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- Tasks: Lead clinical practice and set standards for counselling services across the UK.
- Company: Join Family Action, a compassionate organisation transforming lives since 1869.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Commitment to diversity and inclusion; guaranteed interview for disabled applicants.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on relationship therapy and help shape the future of counselling.
- Qualifications: Accredited clinical membership and extensive therapy experience required.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 60000 £ per year.
Home-based (UK) with occasional national travel.
About Us
At Family Action, we transform lives by providing practical, emotional, and financial support to those experiencing poverty, disadvantage, and social isolation. Since 1869, we have been building stronger families, and today, we work with over 60,000 families across more than 150 community-based services. We also support thousands more through national programmes and grants, ensuring everyone has the tools to overcome challenges and thrive.
Now part of Family Action, Relate delivers high-quality counselling and therapeutic services to thousands of people each year. Our focus is on excellence, inclusivity, and ensuring every client feels heard, valued, and respected.
This is a meaningful opportunity for an accredited clinical therapist with extensive post-qualification experience and clinical leadership or supervision expertise to join our compassionate organisation. You will be joining us at an exciting time as we re-design our services and raise our clinical standards to re-assert ourselves as the UK's leading specialist in intimate relationship support. You'll have the chance to make a real impact on our clinical direction and help to define how relationship and psychosexual therapy is practised across the UK.
The Role
As a Clinical Practice Lead, you will provide national clinical leadership for Relate's counselling services, setting the standard for our counsellors and supervisors. Taking the lead on our clinical governance frameworks, you will be the go-to person for complex cases of safeguarding concerns, the sounding board for new services and products, and our sector-level representative for professional forums. Leading a team of Clinical Supervisors and the clinical elements of our QA framework, you will build our national CPD programme and support the employee journey.
Additionally, you will:
- Use data and research to improve outcomes
- Embed reflective, psychologically safe practice across the organisation
- Support recruitment, supervision and competency frameworks
- Shape new clinical models, digital services and product development
- Use data and research to strengthen practice and service outcomes
About You
To be considered as a Clinical Practice Lead, you will need:
- Accredited clinical membership with a recognised professional body (e.g. BACP, UKCP, NCPS, COSRT)
- Extensive post-qualifying experience delivering therapy to individuals, couples and/or families
- Proven experience providing clinical leadership and/or supervision across complex services
- A strong understanding of safeguarding, risk and clinical governance
- The ability to lead with credibility, compassion, courage and inclusivity
The closing date for this role is 24th May 2026.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for an interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required. We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us, and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children, and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role, and we will reimburse your travel costs if you attend an interview in person.
So, if you're ready to step into a role with real impact as a Clinical Practice Lead, please apply via the button shown.
Clinical Practice Lead - Counselling Services in Exeter employer: Relate
Contact Detail:
Relate Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Clinical Practice Lead - Counselling Services in Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the counselling field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions related to clinical leadership and safeguarding. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or colleagues to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring along examples of your previous work, especially any data or research that highlights your impact on service outcomes. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can lead with credibility.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our mission at Family Action.
We think you need these skills to ace Clinical Practice Lead - Counselling Services in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experience align with the role of Clinical Practice Lead. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves clinical leadership, don’t forget to emphasise your experience in leading teams or projects. Share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to guide and inspire others.
Be Authentic: We value authenticity, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for counselling and how you connect with clients on a deeper level. We want to know the real you!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this meaningful opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Relate
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of a Clinical Practice Lead. Brush up on clinical governance, safeguarding, and the latest therapeutic practices. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re not just qualified, but genuinely passionate about the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams or managed complex cases in the past. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your ability to lead with credibility and compassion, which is crucial for this position.
✨Emphasise Inclusivity
Family Action values inclusivity, so be ready to discuss how you’ve fostered an inclusive environment in your previous roles. Share experiences where you’ve supported diverse clients or worked with varied teams, highlighting your commitment to equality and diversity.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask during the interview. This could be about their approach to clinical supervision or how they measure the success of their counselling services. Asking thoughtful questions shows your genuine interest in the organisation and the role.