Counselling Manager

Location: Salford
Salary: £36,000 - £40,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

About the Role

We are recruiting for a Counselling Manager to join an established Employee Assistance and mental health service in Salford.

This is an opportunity to lead and support a team of professional counsellors within a busy EAP environment, combining people management with clinical and safeguarding oversight.

The service supports employees and their families across a wide range of mental health and wellbeing concerns. Presentations can range from anxiety, depression and bereavement through to trauma, suicidal ideation, safeguarding concerns and complex risk.

The role would suit an experienced Counselling Supervisor, Senior Counsellor or Clinical Lead looking to progress into management. We are also open to candidates with previous people-management experience in another sector, as strong leadership and management skills can be highly transferable.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and support a team of counsellors.
• Provide clinical, safeguarding and risk oversight.
• Support counsellors with complex and high-risk presentations.
• Monitor team performance, KPIs and quality standards.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews and development conversations.
• Support with absence, capability and performance management.
• Ensure appropriate risk assessment, safeguarding and escalation procedures are followed.
• Promote a positive, supportive and accountable team culture.
• Work closely with senior management and wider clinical teams.
• Contribute to service development and improvement initiatives.

Working Hours

The role is predominantly Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, with:

• One weekday working 12pm-8pm
• Occasional weekend cover

About You

You will ideally have:

• A recognised counselling or psychotherapy qualification.
• Professional membership with BACP, NCPS or an equivalent professional body.
• Previous experience within counselling, mental health, EAP or a related environment.
• Experience in supervision, team leadership, clinical leadership or people management.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding and risk management.
• Experience supporting complex or high-risk presentations.
• Confidence managing performance, KPIs and difficult conversations.
• Strong communication, decision-making and organisational skills.
• The ability to balance clinical quality, team wellbeing and operational requirements.

Management experience does not have to have been gained within counselling. Candidates with previous team management experience in sectors such as retail, hospitality, customer service or other corporate environments may also be considered where the skills are transferable.

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £36,000 - £40,000
• Contribution towards professional supervision
• Professional body membership support
• Access to CPD and ongoing professional development
• Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays
• Birthday leave
• Pension scheme
• Life insurance
• Employee wellbeing support

Why Apply?

This is a great opportunity for a counselling professional ready to move into management, offering the chance to lead an established team within a large-scale EAP service.

You will have the opportunity to develop your leadership experience while remaining closely connected to clinical practice, supporting counsellors with complex presentations and contributing to the wider delivery of a high-quality mental health service.