Position Title: Suicide Prevention Officer
Reports To: Farm Support & Therapeutical Services Program Manager
Location: Rural Support (province-wide outreach across Northern Ireland)
Contract: Fixed contract to 31st March 2027. Possible extension subject to funding.
Salary: £31,384.10 per annum
Pension: Pension contributions are paid at 6% of salary upon completion of 3-month probationary period.
Mobile Phone and Laptop provided.
About Rural Support
Rural Support is a trusted organisation working to improve wellbeing and resilience amongst farming families and rural communities in Northern Ireland. Rising pressures such as financial strain, isolation, and regulatory change are driving increasing rates of poor mental health and suicide risk. This new role is a critical step in expanding our support to meet these urgent needs.
Why This Role Matters
Suicide is a growing risk in rural areas, where stigma, isolation, and lack of accessible services make it harder for people to get help.
This role will:
•Deliver specialist, culturally sensitive support directly to farming families.
•Break down barriers and tackle stigma in the community.
•Lay the foundations for a sustainable model of suicide prevention integrated into Rural Support's core offering.
Job Overview
Reporting to the Farm Support & Therapeutical Services Program Manager and working within the Farm Support Unit, the Suicide Prevention Officer (SPO) will develop and deliver tailored suicide prevention interventions for the farming community. This includes:
•Counselling and crisis support for those at risk.
•Training and psychoeducation to build community capacity.
•Outreach to raise awareness and reduce stigma.
The SPO will work closely with Rural Support's team, sector partners, and statutory services to ensure clients receive responsive and effective help.
Key Responsibilities
Counselling and Support
•Deliver individual counselling to clients experiencing suicidal ideation.
•Provide crisis management, risk assessment, and safety planning.
•Facilitate referrals to statutory mental health services and specialist organisations.
Outreach and Community Engagement
•Build relationships with farming families, agri-sector employers, and community organisations.
•Undertake proactive outreach at agricultural shows, marts, events, and farm visits.
•Promote early identification of suicide risk and access to support.
Training and Psychoeducation
•Design and deliver psychoeducation workshops and training, focusing on:
o Recognising warning signs of suicide risk.
o Building coping and resilience strategies.
o Encouraging help-seeking behaviour.
•Develop targeted materials and resources to support suicide prevention within the farming sector.
Service Development and Evaluation
•Contribute to the development of a province-wide suicide prevention model integrated into Rural Support's services.
•Maintain accurate records and evaluate the impact of counselling, training, and outreach.
•Support funding proposals and stakeholder engagement to ensure sustainability of the service.
Other
•Maintain own professional standards and commit to professional self-development as necessary for successful delivery of the post.
•Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required, consistent with the nature and grade of the post.
Supervision Received
The postholder will be line managed by the Director of Programmes. However, as would be expected for a role of this type, the post-holder will be expected to display a significant degree of personal initiative within their role.
Management Responsibilities
There may be occasions where the postholder will be asked to represent the organisation at events and meetings. They are expected to have high level presentation skills, a high level of professionalism and expertise and to be able to engage with a wide range of people and bodies.
Team Working
Team working is an essential component of this post both in relation to those within the immediate team but also directly within the Senior Management Team.
Safeguarding and Sensitivity
The post-holder will be expected to maintain relationships with a wide range of bodies and individuals and to work with vulnerable people on a range of potentially sensitive issues. They will be expected to follow best practice in terms of safeguarding and to adhere to the letter and spirit of all Rural Support policies and processes. Due to the nature of the work which involves specific contact with vulnerable adults and children the post-holder will be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure check.
Other considerations
•Due to the nature of this work, it is anticipated that the substantial proportion of the work will be done during office hours, though it will also be necessary to be available for evenings and weekends on an occasional and planned basis. A time off in lieu system will operate.
•The postholder will be entitled to 22 days annual leave each year, increasing by one day per year of continuous service to a maximum of 25 days. This is in addition to two wellbeing days per year and 9 office closure days
•The post holder will be required to have access to the use of a car and a full current clean driving licence.
This job description is neither definitive nor restrictive and may change to meet the needs of Rural Support as the organisation develops and grows.
Experience and Education
Essential
Qualifications
Degree or Diploma qualification in Mental Health Counselling & Psychotherapy or related discipline
Recognised training in suicide prevention & crisis intervention
Professional Membership
Member of appropriate professional body (BACP, NCS or equivalent) & CPD
Desirable
Registered trainer qualification in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Mental Health First Aid, or other relevant, recognised suicide prevention programme.
Experience
* Minimum of 3 years' experience delivering mental health or suicide prevention support in a professional setting, through counselling, peer to peer groups or crisis response.
* Experience delivering community-based outreach and psychoeducation.
* In depth knowledge of suicide prevention frameworks, risk assessment and intervention strategies.
* Strong crisis management and de-escalation skills
* Ability to work independently, manage caseloads, and prioritise workload effectively.
* Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
* Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work-related travel.
* Background or lived experience within the agricultural sector.
Desirable Experience
* An understanding of Trauma Informed Care practices.
* Experience working with bereaved individuals and families.
* Experience working with complex cases.
* Knowledge of statutory and voluntary mental health services across Northern Ireland.
* Experience in developing and evaluating community mental health programmes.
* Previous experience of using CORENET counselling database
Personal Qualities
Essential
* Self-motivated & proactive.
* Committed to a client-orientated service and a trauma informed care approach.
* Approachable and able to build good working relationships at all levels.
* Positive attitude and mindset and demonstrable ability to motivate self and others.
* Ability to adapt to change and use a common-sense approach.
* Willingness to undertake necessary training for the role.
Desirable
* Able to motivate others and enjoy teamwork.
* Proactive approach to continuous professional development. Additional Matters
Additional Matters
Essential
* Flexible approach to working with a willingness to work outside core hours as necessary.
* Access to a car for business purposes.
* Consideration regarding other travelling proposals will be considered for applicants who may have a disability.
Contract Timeline
Year 1 (Nov 2025 – March 2026): Service establishment, awareness-raising, and initial delivery of counselling and outreach.
Year 2 (April 2026 – March 2027): Full implementation, scaling up of training, outreach, and counselling delivery.
If you are interested in applying for this role, please email to request an application pack, clearly indicating the role you are interested in.
CLOSING DATE FRIDAY 17th OCTOBER 2025, 4PM
PLEASE NOTE CVS VIA INDEED WILL NOT BE ACCPETED IN LIEU OF AN APPLICATION FORM
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 17 months
Pay: £31,384.00 per year
Benefits:
* Flexitime
* Free parking
* On-site parking
* Work from home
Work Location: In person