Affordable Counselling Network CIC
Clinical Psychologist – Governance & Safeguarding (Remote)
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Remote | Flexible | 5–10 hours per week | £50 per hour | HCPC Registered
At Affordable Counselling Network (ACN), we believe everyone should be able to access affordable, high-quality counselling. We also believe trainee counsellors deserve excellent support as they develop into safe, ethical and confident practitioners.
We're a friendly, values-led organisation with a close-knit team, and we're looking for an HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist or Counselling Psychologist to become our Clinical Governance & Safeguarding Lead.
Whether you're newly qualified or have many years' experience, if you're looking for a flexible role where your clinical expertise will genuinely shape a service and support the development of future therapists, we'd love to hear from you.
This is an excellent opportunity for a psychologist who enjoys applying their clinical knowledge beyond direct client work. You'll play a central role in ensuring our service remains safe, ethical and clinically robust while helping to support over 100 trainee counsellors.
Although you'll work closely with our Director, Clinical Lead and wider team, you'll hold independent clinical responsibility for the decisions made within the scope of this role. We value thoughtful clinical judgement and are looking for someone who is confident exercising professional autonomy and accepting accountability for their clinical decision-making.
About the Role
This is a fully remote, flexible consultancy role requiring approximately 5–10 hours per week. Most reviews can be completed at times that suit you, provided they are completed within our 24-hour turnaround.
You'll provide independent clinical governance and safeguarding oversight across ACN's placement service, which currently supports:
- Around 100 trainee counsellors
- 25 supervision groups
- Approximately 15 new client assessments each week
Our clients typically present with low to moderate levels of clinical risk. We do not accept referrals where risk or complexity exceeds the remit of our trainee counselling service, and we have clear pathways for escalation and onward referral where required.
What You'll Be Doing
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As Clinical Governance & Safeguarding Lead, you will:
- Review supervision records within 24 hours, considering clinical safety, safeguarding, risk and the appropriateness of interventions.
- Review new client assessments and determine whether clients are suitable for allocation within our trainee counselling service.
- Sign off client allocation to trainees considering presenting needs, clinical complexity, safeguarding concerns, risk and the trainee's developmental stage.
- Provide independent clinical judgement on safeguarding concerns, including determining when escalation to statutory or external agencies is required.
- Recommend additional supervision, assessment or clinical review where concerns are identified.
- Provide specialist psychological consultation and guidance to trainees, contributing to case formulation and treatment planning where appropriate.
- Advise on safeguarding, information governance and wider clinical governance matters.
- Help maintain high clinical standards in line with NICE guidance and ACN's clinical policies.
- Keep clear, accurate and auditable records of clinical reviews and decision-making within our IT system.
- Hold professional responsibility for the clinical decisions made within the scope of this role, ensuring they are appropriately documented, evidence-based and clinically defensible.
We're Looking For Someone Who
- Must be an HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist or Counselling Psychologist.
- We welcome applications from both newly qualified and experienced psychologists. If you're newly qualified but have a solid grounding in safeguarding, clinical formulation and risk assessment, we'd encourage you to apply.
You'll also have:
- Experience working with safeguarding and clinical risk.
- Confidence holding independent clinical responsibility and exercising autonomous professional judgement.
- Excellent assessment, formulation and written communication skills.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to complete reviews within agreed timescales.
- Professional indemnity insurance that specifically covers independent clinical governance, safeguarding and clinical decision-making responsibilities.
- An Enhanced DBS certificate.
- A commitment to ethical, culturally responsive and evidence-informed practice.
- Evidence of continuing professional development in line with HCPC requirements.
- The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues while maintaining independent professional accountability.
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Why Join ACN?
We're proud of the culture we've built. Our trainees consistently tell us they feel genuinely supported, and we're committed to maintaining that as we continue to grow.
Because we're a small organisation, your expertise won't disappear into layers of management. You'll know the people you work with, your opinions will be valued, and your clinical judgement will directly influence the quality, safety and development of our service.
This is a genuine clinical leadership role. Rather than simply advising, you'll hold delegated clinical responsibility within your remit and play a key role in ensuring the safety, quality and integrity of our counselling placement service.
In return, we offer:
- Fully remote, flexible working.
- Approximately 5–10 hours per week.
- £50 per hour.
- An opportunity to develop or broaden your experience in clinical governance, safeguarding and service leadership.
- A supportive, collaborative team where your expertise is trusted and valued.
- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to trainee counsellors and the clients they support.
Interested?
We'd love to hear from you.
If you'd like an informal conversation about the role before applying, please email ellie@affordablecounselling.network to arrange a chat.
Alternatively, if you're ready to apply, simply send your CV to ellie@affordablecounselling.network.
Affordable Counselling Network is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people and other groups that are currently underrepresented within psychology and mental health services.
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