Senior Counselling Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne

Vacancy at Tyneside and Northumberland Mind

Responsible to: CEO

Based at: Tyneside and Northumberland, Hybrid

Working Hours: Part-time, 25 hours per week

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 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. 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.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of counselling services across the organisation.
• Work closely with other internal teams to build integrated service pathways.
• Identify departmental growth opportunities, contribute to business planning, and assist with funding bids.
• Represent the organisation at senior forums and build strong relationships with NHS partners and commissioners.
• Hold accountability for departmental clinical governance, quality frameworks, and BACP/UKCP compliance.
• Act as level 6 Safeguarding Lead, managing risk registers and complex case escalation.
• Ensure strict departmental compliance with GDPR and Data Governance Requirements.
• Manage day to day operations, departmental budgets, waiting lists and KPI performance.
• Line Manage counselling managers, and clinical leads, embedding a supportive, high-performance culture.
• Oversee recruitment, workforce planning and clinical supervision structures for the department.
• Monitor departmental service data, equity of access and demand trends.
• Produce high quality impact reports for senior leadership and the Board.
• Use data and case studies to demonstrate crisis and suicide prevention outcomes.
• Ensure that all responsibilities and activities discharged within this post are consistent with the terms and spirit of Tyneside and Northumberland Mind’s policies.
• The nature of the post will require flexibility in terms of ways of working to deliver on objectives.
• The post holder is expected to travel to meetings throughout the area of benefit.
• Complete an induction including mandatory training modules.
• Attend and complete training as required.
• The post holder/s may be required to undertake other activities as deemed appropriate by their Line Manager.

Person Specification

• Accredited counsellor/psychotherapist (BACP/UKCP or equivalent).
• Significant experience managing counselling or psychological therapy services.
• Proven experience of clinical governance and safeguarding leadership.
• Experience of leading teams, including senior staff.
• Strong experience of data analysis, impact reporting, and outcomes measurement.
• Experience working with commissioners or in contract-managed services.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and influencing skills.
• Experience contributing to bids, tenders, or service growth.
• Experience presenting to senior leadership or Boards.
• Knowledge of regional mental health needs (Northeast context).
• Experience in suicide prevention or complex risk services.
• Level 6 Safeguarding Diploma or Designated Safeguarding Lead qualification.

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 an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

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.

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.