Job Description

Job Title:

Head of Clinical Services

Reports to:

Director of Operations

Salary:

40k per annum (pro rata)

Working Pattern:

Part-Time, 8- 12 hours per week (flexible)

Location:

Hybrid- Littlehampton, West Sussex

Closing Date:

Midnight, Monday 6th October 2025

Purpose:

Responsible for all Arun Counselling Centre's clinical matters and overseeing the 32 Counsellors, split across 8 Supervision Groups. This includes taking decisions regarding the ethical operation of the charity in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework. This role is the most senior Clinical role in the organisation.

Main duties and Responsibilities:

Manage and chair a meeting with supervisors monthly to offer clinical supervision of their work and the work of their counsellors.

Work closely with the counsellors, assessors and supervisors to ensure that work with clients is highly professional and ethically sound.

Manage the assessors to include training, monthly meetings for review, approval and grading of assessments and clinical supervision on an open-door policy.

To be available to supervisors to help with queries and anxieties about any aspect of their work on an open-door policy.

Act as the Clinical Lead for BACP, including leading on the annual accreditation process and rolling reviews.

Implement policy decisions with the support of the Director of Operations.

Oversee the recruitment and onboarding of new Supervisors, Assessors and Counsellors.

Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead for the organisation, including managing the safeguarding risk assessment and registration process.

Liaise with the training organisations for the recruitment of supervisors and counsellors.

Manage service user complaints, liaising with the Director at all times.

Organise CPD events for both staff and the Friends of Arun service (FAS) with support from the Director. FAS provides CPD training on Saturdays to ACC alumni and interested counsellors.

Networking with partners deemed to be of strategic importance with regard to improving and increasing the Clinical service offering.

Lead and maintain high standards of quality & compliance using Cliniko.

To stand in for the Director of Operations when required.

To promote a positive culture, focused on wellbeing and collaboration, across the centre for all staff.

To positively represent the organisation internally and externally, including at the attendance of engagement and networking events, as required.

Other:

Ensure that you work to the Arun Counselling Centre vision, values, objectives, priorities, and are strongly committed to them.

Ensure individual expertise and subject area knowledge is up to date through Continuous Personal Development, including sharing good practice, engaging with training, and acquiring / maintaining any individual qualifications required for the role.

To undertake any further training as identified in the Arun Counselling Centre review procedures.

Ensure that safe working practices are followed in respect of COSHH and other Risk Assessment control measures.

Employees must comply with the provisions of 'The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974' and must take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions whilst at work. Employees are also required to co-operate with their employer to enable them to perform or comply with any statutory provisions.

To understand, comply with and promote Arun Counselling Centre's safeguarding policy and procedures. It is the responsibility of all employees to make the working environment safe and secure for all. Everyone must adhere to the 5 Rs in relation to possible abuse: Recognition, Response, Reporting, Recording and Referral.

Compliance with the Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

To maintain confidentiality about clients, staff and other sensitive business. The work is of a confidential nature and information gained must not be communicated to other persons except in the recognised course of duty. The post holder must meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act at all times.

To maintain awareness of risk and to take personal responsibility for ensuring that the organisation is not unnecessarily exposed to risk. To report any issues or concerns relating to risk and the effectiveness of the risk management arrangements.

Recycle and manage energy within your role and environment.

This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only. The post holder will need to be flexible in developing the role in conjunction with the line manager. The post holder may be asked to carry out any other delegated duty or task that is in line with their post.

Person Specification

Job Title: Head of Clinical Services

(E= Essential D= Desirable)

Technical competency (qualifications and training)

BACP accredited or working toward accreditation.

(E)

Demonstrable evidence of Continuing Professional Development

(E)

Supervision qualification

(D)

Experience

A minimum of three years' Supervision experience

(E)

Previous experience of having been Clinical Lead for a Counselling Service

(E)

Previous experience using Cliniko or similar CRM type systems

(D)

Skills and Attributes

Strong understanding of BACP accreditation process and ethical framework

(E)

Excellent and proven people management skills, ability to lead, taking a supportive and open approach with the ability to motivate and inspire

(E)

Able to work effectively within a team, as well as on own initiative

(E)

Able to interpret requirements, plan and implement

(E)

Ability to analyse client data, and make decisions as a result

(E)

Experience of working in a changing business environment, autonomously and the ability to work to deadlines and meet targets

(E)

Personal qualities, communicating and relating to others

Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, competent in use of IT including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

(E)

Organised, with strong planning, performance and compliance management skills

(E)

Flexible, adaptable, innovative, copes well in a rapidly changing environment

(E)

Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills

(E)

Self-motivated, manage workload effectively, ensuring attention to detail with the ability to meet strict deadlines

(E)

Demonstrated capability for problem solving, decision making, sound judgement and assertiveness

(E)

Strive to improve practice to be creative and innovative and work towards continuous improvement.

(E)

Adopt a co-operative approach to delivery by maintaining and promoting effective communication, sharing good practice across the organisation and externally.

(E)

Relationship management - develop and maintain productive relationships with your Team, Management, Clients, Partners, delivery partners and all key stakeholders.

(E)

Safeguarding

Be able to display awareness, understanding and commitment to the protection and safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults.

(E)

This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service Check at a Basic Level

(E)

Other

Understand and be able to demonstrate a commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.

(E)

Able to monitor and maintain records in accordance with GDPR legislation

(D)

Working knowledge of H&S legislation and employment law

(D)

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a sufficient number of applicants are received before the given closing date.

To apply for this role please email your CV together with a covering letter to james.davies@aruncounselling.com.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 40,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 8 - 12 per week

Benefits:

Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in West Sussex BN17 5JG