Counselling Manager - #2186243

About the Role

We are recruiting an experienced Counselling Manager to oversee the operational performance, people management and clinical standards of an established counselling service in Central Manchester.

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified and professionally registered Counselling Manager who combines a background in counselling or psychotherapy with strong management, leadership and operational experience.

As Counselling Manager, you will take responsibility for managing team performance, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and service performance indicators (SPIs), driving productivity and ensuring the effective day-to-day running of the service.

The role has a strong focus on operational management, commercial awareness and performance delivery, alongside maintaining high standards of clinical practice, risk management and safeguarding.

We also welcome applications from registered counselling professionals whose management experience may come from other sectors, including healthcare, mental health, wellbeing, customer operations or contact centre management. Previous experience managing a counselling team is not essential, provided you have the relevant professional counselling credentials and strong management experience.

Operational Management & Performance

• Oversee the day-to-day running and operational performance of the counselling service.
• Monitor and manage KPIs, SPIs, productivity and service delivery targets.
• Analyse performance data, identify trends and implement improvement plans.
• Ensure service levels, response times and operational expectations are consistently achieved.
• Produce and review management reports, providing updates on performance and identifying areas for improvement.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and introduce initiatives to improve productivity.
• Work closely with senior management to achieve wider business objectives.

People Management & Leadership

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of professionals.
• Conduct regular one-to-ones, performance reviews and team meetings.
• Set clear expectations around individual and team performance.
• Manage underperformance, attendance and productivity concerns.
• Monitor workloads and ensure resources are allocated effectively.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and ongoing staff development.
• Promote accountability, engagement and a positive team culture.

Risk, Safeguarding & Clinical Oversight

• Maintain strong oversight of clinical risk management and safeguarding procedures.
• Ensure appropriate escalation processes are followed when dealing with high-risk situations.
• Provide clinical guidance and support where required.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of suicide risk, suicidal ideation, self-harm, safeguarding and vulnerable individuals.
• Ensure incidents, complaints and concerns are appropriately investigated, escalated and recorded.
• Maintain professional standards, ethical practice and appropriate clinical boundaries.
• Work alongside counselling professionals to maintain quality and standards of care.

Quality Assurance & Service Improvement

• Oversee quality standards and ensure consistent service delivery.
• Monitor quality assessments, audits and feedback.
• Identify recurring issues and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement across the service.
• Balance service quality, staff performance and operational expectations.
• Ensure policies, procedures and professional standards are followed consistently.

• A recognised qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy.
• Current registration or accreditation with a recognised professional body, such as BACP, NCPS, UKCP or an equivalent recognised register.
• Previous experience in a management or team leadership position.
• Experience managing KPIs, SPIs, productivity and operational performance.
• Strong understanding of clinical risk management and safeguarding.
• Strong understanding of suicidal ideation, self-harm and appropriate risk escalation.
• Experience managing staff performance and addressing underperformance.
• Confidence analysing performance data and implementing service improvements.
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills.

• Previous management experience within counselling, mental health, healthcare or wellbeing services.
• Experience managing a high-volume service or contact centre environment.
• Experience working towards strict service level agreements (SLAs) and operational performance targets.
• Experience with quality assurance, clinical governance and service improvement.
• Previous experience managing counselling or therapeutic professionals.

• £60 contribution towards professional clinical supervision monthly.
• Professional membership support. (Paid for annually after probation)
• 33 days' annual leave, including bank holidays and birthday leave.
• Pension scheme.
• Life insurance.
• Wellbeing support.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.

• Permanent, full-time position.
• Fully office-based in Central Manchester.
• Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.
• One weekday late shift, 12pm–8pm.
• Occasional weekend cover may be required.

The ideal Counselling Manager will be a professionally registered counselling or psychotherapy practitioner with strong management and operational experience.

You will be commercially aware and confident managing people, performance, KPIs, SPIs and service delivery. You will also have the clinical knowledge and professional experience to understand complex presentations, manage risk appropriately and ensure safeguarding standards are maintained.

Your management background could come from counselling, healthcare, mental health, wellbeing or another relevant operational environment.

If you are a BACP, NCPS, UKCP or equivalently registered counselling professional looking to combine your clinical background with a management and operational leadership position, we would be interested in hearing from you.