. As such, this is a wonderful opportunity for a qualified and highly experienced Counsellor and Supervisor to grow with us in their own experience and capability as a Clinical Lead, visionary and advocate for best in class counselling services for the Island, as we grow our vital new service for survivors.
Key Responsibilities
1. Service Delivery & Development
1.1 Lead the strategic development and delivery of Freeda’s counselling service in line with organisational priorities.
1.2 Ensure all counselling practice aligns with ethical frameworks (BACP/NCPS/UKCP) and is trauma-informed.
1.3 Identify and implement strategies to enhance service delivery, access and outcomes.
1.4 Oversee assessment processes and support counsellors in managing complex cases.
1.5 Monitor, evaluate and report on service impact, ensuring data informs service improvements.
1.6 Contribute to wider organisational strategy, including fundraising opportunities and partnership development.
1.1 Lead the strategic development and delivery of Freeda’s counselling service in line with organisational priorities.
1.2 Ensure all counselling practice aligns with ethical frameworks (BACP/NCPS/UKCP) and is trauma-informed.
1.3 Identify and implement strategies to enhance service delivery, access and outcomes.
1.4 Oversee assessment processes and support counsellors in managing complex cases.
1.5 Monitor, evaluate and report on service impact, ensuring data informs service improvements.
1.6 Contribute to wider organisational strategy, including fundraising opportunities and partnership development.
2. Staff Management & Leadership
2.1 Provide clinical leadership, support and supervision to counsellors, modelling advanced counselling competencies.
2.2 Facilitate group and peer supervision sessions, and ensure robust external supervision is in place.
2.3 Lead recruitment, induction, onboarding and professional development of staff and placement counsellors.
2.4 Uphold a reflective, trauma-informed and inclusive team culture.
2.5 Address performance issues and support counsellors to develop their practice.
2.1 Provide clinical leadership, support and supervision to counsellors, modelling advanced counselling competencies.
2.2 Facilitate group and peer supervision sessions, and ensure robust external supervision is in place.
2.3 Lead recruitment, induction, onboarding and professional development of staff and placement counsellors.
2.4 Uphold a reflective, trauma-informed and inclusive team culture.
2.5 Address performance issues and support counsellors to develop their practice.
3. Clinical Responsibilities
3.1 Hold a small caseload, working therapeutically with survivors of domestic abuse (women and men).
3.2 Demonstrate advanced skills in trauma-informed practice, including managing dissociation, attachment issues, complex trauma and safeguarding disclosures.
3.3 Provide clinical expertise and consultation on complex cases, supporting counsellors in risk assessment, safeguarding and ethical decision-making.
3.4 Model high-quality client work, including managing endings, boundaries, transference/countertransference, and therapeutic pacing.
3.5 Promote integration of complementary approaches (e.g., CBT, person-centred, psychodynamic, holistic therapies) where appropriate.
3.1 Hold a small caseload, working therapeutically with survivors of domestic abuse (women and men).
3.2 Demonstrate advanced skills in trauma-informed practice, including managing dissociation, attachment issues, complex trauma and safeguarding disclosures.
3.3 Provide clinical expertise and consultation on complex cases, supporting counsellors in risk assessment, safeguarding and ethical decision-making.
3.4 Model high-quality client work, including managing endings, boundaries, transference/countertransference, and therapeutic pacing.
3.5 Promote integration of complementary approaches (e.g., CBT, person-centred, psychodynamic, holistic therapies) where appropriate.
4. Communication & Collaboration
4.1 Act as primary clinical liaison with external agencies, including health, social care and domestic abuse partners.
4.2 Support development of the Holistic Therapies Hub alongside the CEO, ensuring clinical oversight of complementary therapies.
4.3 Communicate effectively with clients, staff, trustees and stakeholders.
4.4 Promote best practice through training, reflective learning and clinical discussion.
4.1 Act as primary clinical liaison with external agencies, including health, social care and domestic abuse partners.
4.2 Support development of the Holistic Therapies Hub alongside the CEO, ensuring clinical oversight of complementary therapies.
4.3 Communicate effectively with clients, staff, trustees and stakeholders.
4.4 Promote best practice through training, reflective learning and clinical discussion.
5. Governance, Policy & Professional Standards
5.1 Ensure safeguarding procedures are robust and embedded in practice.
5.2 Develop and review policies and procedures with a clinical perspective.
5.3 Maintain high standards of confidentiality and ethical practice across the team.
5.4 Lead on clinical governance, quality assurance and compliance.
5.5 Maintain professional development and ensure the team are supported in their own CPD.
We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects the communities that we serve.
5.1 Ensure safeguarding procedures are robust and embedded in practice.
5.2 Develop and review policies and procedures with a clinical perspective.
5.3 Maintain high standards of confidentiality and ethical practice across the team.
5.4 Lead on clinical governance, quality assurance and compliance.
5.5 Maintain professional development and ensure the team are supported in their own CPD.
We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects the communities that we serve.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential Qualifications & Training
- Recognised professional counselling/psychotherapy qualification (minimum Level 4 Diploma; ideally Level 6 or Masters)
- Current professional accreditation or eligibility for accreditation (BACP/NCPS/UKCP or equivalent)
- Formal training in clinical supervision
- Training in trauma-informed practice and domestic abuse
- Leadership/management training
Knowledge & Understanding
- In-depth understanding of domestic abuse/VAWG dynamics and their impact
- Expertise in trauma-informed counselling, including working with dissociation, attachment issues and childhood abuse
- Strong understanding of multiple counselling modalities (CBT, person-centred, psychodynamic)
- Knowledge of safeguarding law, policy and procedures
- Familiarity with clinical governance and service development in therapeutic settings
Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ post-qualification counselling experience
- Minimum 3 years in a supervisory or clinical lead role
- Significant experience working with survivors of domestic abuse and trauma
- Experience in service development, evaluation and monitoring
- Experience managing a counselling team, including staff and/or trainees
- Experience of multidisciplinary and partnership work
Skills & Competencies (advanced level)
- Ability to model high-level counselling practice, including managing trauma, disclosure and risk
- Strong skills in containment, advanced empathy, facilitating change and managing therapeutic endings
- Excellent judgement in clinical decision-making and safeguarding
- Ability to support counsellors in managing boundaries, transference/countertransference and complex trauma presentations
- Strong analytical and evaluation skills to inform service development
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and leadership skills
Personal Characteristics
- Compassionate, empathic and authentic leader
- Confident, resilient and able to hold hope for clients and counsellors alike
- Non-judgemental, accepting and inclusive
- Committed to high ethical standards, professional self-care and reflective practice
- Creative and flexible in developing therapeutic services