Counsellors Jobs in Home Based

Join a team with a bold mission – at Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind, we are dedicated to reshaping the landscape of mental health and emotional wellbeing in our community. We are growing our counselling service, and we will be offering more generalised counselling as well as our Self Harmony service which specialises in self-harm and self-injury reduction. 
 
What You'll Do: 

• Collaborative Leadership: Lead, inspire, and effectively manage a team of professionals to deliver exceptional mental health support and interventions. 

• Innovation and Empowerment: Channel your passion into providing evidence-based interventions, elevating the mental health and emotional well-being of the people we serve, while opening doors to life's possibilities. 

• Effective Partnerships:  Ensure effective and appropriate communication with all individuals, staff, community agencies and partner organisations.  

We are growing our counselling service and we will be offering more generalised counselling as well as our Self Harmony service which specialises in self-harm and self-injury reduction.

What You'll Do:

- Innovation and Empowerment: Channel your passion into providing evidence-based interventions, elevating the mental health and emotional well-being of the people we serve, while opening doors to life's possibilities.

- Effective Partnerships:  Ensure effective and appropriate communication with all individuals, staff, community agencies and partner organisations.

"Enthusiastic" "positive" and "not too serious" young person's counsellor wanted- words chosen by our young people! They have asked us to find a counsellor who understands their unique needs and can help them to open up. 

Our role is exciting and varied and includes offering 1-1 counselling and therapeutic groups in different settings, both in schools and the community. We are looking for a qualified and experienced counsellor to join our team and help young people aged 11-25 to find their feet. In return we are a supportive team who are really passionate. 

We use the BACP Ethical Framework to guide our practice and are seeking someone who is registered with the BACP or equivalent professional body. We would like to find someone who uses a range of counselling modalities creatively to meet the needs of young people. This role will involve some group work specifically around young women's mental health, so ideally you would have an interest in this thematic work.

There is some flexibility on working days but there is a requirement to work at least one evening per week up to 8pm. You would be working in different settings across North Cheshire East, including Knutsford, so access to transport would be an advantage. Occasional weekend work would also be required, although hours can be worked on a regular Saturday if preferred.

THE ROLE: Part-time (7.5 hours per week – term-time only) Fixed-term until 31 July 2025 (maternity cover) - based on site at the school, Wednesdays 0800 – 1600 (there may be some flexibility with this)

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health. 

 is an established, BACP accredited school counselling service covering Brighton and Hove, East and West Sussex and Surrey. We are currently looking for a qualified counsellor with experience of working with primary and secondary age students with SEN to join our team and deliver the school counselling service atin Brighton. Downs View School is a specialist provision school for learners aged 4-16, meeting the learning needs for pupils with profound and multiple, severe and moderate learning difficulties. Many of the pupils have autism and communication difficulties.

In this role, you will provide an ethical, professional counselling service and establish a professional working relationships with key school staff. This will include discussion of referrals, managing a session timetable within the school day and agreeing a process for students coming to and from sessions. You will be undertaking assessments and counselling sessions. In addition, you will complete associated administration tasks, attend regular clinical supervision, and line management meetings.

ABOUT YOU: We know that there are great candidates who will not fit everything described, or who have important skills we have not mentioned. If that is you, please do not hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself

You will already hold a Counselling or psychotherapy qualification with a recognised training provider and have a registration or accreditation with BACP or equivalent professional body such as HCPC, UKCP. You will have post-qualifying experience in individual counselling or therapy with children to include working with risk issues, along with experience of using creative therapeutic techniques and working in an SEN school setting. 

You will have a professional, flexible attitude with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage your time well. You will be confident in identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns and have experience of working with children and young people. You will also have a sound understanding of child protection and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues, policies and procedures.

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion about this post, please contact . Should you require any assistance with our application process, please email

CLOSING DATE: 21 April 2024 at midnight. We reserve the right to close this advert early if a successful candidate is found, so please submit your application as soon as possible. Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK

An inclusive workplace - We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. Accessibility - If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check

Main purpose of job: To provide specialist counselling and support to young people (12-19) who have experienced rape, sexual violence or sexual abuse. The role will also provide occasional counselling and support to adult supporters and relatives, and there may also the potential to work with children under 12 if qualified to do so. The role includes wider responsibilities as a member of CARA’s staff team including acting as point of contact for sessional counsellors and activities to raise awareness of the impact of sexual violence amongst agencies and the wider community.

Start date: As soon as possible (subject to Enhanced DBS Check and satisfactory references).

Salary: £30,151 - £32,020, per annum, pro-rata.

Contract: This is a one year contract in the first instance.

Hours: 21 hours per week.  

Place of work: To work flexibly at CARA premises across mid and north Essex, including Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester and Dunmow. The post may also involve some remote working, if a suitable home working environment is available.

Holiday: 25 days per year, pro-rata, plus additional closure days between Christmas and New Year.

To apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from our website, explaining how your skills and experience relate to the person specification. Applications must specifically address each essential and desirable criteria, giving evidence from previous experience or qualifications. 

Application deadline: Tuesday 7th May, 10am.

Interviews:  Monday 13th May in Colchester.

Start date: As soon as possible, subject to receipt of satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check.

Mandatory Training Dates: To be confirmed.  

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Job Description

To provide specialist counselling and support to young people (12-19) who have experienced rape, sexual violence or sexual abuse. The role will also provide occasional counselling and support to adult supporters and relatives, and there may also the potential to work with children under 12 if qualified to do so. The role includes wider responsibilities as a member of CARA’s staff team including acting as CARA point of contact for sessional counsellors and activities to raise awareness of the impact of sexual violence amongst agencies and the wider community.

Main Responsibilities

· To provide one-to-one counselling and support to young people (aged 12-19), holding a caseload of clients.

· To provide occasional counselling and support to adult supporters and relatives.

· To undertake client assessments and make appropriate arrangements for their support.

· To provide specialist advice to other workers and agencies, including participation in delivery of training sessions.

· To liaise with other agencies and attend meetings, where required.

· To act as point of contact for CARA sessional counsellors and volunteers, where appropriate.

· To raise awareness in the community and within other agencies of the short and long-term responses people may develop to sexual violence,

· To keep up to date with relevant legislation, policy and practice issues.

· To provide occasional training on sexual violence, self-harm and related issues to volunteers and other agencies.

· To work flexible hours, including some evening work and occasional weekends.

· To participate in CARA team meetings, supervision, training and development. 

· To keep appropriate records in accordance with CARA policies and procedures.

· To adhere in full to all CARA’s organisational policies and procedures, including safeguarding procedures.

· To be administratively self-servicing.

· The postholder must be able to work flexibly at CARA centres across mid and north Essex.

· To report to the Child and Young Person’s Practice Manger, Head of Operations, Chief Executive Officer and Trustees as required, including the production of regular written and verbal reports, and occasional case studies.

· To undertake any other related activities as required by the Child and Young Person’s Practice Manger, Head of Operations, Chief Executive Officer and Trustees.

About CARA

CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs. 

CARA is a registered charity working with adults of all genders, young people and children from across mid and north Essex.  We have a head office in Colchester and outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich and provide a range of remote services.

CARA seeks to be an inclusive organisation that actively encourages, supports and values diversity amongst both our service-users and our workers.  We wish to create a culture in which discrimination, in all its forms, is recognised and addressed.

You can read more about CARA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on our website. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.

About Synergy Essex

CARA is part of Synergy Essex – the Essex Rape and Sexual Abuse Partnership. We work closely with South Essex-based SERICC and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis) to deliver the contract for the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex for services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse across Essex.

Welcome to Wimbledon Guild

We’re a community charity in Merton offering practical help and support. Wimbledon Guild is going from strength to strength, and we’re looking forward to appointing a new Counsellor for the Refugee Service to work part-time in our Talking Therapies team. 

We describe our services to clients in this way:

Wimbledon Guild is a community charity in Merton offering practical help and support, so you’ll never have to face life’s challenges alone.

Whether you're worried about money, you’re feeling low or overwhelmed, or you’re looking for new friends and activities locally, we’re always here.

Wimbledon Guild is more than just a place, we're a real community where everyone belongs. 

We meet these objectives through a diverse range of services, which we are constantly developing in response to local need and local aspirations. We collaborate closely with partners in the statutory and voluntary sector, and with a thriving group of volunteers. Our Talking Therapies are well known and highly regarded in the local community, and we are a BACP Accredited Service. 

As our Counsellor (Refugee Service), a newly created post current funded for 5 years, you will be responsible for a client load of 10 clients, offering up to 16 sessions and conducting 2 assessments a month. You will need to be responsible for all aspects of the work, including administrative procedures, following our policies and protocols, liaising with mental health services and making onward referrals where necessary.

You will be working as part of a well-established team of colleagues, within the department and organisation. The service predominantly works within a psychodynamic framework; therefore, a working knowledge of psychodynamic thinking is crucial for all those applying for this role including the ability to work with the unconscious and counter transference process that come up for yourself and in the work. 

If this sounds like you, it would be great to hear from you. Please complete an application form, detailing in the Supporting Statement how you meet the person specification. 

The closing date for applications is Monday 18th March 2024 at 8am . The interviews will take place on the Monday 25th March.

Many thanks for your interest in Wimbledon Guild. We look forward to hearing from you.

Olivia Spooner, Individual Counselling Manager

Wimbledon Guild is a community charity in Merton offering practical help and support so that people never have to face life’s challenges alone. 

We've recently secured 5 years of funding to provide counselling for marginalised communities. As the Counsellor (LGBTQ+ Service) you will be providing up to 16 sessions to individuals over 18 that live, work or study in the London Borough of Merton and define as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning.

You will be responsible for all aspects of the work, including administrative procedures, following our policies and protocols, liaising with mental health services and making onward referrals where necessary.

You'll be working as part of a well-established team of colleagues, within the department and organisation. The service predominantly works within a psychodynamic framework; therefore, a working knowledge of psychodynamic thinking is crucial for all those applying for this role including the ability to work with the unconscious and counter transference process that come up for yourself and in the work.

If this sounds like you, it would be great to hear from you. Please complete an application form below, detailing in the Supporting Statement how you meet the person specification. 

Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) is a national Christian charity working in partnership with local churches to give struggling children hope and a future.

Building on the huge success of TLG Early Intervention Coaching, TLG Therapeutic Support will be a new way for TLG, with partner churches, to provide support in school for the increasing number of pupils struggling to cope due to their emotional, relational, and mental health experiences. 

In this role we are looking for an individual that thrives working with children and young people in a school context and is passionate about supporting pupils and their families struggling with emotional, relational, and mental health challenges. This role requires a formal counselling qualification or at least evidence of notable progress on the journey to attaining a counselling qualification. The TLG Therapeutic Counsellor will be present each week in the school, providing specialist trauma aware care for these children, whilst supporting staff and parents too.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and active Christian faith. TLG is also committed to safeguarding children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure via the DBS.

We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Applications will be reviewed on application prior to the closing date. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date if a suitable applicant applies. The date of interviews is to be confirmed.

Location: Camden/Hybrid

Salary: £180 a day 

Hours: 2 days per week (Monday and Tuesday)

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2025

Closing Date: 22nd April 2024 at 12 noon

Virtual Interview Date: 25th April 2024

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as Complex Needs Counsellor at Solace Women's Aid.

We exist to end the harm done through gender-based violence. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse, as well as providing services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives, free from abuse.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Solace’s North London Rape Crisis offers a range of services to women, girls, trans and non-binary aged 13 + who are experiencing or have experienced any form of sexual violence in their lives. We offer a safe and non-judgmental space to women who are living, working, or studying across London boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Camden, Islington, Haringey, Barnet, and Enfield.

Our expert team provides helpline support, advocacy (ISVA) support including specialised ISVA support for those with complex needs. We provide one-to-one and group counselling to survivors as well as short-term one-to-one counselling support to survivors’ family and friends. We also ensure we engage with the community by creating awareness of sexual violence within society and places of help. It is an inclusive service which takes a holistic approach to supporting recovery and independence; and supports all ages, disabilities, sexualities, gender identities including non-binary, ethnicities, and religions.

About the Role

To deliver a therapeutic response engaging survivors considered at high risk due to coping strategies such as acute or chronic self-injurious behaviour or suicidality, which presents a threat to the client’s wellbeing. This post will be part of NLRC’s Clinical Team’s Safeguarding Hub, which facilitates innovative, responsive, trauma-informed and culturally responsive services for survivors of sexual violence. The successful applicant will be a qualified counsellor registered with BACP or UKCP.

About You

We understand that you may not have all the knowledge, experience, and skills mentioned in the Job Profile Document. However, your interpersonal skills, passion to have a positive impact, commitment to our purpose, and ability to learn quickly and collaborate effectively will be equally important. If you wish to learn more about the role or if you are unsure about whether to apply, we encourage you to contact our recruitment team.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

Please submit your CV and Supporting Statement through the recruitment portal. When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work. If you require any support to apply for this role, please email us.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

Head of Children and Young People’s Counselling and Wellbeing Services

Do you want a rewarding and influential role where your success directly contributes to the protection and growth of support services for children and young people subjected to sexual violence and abuse?

This is an opportunity for an experienced and relational leader to oversee the counselling service at exciting time, ensuring the charity maintain the recent period of growth and continue to support survivors through specialist, trauma-informed services.

Stand with survivors and challenge victim-blaming attitudes.

Position: Head of Children and Young People’s Counselling and Wellbeing Services

Location: Birmingham/hybrid

Hours: 38 hours a week (full time). Hours to be negotiated (flexible working available)

Salary: £37,261 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 23rd April 2024. However, shortlisting will be taking place on a rolling basis so we advise applying as early as possible.

The Role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join the leadership team of a specialist charity for children and adults subjected to sexual violence and sexual abuse. You will be responsible for supporting the Chief Executive in meeting strategic objectives surrounding the provision of compassionate, timely and trauma-informed CYP counselling and wellbeing support; establishing and nurturing supportive relationships with partner CYP organisations; supporting the team in collective care to grow, flourish and develop in their roles and continue leading the charity as a reflective and responsive organisation. Your role will also involve impact and evaluation, communications and operations.

You will lead in the safe delivery, strategic direction and development of the trauma-informed CYP counselling and wellbeing services. You will support the Chief Executive and work closely with Heads of Services to implement the strategic direction of the organisation, manage operations, strengthen sustainability and to continuously improve the effectiveness and impact for the CYP we support.

This position offers an established role in a leading specialist rape and sexual abuse support charity and value-led, relational and strategic service provision to help the charity achieve the CYP service mission

About You

You will be a experienced and relational leader with the ability to oversee the counselling service, with previous experience of shaping trauma-informed CYP services, therapeutically supporting CYP and leading individuals with a relational approach, this role could be for you. You will also need to show how you will live the charity’s big-hearted, bold, believing and trauma-informed values through this role. 

About the Organisation

Join an award winning, long established and well-respected specialist charity supporting children and adults of all genders following rape, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. A vibrant, growing organisation that believes survivors. If you are big hearted, can the empathy that survivors deserve and need… then we would love to hear from you!

Benefits include:

• Wellbeing support and resources
• Training opportunities and access to specialist resources
• Pension
• Mileage allowance
• Hybrid working
• Time off in lieu (TOIL)
• Awards and recognition
• 35 days annual leave, with it increasing with length of service: after 5 years’ service, it increases from 35 days to 36 days.

The charity is committed to equality and valuing diversity. This includes a commitment within the recruitment and selection processes, applications are welcome from across the community, especially applicants with a protected characteristic to join a bold, believing and big-hearted team.

We also welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of sexual trauma who also meet the person specification, so everyone can work together, engage and amplify survivors’ voices throughout all the work.

You may also have experience in areas such as Counselling, Counsellor, Lead Counsellor, Head Counsellor, Counselling Manager, Director of Counselling Services, Counselling Service Manager, Head of Service, Service Manager.

Should you hear nothing from by 30th April 2024, you may assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Clinical Supervisor

Permanent

Part-time 17.25 hours scheduled over a 7 day period Sunday to Monday, including occasional Bank Holidays

Home Based

£27,846 (based on 17.25 hours per week)

About us

At Macmillan you'll find talented people working together to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. We're going all out to find even better ways to help even more people who need our support. Our values are at the heart of who we are and everything we do, inspiring our thinking and guiding our actions.

About the role

In this role, you will offer clinical supervision to the Macmillan Support Line teams including advisers, nurses, line managers, service knowledge specialists and other groups and individuals as needed. As part of their continuing professional development, you will enable colleagues to reflect on their practice in supporting people affected by cancer while maintaining their own wellbeing.

You will be part of a team of 3 part-time clinical supervisors and will be given opportunities to feedback on recurrent themes to the organisation. You will learn about organisational wellbeing and be a key part of a team capable of working in an emotionally challenging, fast paced, live contact centre environment.

You will be running regular small group supervision sessions (approximately 3 per day) for 1hr 15’ each, managing a caseload of approximately 25 groups monthly. You will also offer individual supervision where needed.

About you

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• You must hold one of the following qualifications: Clinical Supervision Level 6 or above; accredited Counsellor or Psychotherapist (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, UK Council for Psychotherapy, Health Professionals Council)
• Your experience of delivering both 1-1 and group supervision virtually will be essential
• Experience of delivering supervision to colleagues who provide a live, frontline, fast paced health related service is desirable

In return, we offer a range of benefits including:

• 25 days holiday plus flexible bank holiday options, increasing by 1 day every year of service up to 30 days
• Pension matched up to 7.5%
• 120+ learning and development offers, with access to external professional qualifications
• Holiday buying and selling scheme, life insurance, free wills, retail discounts and much more

Recruitment Process

Application deadline: Sunday 28th April 2024

First interview dates: May 2024

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed.

A little about us

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Senior Management Team of a dynamic and growing children’s charity as Head of Marketing and Communications. 

Our mission is to bring hope and positive change to children and families.  To achieve this we deliver a range of services.  The Catholic Children’s Society (CCS) is one of the largest providers of mental health services to schools in London and the Southeast.  Currently we have over 50 counsellors/therapists working on-site in approximately 70 schools (both Catholic and non-Catholic).  We also provide outstanding early years education and family support, including offering emergency assistance for families in crisis. 

Our values

We work with children and families of all faiths and none; our sole aim is to help those in greatest need so they can overcome the challenges they face, achieve their potential and have better chances in life.  Our work is underpinned by our core values of integrity, compassion, inclusion and partnership.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to spearhead the growth of our successful services, ensuring more children and families can access the support they need.

This role will include a key focus on developing an effective marketing strategy to increase the number of schools accessing our early intervention mental health services.  At a time when school budgets are under considerable pressure, the ideal candidate will be positive, proactive and results driven.  They will be passionate about children’s mental health and education, as well as articulate and persuasive when presenting the case for why our services are needed now more than ever.

The postholder will thrive on achieving challenging targets and will lead on enhancing our profile across a range of media platforms.  A strong marketing and/or sales background will therefore be important, together with a proven track record of successfully driving forward strong business growth (gained in the voluntary, public or private sectors). 

The ideal candidate will be adept at working at both a strategic and operational level and will be happy to be ‘hands on’ and flexible to succeed in this varied and rewarding role. 

This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role promoting and developing our vital services, ultimately giving thousands of disadvantaged children and families the opportunity to transform their lives and have real hope for the future.

What you get in return

The successful candidate will receive an excellent package including:

• Generous annual leave allowance of 35 days p.a. (plus bank holidays).
• 11% employer pension contribution.
• Hybrid working options.
• Access to a staff Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme 
• The opportunity to wake up each morning and feel you are making a positive difference!

Location: Lovely office at 73 St Charles Square, London. W10 6EJ (private off-street parking is available for staff). Hybrid working option are available, with the expectation staff attend the office at least two or three days per week.

Deadline for applicants: Monday 22nd April, 9am 

Interviews: Week commencing 29th April  

Pete’s Dragons is an award-winning charity which provides post-vention support to those affected by suicide.

As the Charity continues to grow we need to increase the number of Suicide Bereavement Specialists who provide the Charity's post-vention offering at our Plymouth office.

Job Summary

The role of the Suicide Bereavement Specialist is to provide a proactive and timely community-based support to individuals, families, groups and/or communities who have experienced a suicide loss.

The hours for this role are flexible, with 22.5 hours/week being the minimum.

*Please note: Ability to travel is an essential part of this role.

Main duties

Support

Offer a sensitive, compassionate and needs-led service to individuals, families, groups or communities affected or bereaved by suicide.

Offer rapid response (within 48 hours), information and support to individuals, families, groups or communities who have been bereaved by suicide, in their home or other agreed settings, and follow with ongoing practical and emotional support; mainly through non-clinical interventions that promote coping and resilience so our beneficiaries can face and overcome their traumatic bereavement.

Exercise good judgement in assessing each case and establishing the most appropriate steps for ongoing support, signposting or onward referral.

Co-ordinate where necessary, a safeguarding response in line with local practices and services to ensure that an individual is safe and has an organised package of care to ensure they survive their crisis in the most helpful manner for them.

Produce an area-specific suicide bereavement resources pack to include all relevant information on support services and processes following a suicide death.

Develop strong relationships with key agencies and first responders in the area to establish ways to connect bereaved individuals in a timely and helpful manner (e.g. police, emergency services, clergy, child services, coroners, funeral directors).

Contribute to critical incident responses where appropriate and take an active role where possible.

Assist with the early identification of potential suicide connected deaths and liaise with the Pete’s Dragons suicide surveillance team and appropriate stakeholders and relevant agencies, to ensure timely and appropriate coordinated responses.

Undertake collaborative multidisciplinary work to uphold safety and support for the communities of need (e.g. working with school staff, mental health staff, peers, or family members) to ensure they are contained by well-informed communities.

Administration

Work internally with the Senior Management Team, suicide bereavement colleagues, placement counsellors and therapists and in conjunction with external agencies to ensure parity of service across the whole of the County of Devon.

Maintain timely administrative updates on the Pete’s Dragons’ case management system.

Maintain an effective and efficient diary of appointments.

Participate in the implementation and promotion of the Devon Suicide Prevention Implementation Plan and understand how the role of both the Suicide Bereavement Specialist and Pete’s Dragons fits within it.

Contribute to training/awareness raising in suicide bereavement.

Gather and report on all qualitative and quantitative data required in relation to monthly activities and casework.

Adhere to all Pete’s Dragons’ policies and procedures and ensure security and confidentiality of all related data.

Attributes

Willing to take personal responsibility for delivering high quality results.

Flexible in approach and able to work on own initiative with minimum supervision, prioritising time and workload appropriately.

Able to take an active role in community engagement in the main geographical area of operation in awareness and fundraising.

Passionate about promoting and maintaining the ethos of Pete’s Dragons which is rooted in compassion, care and hope.

The closing date for this role is 26th April 2024

Main purpose of job: To lead and develop CARA, taking overall responsibility for the operational and financial management, generating income, working closely with the board of trustees to achieve CARA’s strategic and budgetary aims, whilst ensuring compliance with statutory, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

Start date: To be agreed with the appointed candidate (subject to Enhanced DBS Check and satisfactory references).

Salary: £55,000 - £60,000

Hours: Your hours of work are as required to perform the duties of your role, for a full-time employee this is normally 35 hours per week. 

Contract: Permanent

Place of work: At least two days a week in the Colchester office, with some home working, regular travel across Essex and occasional travel in the East Region.

Holiday: 25 days per year pro-rata, plus additional closure days between Christmas and New Year.

To apply: Please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from our website, explaining how your skills and experience relate to the person specification.

Application deadline:  10am, Thursday 16th May 2024.

Interviews:  Tuesday 4th June, in Colchester.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Job Description

The post of Chief Executive Officer offers an exciting opportunity to steer CARA through the next stage of its development, providing leadership to the talented and committed CARA team. The role will involve building on the considerable growth and development that CARA has achieved over the last 10 years, securing funding to ensure it can continue to provide excellent specialist services to survivors of sexual violence and take steps towards CARA's vision of a world without sexual violence and child sexual abuse.

CARA’s CEO is responsible for leading and developing CARA, taking overall responsibility for the operational and financial management, generating income, working closely with the board of trustees to achieve CARA’s strategic and budgetary aims, whilst ensuring compliance with statutory, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

The main responsibilities of the CEO are:

Strategic leadership

·Work with the Board of Trustees and the Head of Operations, and consult with staff, survivors, and others, to develop and define a clear, strong vision and direction for the future of the organisation.

·Lead on and be responsible for the creation, ongoing development and implementation of the organisation’s strategic, business and annual plans.

·Foster, model and promote an inclusive, feminist, anti-racist organisational culture that reflects CARA’s ethos and values.

·Be accountable to the Board of Trustees for the overall financial health of the organisation.

Good governance

·Report and present to the Board of Trustees on the organisation’s progress against its budgets, plans, any risks, challenges and changes, and all information relevant and necessary to the effective discharge of the Board’s duties, including strategic decision-making.

·Develop and share proposals with the Board for the implementation of its objectives and the ongoing development of the organisation.

·Support the Board of Trustees in its ongoing process of self-assessment, development and improving its diversity and representation.

·Ensure the charity meets its constitutional, regulatory and legal obligations.

Business development

·Develop and implement an income generation strategy that ensures the organisation’s sustainability and enables its sustainable growth.

·Work in partnership with the Head of Operations to develop and implement the organisational structures needed for effective delivery of CARA’s objectives and sustainable growth.

·Generate new and various funding and income opportunities through networking, developing partnerships.

• To research and identify new funding and commissioning opportunities and complete bids and applications on an ongoing basis.

·Increase the unrestricted income of the charity, including developing, proposing and implementing new and innovative approaches to its income generation activities, including working closely with the CEO of Icena.

·Be responsible for maintaining and developing strong, long-term relationships with a diverse range funders and donors, both existing and new.

Representation

• To act as lead representative for CARA in the Synergy Essex Rape Crisis Partnership, developing strong working relationships with the other partners and negotiating CARA’s role, responsibilities and the financial allocations it receives from the partnership. 
• To keep up-to-date with current developments affecting victims and survivors of sexual violence and ensure that CARA responds appropriately to these developments.
• To be the chief spokeswoman for CARA, responding to media and other enquiries as appropriate and playing a pro-active role in bringing relevant issues to the attention of the public, issuing press releases and initiating debate, as appropriate.
• Build, support and oversee strong relationships with individuals and organisations across the voluntary, public and private sectors, and in local and national government.
• To contribute to Rape Crisis England and Wales campaigns and other campaigns, as appropriate.
• To remain informed of national and regional Rape Crisis perspectives, drawing on Rape Crisis England and Wales expertise and resources as appropriate.

Organisational management

·Ensure policies and processes that support good communication, staff health and well-being, and safe and effective delivery of work are in place and adhered to throughout the organisation.

·Take overall responsibility for the staff team, its management and performance.

·Capture the organisation’s work through robust monitoring and evaluation, and ensure CARA’s impact and any learning is shared throughout the team and with the Board, survivors, funders and other partners as appropriate.

·Oversee and ensure robust financial management processes for the charity.

Other

·To oversee safeguarding at CARA, working with the Designated Safeguarding Leads to ensure effective policies and procedures are in place and communicated to staff, trustees, sessional counsellors and volunteers, and that CARA follows best safeguarding practice.

·To adhere to all CARA’s organisational policies and procedures.

·To be administratively self-servicing, and to share responsibility for a range of day-to-day tasks with the Head of Operations and other team members.

·To undertake other related activities as required by Board of Trustees.

This list is indicative only, not exhaustive. It is intended to reflect a range of duties the post-holder will be expected to perform but additional duties commensurate with the role may be required. The job description will be reviewed from time to time and may change in light of experience and changing circumstances, in consultation with the post-holder.

About CARA

CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs. 

CARA's vision is of a world without sexual violence and child sexual abuse.  As a step towards this vision, we do all we can to create a culture where victims and survivors are believed, supported and treated with fairness and respect.

CARA is a registered charity working with adults, young people and children from across mid and north Essex.  We have a head office in Colchester and outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich. We also provide remote services.

CARA currently employs 39 full and part-time staff and has an annual income of approximately £1.6 million.

CARA's Aims

1. To provide high quality, specialist support to victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse.

2. To increase awareness and understanding of sexual violence and child sexual abuse and the impact they have on victims and survivors, challenging myths and misconceptions.

3. To promote and represent the rights and needs of victims and survivors, including advocating for a fairer criminal justice system.

CARA's Values

Feminism.  Respect.  Empowerment.  Equality

CARA is a women-led organisation and we work from an intersectional feminist perspective.  We actively seek to ensure equality of women as a service provider and as an employer.

The core values of respect, empowerment and equality underpin everything we do.

CARA's commitment to diversity and inclusion

CARA seeks to be an inclusive organisation that actively encourages, supports and values diversity amongst both our service-users and our workers.  We wish to create a culture in which discrimination, in all its forms, is recognised and addressed. CARA is committed to anti-racism and are currently developing an Anti-racism Policy. Through this work, we will be aiming to dismantle barriers within CARA to ensure we do not continue to perpetuate institutional racism and can create a truly inclusive environment for our service-users and our workers.

You can read more about CARA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion here.

We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

About Synergy Essex

CARA is part of Synergy Essex – the Essex Rape and Sexual Abuse Partnership. We work with SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis) to deliver the contract for the Office for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex for services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse across Essex, Southend and Thurrock. Synergy Essex also shares a number of other projects, funded by the Ministry of Justice, Essex County Council and the National Lottery Community Fund.

Our current PFCC contract ends in March 2025.  Synergy Essex intends to submit a bid for the new contract, which is expected to be put out to tender in the summer of 2024.

About Icena

CARA is a founding stakeholder of Icena - a social enterprise offering training and consultancy to eradicate sexual discrimination and violence.  The creation of Icena forms part of CARA’s sustainability strategy:  Once Icena is generating sufficient profit, a share of this profit will be used to support CARA’s work.