Lead counsellor jobs in Edinburgh

Role Purpose

As part of the Clinical Services leadership team, the Adult Team Manager provides operational oversight, line management, and clinical leadership to a multidisciplinary team delivering bereavement support to adults after the death of a child. The post holder ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality, and evidence-informed therapeutic support that is in line with organisational standards and clinical governance frameworks. They maintain a small caseload to ensure continued practice relevance and lead by example through high quality therapeutic work. The role balances hands-on leadership with operational management, contributing to service development, outcome measurement and quality improvement under the direction of the Head of Clinical Services.

Main Responsibilities

Operational and Team Management

· Oversee the daily operations of the adult bereavement service, ensuring effective coordination, delivery, and monitoring of therapeutic interventions

· Provide regular line management to counsellors and practitioners, supporting professional growth, wellbeing, and accountability

· Contribute to the safe and effective clinical triage of all referrals, informed by individualised needs, evidence-based practice and ensuring decisions align with clinical governance, safeguarding and risk, and recognised best practice standards

· Support in the allocation and management of team caseloads, ensuring referrals are prioritised and distributed appropriately to meet clinical need

· Monitor team performance, service activity, and adherence to quality standards and policies

· Support recruitment, induction, and development of new team members, modelling the organisation’s values and culture

· Foster a supportive, cohesive team culture driven by compassion, accountability and inclusion

· Work collaboratively with the Head of Clinical Services to identify service gaps, pressures, risks, and staffing needs, proposing solutions and adjustments as required

Clinical Leadership

· Provide clinical leadership and guidance to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-informed interventions

· Maintain a personal caseload of complex cases, modelling best practice and demonstrating clinical credibility

· Lead group peer supervision sessions and promote an environment of continual learning and professional growth

· Support risk assessment, management, and escalation processes, ensuring that safeguarding and ethical practice are consistently applied

· Offer consultation and advice to bereavement specialists, counsellors, volunteers on complex bereavement and trauma presentations

· Ensure staff receive appropriate clinical supervision in accordance with organisational guidelines

Service Delivery and Quality

· Oversee consistent delivery of individual, couple, group, and workshop bereavement support in line with agreed frameworks

· Ensure effective use of outcome measures and client feedback to assess impact, promote clinical reflection, and inform continuous improvement

· Contribute to the monitoring and auditing of service quality

· Contribute to the development and implementation of new models of care, services, resources, and practice improvement initiatives

· Support compliance with relevant legislation, safeguarding standards, and regulatory frameworks

Communication and Relationships

· Communicate effectively and sensitively within the organisation and with external professionals, including health and mental health services such as CMHTs and GPs

· Convey complex and emotionally sensitive information with clarity, empathy, and professionalism

· Manage interactions with individuals or groups who may be distressed or emotionally impacted by information shared

· Develop and maintain strong, positive working relationships with colleagues and peers to promote effective teamwork and collaboration

· Model organisational values and behaviours, demonstrating respect, compassion, and integrity in all communication and relationships

Knowledge, Training and Experience

· Undertake therapeutic assessments and interventions with adults in line with evidence-based and best practice approaches

· Complete comprehensive assessments, including risk assessments, and determine appropriate levels of intervention and response

· Ensure all practice meets professional standards and complies with relevant codes of conduct and national guidance

· Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current research, evidence-based practice, and developments in bereavement and trauma-informed care

· Engage in continuous professional development and maintain an active professional portfolio in line with professional body requirements

· Demonstrate knowledge and compliance with organisational policies, procedures, and safeguarding legislation, including Safeguarding Children and Adults and the Mental Capacity Act

· Provide guidance, supervision, and support to volunteers individually or in groups as required

Analytical and Judgement Skills

· Apply sound professional judgment and analytical skills to assess needs, plan interventions, and evaluate outcomes in accordance with best-practice frameworks

· Participate actively in team meetings to plan, review, and evaluate care strategies and approaches

· Ensure the accurate and timely recording of data and information to support monitoring, evaluation, and service development

· Contribute to the collection, analysis and reporting of outcome measures to support quality assurance, demonstrate

Person Specification

Education/Professional Qualification

Essential

· MA/MSc or Postgraduate Degree (minimum Level 6 or equivalent) in Counselling, Psychotherapy, Arts Therapy

· Registration with a professional body (ie. NCPS, HCPC, UKCP, BACP, BAAT, etc)

· Evidence of continuing professional development

· Training in safeguarding children and adults at risk (Level 3 minimum)

Desirable

· Additional training in clinical leadership

· Certificate/diploma in supervision

· Dual qualification (social work and counselling/psychotherapy)

· BACP accreditation or eligible for BACP accreditation

Skills and Experience

Essential

· Strong clinical leadership skills with the ability to support, motivate and develop others

· A strong understanding and knowledge of relevant psychological theories, therapeutic interventions, and models of grief work for adults, especially those bereaved of a child

· Able to make clear psychosocial assessments and managing complex emotional and mental health needs, risk, and safeguarding

· Evidence of working in a psychological framework with adults who have experienced common mental health problems (ie. anxiety and depression)

· Very strong assessment, formulation and planning skills within a therapeutic context

· Experience of triaging cases based on evidence and clinical need with the ability to make sound clinical judgements and risk assessments

· Significant experience of working therapeutically with adults who experience trauma and significant emotional distress

· Experience of using outcome measures, feedback tools and data to evaluate effectiveness and impact of interventions

· Ability to oversee operational delivery, managing clinical and management responsibilities

· Experience of safeguarding decision-making and managing complex cases involving risk

Desirable

· Experience in line management and clinical supervision within a therapeutic or mental health environment

Knowledge and Understanding

· In-depth understanding of the psychological impact of bereavement, trauma, and loss following the death of a child

· In-depth knowledge and understanding of relevant psychological theories, therapeutic interventions, and models of grief work

· Knowledge of therapeutic models and interventions relevant to adult trauma and grief

· Strong understanding of risk assessment and management, safeguarding legislation and frameworks and ethics in practice

· In-depth knowledge of evidence-based models of counselling and therapeutic interventions including creative and systemic approaches

· Proven ability to design, deliver and adapt psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions effectively through digital platforms, maintaining therapeutic alliance, safety, and impact when working remotely with adults

· Strong understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion relevant to bereavement and mental health

· Knowledge of service outcomes, quality standards, and measurement systems

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 9th July 2026 at midnight

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

Interviews

First Stage Screening Interviews

You may be asked to attend a 10-minute Screening Interview on MS Teams with the Hiring Managers for the vacancy, to assess your suitability for the role. During the interview, you will be asked two skills-based questions.

Second Stage Interviews

If you are progressed to a second stage interview, you will be invited to attend a 1-hour formal interview on MS Teams with the Hiring Managers for the role. It is our policy to share the role-specific interview questions with applicants ahead of the interview, to aid their preparation. You may also be asked to complete an interview task, which will also be shared with you in advance.

For further information please see the Recruitment Pack for this role.