Services Manager

Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) is seeking to employ an effective and experienced Services Manager who will join a unique independent mental health charity and company limited by guarantee, acknowledged for its contribution to the community by mental health professionals, health practitioners, and local and regional voluntary and statutory agencies.

SCS provides a range of services across the North East region offering psychological therapies including counselling and cognitive behavioural therapies to children and adults, as well as access to wrap-around support to help support people with mental health concerns.

The post holder will hold specific identified managerial responsibilities within the services delivered by Sunderland Counselling Service and deputise for the Head of Services where required.

They will work closely within a skilled operational and clinical management team and, along with the Head of Services and another Services Manager, will co-ordinate the delivery, monitoring, and staff support and leadership across the organisation.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will hold operational responsibility for elements of the adult counselling services delivered by Sunderland Counselling Service. They will support the coordination of specific operational matters relating to our provision of counselling and therapeutic services, including marketing, premises, health and safety, IT systems, and human resources. They will ensure that any operational issues relating to volunteer counsellors within the organisation are managed appropriately. They will liaise closely with other members of Sunderland Counselling Service Senior Management Team to help support recruitment, training, management, and supervision of volunteer and salaried counsellors.

We are looking for somebody who has experience of leading and motivating teams of people, including providing effective line management and leading and delivering HR support to staff members, who has knowledge of talking therapies, and has the ability to lead and motivate others to achieve excellence. Applicants must have a suitable and relevant qualification in leadership/management and leadership experience within services which are customer-facing and customer-focused.

About us

SCS offers services across the North East area and works closely with a range of partner agencies including NHS partners, local charities, and community groups, meaning it is likely no two days in this post will be the same.

We are forward-thinking and keen to develop and support those who work or volunteer with us, including the Services Manager role. In turn, the post holder will help shape how our teams and services grow for the benefit of those who work for and those who access SCS.

As an employee of SCS, the new Services Manager will receive a salary comparable to a mid-point band 7 AfC salary (£48,526) whilst working within the flexibility of the voluntary sector. They will be entitled to a range of SCS employee benefits including 30 days annual leave plus a pro-rata bank holiday entitlement, generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave, pension scheme, and access to our free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Bike2Work Scheme, and critical illness cover.

The post holder will also be supported by regular line management provided by the service, training, and personal development opportunities.

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description attached to this advert for more information regarding this post.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of leading and motivating teams of people.
• Experience of providing line management to staff members.
• Leadership experience within services which are customer-facing and customer-focused.
• Experience of working with complex databases and record management systems.
• Experience of working in a service with agreed targets in place demonstrating activity levels and outcomes.
• Experience of leading formal HR processes.
• Experience of effectively managing customer-facing services.
• Experience of working with people with common mental health problems.
• Experience of working in a Primary Care Mental Health setting.
• Experience of working in a 3rd Sector setting.
• Experience of managing premises.
• Experience of partnership working.
• Experience of marketing/promotion/use of social media.

Attributes

• A clear understanding of, and willingness to acknowledge and adhere to, the service philosophy.
• Working in accordance with the service standards of practice and BACP Ethical Framework, identifying and raising ethical concerns relevant to the organisation.
• Ability to challenge poor practice and identify and work to best practice standards.
• Full clean driving license and use of car.
• Willingness to contribute to and assist in the development of strategies that will make the service provision accessible to all clients through centre-based and outreach work.
• Commitment to and experience of working with multi-agency partnerships.

Qualifications

• Qualified to Degree level.
• Suitable and relevant leadership/management qualification.
• Masters in Business Administration.
• Teaching/training qualification.
• Training in health & safety and risk assessment.
• Training in human resources, equal opportunities, equality & diversity.

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of counselling and talking therapies.
• Knowledge and understanding of the context of Talking Therapies stepped care.
• Knowledge and understanding of human resources procedures.
• Knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities, equality & diversity.
• Knowledge and understanding of organisational cultures and contexts.
• Knowledge and understanding of health and safety requirements in the delivery of services.
• Knowledge of NHS policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Knowledge and experience of using commercially available client record systems e.g. IAPTus.
• Knowledge and understanding of health and safety legislation.
• Knowledge and understanding of risk assessment processes.

Skills

• Ability to use databases, reports, and other sources of information to analyse performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
• The ability to lead and motivate others to achieve excellence.
• Ability to manage self.
• Ability to handle others' emotions without becoming personally involved in them.
• Ability to identify own learning and development needs.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Able to communicate clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing.
• Excellent IT skills, including word processing and database packages.
• Excellent organisational skills including diary management and effective administrative systems.
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team.
• Ability to work in an unsupervised area and share information where appropriate, with the relevant personnel.
• Ability to carry out a range of evaluation and monitoring techniques.
• Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of services and interventions at an individual and project level.
• Ability to produce high-quality written reports for a range of audiences.
• Ability to liaise and network with a wide range of organisations and members of the public.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£48,526 a year Comparable to mid-point band 7 (AfC)