SAAS Counselling Service Lead Manchester

Job summary

Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) is looking to recruit a Counselling Service Lead to manage the children, young persons and adult counselling service.

Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SAAS) has been delivering services to people who have experienced sexual violence since 1986. The Centre provides forensic medical support, ISVA support and assessment, therapy services to people of all ages and genders throughout Greater Manchester.

Our counselling service provides a wide range of psychological therapies to people who have experienced sexual violence. Due to the current postholder leaving, an opportunity has arisen to recruit a skilled Counselling Service Lead to provide operational leadership and lead on service development for the counselling service, to also provide therapy to SAAS clients and to support the wider SAAS service where required.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for providing operational leadership, oversight and management of the SAAS Counselling Service, which provides specialist sexual violence counselling to children, young people and adults across Greater Manchester, by offering therapy, ensuring delivery of key performance targets, quality standards, workforce management, waiting time targets, the delivery of strategy within the service, supporting the Service Manager and General Manager with other key pieces of work across the service where appropriate.

The role will support the development and improvement of client pathways, service productivity and development, waiting list management, operational efficiency across the service and engagement with stakeholders and partner agencies. The post holder will lead on delegated projects, performance management processes and service improvement programmes.

The post holder will work closely with clinical, operational, and corporate teams to ensure safe, effective, and high-quality services are delivered in line with Trust objectives.

The post holder will provide therapeutic counselling services to SAAS clients within the context of a non-judgemental and confidential service and in accordance with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Documents to download heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

• Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
• Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.
• Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma or Degree in Counselling or Psychotherapy
• Current member of BACP or equivalent
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

• Healthcare management qualification or postgraduate qualification
• Project management qualification or equivalent Experience
• Safeguarding Training

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience of operational management within the NHS or a counselling environment
• Experience of delivering a range of therapeutic interventions to adults, children and young people
• Thorough understanding of rape, sexual assault and abuse and how this can impact upon victims
• Knowledge and experience of delivering trauma informed therapeutic services to victims
• Knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system and how this relates to victims of sexual violence
• Knowledge and understanding of wider sexual violence services, criminal justice agencies and VCFSE relating to victim care.
• Experience of managing performance targets such as referrals, waiting lists, capacity and demand
• Experience of service improvement or project management
• Experience of staff management and HR processes
• Understanding of NHS performance frameworks and targets
• Comprehensive knowledge, experience and understanding of delivering pre trial therapy.
• Knowledge and understanding of sexual violence and trauma informed support for victims.
• Experience of budget management and financial processes

Desirable

• Experience of service redesign or transformation.
• Experience of the supporting victims engaged within the criminal justice system and requiring pretrial therapy
• Experience of supporting victims of sexual violence
• Experience working at Band 7 level or equivalent.

Skills

Essential

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interpret and present complex data.
• Ability to negotiate with external partner agencies
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure.
• Leadership and team management skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.