Senior lead therapist / clinical manager

Counselling Manager

Grief Encounter | London, , with some hybrid working considered | Full time

Salary: £50,000–£58,400 per annum, dependent on experience

Contract: Permanent | 5 days per week | 40 hours per week, including a one-hour rest break per day, some flexibility needed.

About Grief Encounter

Grief Encounter is a specialist bereavement charity supporting children, young people and their families after the death of someone close. Our vision is a world where no child grieves alone, and our services help families find hope and healing through counselling, therapeutic support, group work, resources, training, and in school support when needed.

We are looking for an experienced, compassionate and organised Therapeutic Manager/ senior therapist to lead the effective, safe and high-quality delivery of our therapeutic service, including online support, through a team of staff, freelance counsellors, arts psychotherapists, supervisors and students and volunteers.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Clinical Services, the Counselling Manager will play a key role in service delivery, clinical governance, safeguarding, referral pathways and practitioner support. The post holder will help implement and develop therapeutic projects, contribute to service planning, and ensure that children, young people and families receive timely, appropriate and sensitive bereavement support and therapeutic intervention.

Key Responsibilities

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  Manage and support a cohort of freelance counsellors, lead practitioners, therapists students and supervisors, ensuring adherence to Grief Encounter policies, procedures and standards.

  
  


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  Monitor the quality and consistency of clinical work through case reviews, line maagement oversight, invoice reviews, assessment paperwork, case notes and ending documentation.

  
  


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  Carry out assessments with families, allocation and triage, ensuring appropriate referral pathways.

  
  


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  Support practitioners with complex cases, liaising with supervisors and senior colleagues where appropriate.

  
  


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  Contribute to the development of therapeutic services, including groups, workshops, online support and new service initiatives.

  
  


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  Act as part of the safeguarding team, responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns and ensuring practitioners understand and follow safeguarding responsibilities.

  
  


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  Build effective relationships with therapists, supervisors, families, schools, partner organisations and internal teams.

  
  


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  Deliver or support training for staff, practitioners, volunteers and external professionals where required.

  
  


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  Contribute to service planning, reporting, evaluation and continuous improvement.

  
  


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  Have small case load of some complex cases

  
  

About You

You will be a qualified and experienced therapeutic practitioner with strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills and a clear commitment to supporting bereaved children, young people and families. You will bring confidence in managing practitioners, supporting safe practice, handling complex cases and contributing to a reflective, compassionate and professional service culture.

Essential experience and qualities

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  A recognised counselling, psychotherapy, arts therapy, social work or relevant therapeutic qualification. Registered professional body e.g., HCPC, UKCP

  
  


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  Experience of working therapeutically with children, young people and families.

  
  


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  Experience of bereavement, trauma, loss or complex family work.

  
  


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  Experience supervising, managing or supporting practitioners, clinicians, volunteers or freelance staff.

  
  


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  Strong understanding of safeguarding practice and responsibilities.

  
  


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  Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

  
  


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  Ability to remain calm, boundaried and compassionate when working with sensitive or complex situations.

  
  


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  Commitment to confidentiality, professional boundaries, inclusion and non-judgmental practice.

  
  


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  Confidence using systems, records and reporting processes to support safe, accountable service delivery.

  
  

How to Apply

To apply, please send your CV and a short covering letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation for the role to Karen Fenna, Director of Clinical Operations, at [email protected].

website www.griefencounter.org.uk

Closing date: Please apply as soon as possible. We may interview on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the advert early if an appointment is made.

Grief Encounter is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and families. The successful candidate will be required to complete appropriate checks in line with the responsibilities of the role.