Senior Counsellor, Addiction Support & Clinical Lead

WhereToTalk; England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

Waythrough is seeking a Lead Counsellor to oversee the counselling service across Dorset, ensuring high-quality, client-centred therapeutic support from assessment to intervention.

You will provide clinical leadership, support counsellors, and uphold safeguarding and quality standards within the HAGA/STAND partnership, delivering compassionate care across services.

Working across our Dorset sites, you will ensure safe pathways and continuous improvement of therapy provision for residents in need.

Qualifications

• PGDip (or equivalent) in counselling or psychotherapy.
• Direct, face-to-face client experience in substance use or mental health settings.
• Experience supervising other therapists.
• Registered with PSA-accredited body (e.g., BACP, UKCP).
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and confident clinical decision-making.
• Excellent communication, organisational and casemanagement skills.
• Commitment to high-quality, person-centred therapeutic services.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership for the counselling function and safe therapy delivery.
• Recruit, supervise and support counsellors and trainees.
• Offer expert guidance on high-risk cases and escalation.
• Oversee assessment and referral processes for timely pathways.
• Lead on quality assurance: monitoring, feedback and audits.
• Review and maintain clinical notes in line with policies.
• Update policies and safeguarding practices as needed.
• Collaborate with external agencies to coordinate client care.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Face-to-face counselling

Clinical supervision

PSA registration

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication & casemanagement

Education

PGDip in counselling/psychotherapy

Job description

Waythrough is seeking a Lead Counsellor to oversee the counselling service across Dorset, ensuring high-quality, client-centred therapeutic support from assessment to intervention.

You will provide clinical leadership, support counsellors, and uphold safeguarding and quality standards within the HAGA/STAND partnership, delivering compassionate care across services.

Working across our Dorset sites, you will ensure safe pathways and continuous improvement of therapy provision for residents in need.