Recovery Focus
Lead Counsellor
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Lead Counsellor
Location: Barnsley
Recovery Steps - McLintocks Building
Working Hours: 25.9 Hours over 3.5 days per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £41,130 - £55,646 FTE (£28,791.00 - £38,950.10 pro rata)
Full UK driving licence and access to own Vehicle to travel between sites where required.
Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
About Waythrough
Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
Make a real difference in your community
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
We are seeking an experienced and passionate Lead Counsellor to lead, coordinate and deliver a safe, professional counselling service for individuals impacted by substance use and related challenges.
This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified counsellor who is committed to providing high-quality therapeutic support while leading and developing a counselling service. The successful candidate will combine direct client work with leadership responsibilities, ensuring the service operates in line with professional, ethical and safeguarding standards.
The Lead Counsellor will hold a small caseload, provide supervision and support to volunteer and trainee counsellors, and play a key role in promoting psychological awareness and trauma-informed practice across the wider team.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- Manage a small counselling caseload, providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
- Conduct assessments and develop appropriate treatment and support plans.
- Maintain accurate, confidential and timely client records.
- Ensure clients receive safe, person-centred and effective support.
- Monitor client progress and evaluate outcomes.
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Leadership & Service Coordination
- Lead and coordinate the day-to-day delivery of the counselling service.
- Ensure counselling provision meets organisational objectives and service standards.
- Support the development and continuous improvement of therapeutic services.
- Promote a culture of reflective practice, learning and professional excellence.
- Contribute to service reporting, quality assurance and audit activities.
Supervision & Staff Development
- Provide support, guidance and supervision to volunteer and trainee counsellors.
- Assist with placement opportunities and the development of counselling trainees.
- Support wider staff development by increasing psychological awareness and understanding across teams.
- Promote best practice in relation to trauma-informed approaches, mental health and therapeutic engagement.
Safeguarding & Governance
- Ensure counselling practice aligns with BACP, UKCP and organisational standards.
- Maintain a strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and procedures.
- Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and risk issues.
- Ensure ethical, legal and professional requirements are consistently met.
Partnership Working
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, partners and external agencies.
- Support integrated care pathways for individuals affected by substance use and associated challenges.
- Represent the counselling service at relevant meetings and forums where appropriate.
Person Specification
- Qualified Counsellor, accredited or working towards accreditation with BACP, UKCP or equivalent recognised professional body.
- Significant experience delivering counselling interventions to adults.
- Experience supporting individuals affected by substance use, trauma, mental health difficulties or related issues.
- Experience providing supervision, mentoring or support to trainee or volunteer counsellors.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and risk management.
- Knowledge of professional and ethical counselling frameworks.
- Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
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What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
- Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
- Life assurance (3× annual salary)
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
- Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
- Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
- 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
- Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
- £500 Recommend a Friend bonus
- Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
- Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
- Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
Inclusion and accessibility
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.
If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk
Closing Date: 2026-07-26
Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. In April 2026, Aquarius, our former subsidiary partner, merged with Waythrough. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have 260 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 130,000 people.
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