Hours: 28 hrs over 4 days (to include up to 2 evenings)
Salary: £36,562 - £39,370 (to be calculated pro-rata to hours worked, based on FTE of 37.5 hours)
Location: Across Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire where required (with potential for some hybrid working)
Holidays: 26 days plus statutory holidays per annum (to be calculated pro rata to hours worked)
Reports to: Counselling Service Manager
Job Overview
To co-ordinate the delivery and growth of the Placement Counselling Service to ensure compassionate, safe, effective, and efficient delivery of high-quality care of clients through Volunteer/student counselling provision. Work with the Counselling Manager to ensure that the Placement Counselling provision meets contractual obligations and requirements.
Duties
Management and Leadership
* Co-ordinate the day to day running; development and future planning of the Placement Counselling service that Axis provides directly to clients within the Placement Counselling Service, ensuring an equitable, pro-activate and safe service.
* Screen, recruit, induct, support, and line manage placement counsellors, promoting best practice and the mission, vision, and values of Axis.
* Forge relationships/develop partnerships with academic stakeholders to promote the service. Ensure service meets individual student placement criteria; providing Student assessments, feedback and evaluation as required. Attending meetings as required.
* Keep individual Placement Counsellors/Volunteer Counsellors HR records up to date on HR system
* Responsible for ensuring adequate supervision of Volunteer/Student counsellors, and internal clinical Supervisors. Ensuring that all Volunteer/Student Placement counsellors and Supervisor's follow the Organisation's administration systems and internal methods of work.
* Support and facilitate reflective practice, problem solving and personal development of the Placement Counselling team.
* Ensure Volunteer/Student placement counsellors complete mandatory training and access additional training where required or appropriate.
* Raise the profile of Axis and the Placement Counselling Service
* Prepare narrative, examples of best practice and case studies in line with contractual arrangements and internal arrangements, and for the development of bids and tenders as requested.
* Working with Counselling Lead to undertake regular monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the delivery of the placement service and, where appropriate, make or recommend changes.
* Participate in internal and external meetings as required, and attend training events, conferences, and other functions as necessary.
* Contribute to regular qualitative reports on the Placement Counselling Service for the Counselling Manager
* Attend and contribute to Senior Operational Management Team Meetings, representing the Placement Counselling Service.
* Attend Trustee meetings if required.
* Handle any complaints that may arise or escalate these where necessary.
* Deal with Placement counselling staff grievances within their team or escalate these where necessary.
* Promote the principle of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
* Actively participate in the Safeguarding SPOC (Single Point of Contact) team including participation on the on-call rota (including out of hours cover)
* Actively participate in Safeguarding and risk management decisions
* Attend weekly safeguarding meetings.
* Ensure that all safeguarding concerns are dealt with in a consistent manner, in line with Axis' policies and procedures; and that there is always a Safeguarding SPOC on-call during the allotted hours.
* Understanding of the potential impact of Vicarious/Secondary trauma and advocate for robust self-care, supervision and understand the concepts of Vicarious Transformation and Vicarious Resilience.
Therapeutic service development
* Co-ordinate the day to day running of the provisions provided by the Placement Counselling Service.
* Have active oversight of all clients entering and leaving the Placement Counselling Service.
* Develop relationships with potential referral partners.
* Assess gaps in service delivery and make recommendations.
* Identify and, in conjunction with the Counselling Manager and/or CEO and local partners, develop opportunities to extend and/or develop the Placement Counselling Service to meet identified needs.
* Keep up to date or create policies and procedures to maintain and continually improve the standards of clinical and therapeutic practice at Axis in line with the organisation and BACP ethical framework and embed this across the Placement Counselling Service.
* Work with the Counselling Manager and/or CEO on grant applications or funding appeals to help develop the Placement Counselling Service.
Training, research and promotion
* Develop and deliver training both internally to staff and volunteers as well as externally as required to other agencies, stakeholders and interested parties, plus contribute to Axis' development of training and education programmes.
* Be aware, use and share evidence-based approaches to trauma, relevant to the therapeutic development of the Placement Counselling Service and contribute to research in this area, where feasible.
* Keep up to date with research and opinion in counselling, therapy and mental health.
* Have an understanding of current educational issues in relation to diploma, degree or postgraduate courses in counselling/psychotherapy.
* Where feasible and necessary, create volunteer roles to support the Placement Counselling Service.
* Formulate ideas for the development of Axis, and the Placement Counselling Service.
* Work with other members of the SMT to update and maintain the information on Axis' website, twitter and other social media platforms.
* Attend promotional events.
Personal development and support
* Identify and attend appropriate training opportunities.
* Actively participate in own caseload and clinical supervision.
* Undertake Designated Safeguarding Lead training and keep up to date.
Other
* Manage own caseload of clients including conducting assessments.
* Manage and mentor supervisees
* Daily use of IT, such as Salesforce, Teams, Outlook and other Microsoft Office products
* Undertake any other duties that fall within the nature of the role, and as required by the Counselling Manager, CEO or Board of Trustees.
* Work within the policies and procedures of Axis Counselling
* Promote the values of Axis Counselling
* Work flexibly as a member of the team and be responsive to changing needs.
To apply
Applications can only be made via Axis Counselling's website where a full job description and person specification can be found along with an application form.
Please visit:
Please note that only applications made using the application form on our website and including a supporting statement in section 10 of the application, will be considered.
Closing date: 22nd September 2025
Interviews: w/c 29th September 2025
If you have not heard from us by 24th September, unfortunately, you have not been successful in reaching the interview stage.
We are an equal opportunities employer.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: From £27,300.00 per year
Expected hours: 28 per week
Benefits:
* Sick pay
Education:
* Diploma of Higher Education (required)
Experience:
* post-qualification counsellor/ psychotherapist: 5 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Shrewsbury SY1 1LY
Application deadline: 22/09/2025
Reference ID: Placement Counsellor Lead