Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

SARC Adult Counsellor

The closing date is 14 January 2026

Job summary

The post holder will provide trauma informed therapeutic counselling services to adult clients within the context of a non judgemental and confidential service and in accordance with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework.

The post holder will contribute to the development; evaluation and quality standards of the SARC counselling service.

The post holder may be required to deliver training across Greater Manchester.

The post holder will undertake specific administration duties related to the counselling services including contracting; user feedback and activity data.

The post holder will prioritise, assess, plan, evaluate and deliver all relevant aspects of care to an agreed and expected high standard.

The post holder will work closely with the multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the clinical governance process and multi-disciplinary team meetings.

Main duties of the job

As the busiest SARC in the UK, we provide an integrated service of forensic medical and therapeutic medical assessment, support and therapy services to adults and children of any gender and of any age. Our aftercare service delivers specialist sexual violence support, ISVA and therapeutic services throughout Greater Manchester.

An exciting and significant opportunity has arisen for SARC to recruit a counsellor to deliver trauma focused therapy to adult clients who have experienced sexual violence. Highly motivated and resourceful you will have experience of working with clients who have experienced sexual violence and a sound knowledge of offering therapy to clients with post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, gained ideally in a multidisciplinary or healthcare environment. You will be familiar with managing your own caseload, ensuring you maintain a client centred, trauma informed ethos in a pressurised multidisciplinary service. You will be comfortable working independently including delivering interventions face to face and via the phone and video based platforms and willing to collaborate with your colleagues as you support one-another to deliver a high quality service.

The posts will be offered on a fixed term basis initially for two years for 30 hours per week and will require some evening work .

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Details

Date posted

02 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

349-SMH-7621868*

Job locations

St Mary's SARC, St Mary's Hospital

Peter Mount Building

Manchester

M13 0HY


Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guidethat sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post.As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guidethat sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post.As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise workload
  • Excellent written and verbal communication
  • Excellent presentation skills
  • Ability to work as part of a multi disciplinary team
  • Ability to utilise counselling supervision effectively

Desirable

  • IT/Word processing skills

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma in Integrative Counselling/CBT or single model core training (eg PCA) plus post qualification training in other models

Desirable

  • Qualification in trauma focused CBT or EMDR or other evidence based therapy
  • Qualification in telephone/video counselling
  • Qualification in working with adults or children with learning disability

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience working therapeutically with victims of sexual violence
  • Demonstrable knowledge of trauma focused, evidence based interventions and experience of working with psychological trauma
  • Understanding/experience of counselling research and application to practice
  • In depth knowledge of issues relating to rape and sexual assault/child sexual abuse
  • Understanding of and working within BACP ethical framework

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching/delivering training to a wide range of audiences
  • Experience of assessing the needs of a wide range of children affected by sexual violence, including those displaying harmful sexual behaviour
  • Experience of working therapeutically with people with learning difficulties
  • Qualification in trauma focused CBT or EMDR
  • Qualification and experience of delivering therapy groups.

Registration

Essential

  • Registered member of the BACP

Desirable

  • BACP Accreditation
Person Specification

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise workload
  • Excellent written and verbal communication
  • Excellent presentation skills
  • Ability to work as part of a multi disciplinary team
  • Ability to utilise counselling supervision effectively

Desirable

  • IT/Word processing skills

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma in Integrative Counselling/CBT or single model core training (eg PCA) plus post qualification training in other models

Desirable

  • Qualification in trauma focused CBT or EMDR or other evidence based therapy
  • Qualification in telephone/video counselling
  • Qualification in working with adults or children with learning disability

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience working therapeutically with victims of sexual violence
  • Demonstrable knowledge of trauma focused, evidence based interventions and experience of working with psychological trauma
  • Understanding/experience of counselling research and application to practice
  • In depth knowledge of issues relating to rape and sexual assault/child sexual abuse
  • Understanding of and working within BACP ethical framework

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching/delivering training to a wide range of audiences
  • Experience of assessing the needs of a wide range of children affected by sexual violence, including those displaying harmful sexual behaviour
  • Experience of working therapeutically with people with learning difficulties
  • Qualification in trauma focused CBT or EMDR
  • Qualification and experience of delivering therapy groups.

Registration

Essential

  • Registered member of the BACP

Desirable

  • BACP Accreditation

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Mary's SARC, St Mary's Hospital

Peter Mount Building

Manchester

M13 0HY


Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Mary's SARC, St Mary's Hospital

Peter Mount Building

Manchester

M13 0HY


Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Counselling Service Lead

Charlotte Jones

Charlotte.Jones3@mft.nhs.uk

01612766515

Details

Date posted

02 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

349-SMH-7621868*

Job locations

St Mary's SARC, St Mary's Hospital

Peter Mount Building

Manchester

M13 0HY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)