Based within Murray’s Initiative’s Head Office in North Claremont Street with travel throughout Glasgow and surrounding areas.
Starting Salary £32,826 per annum. Full Time 35 hours per week. Mainly business hours but will also include one late night per week and occasional Saturdays as part of a rota. Flexible working, part‑time hours or job‑sharing arrangements will be considered for the right candidate.
About Us
Murray’s Initiative (formerly Glasgow Council on Alcohol) is an independent Scottish charity that works to reduce alcohol and drug‑related harm. Since 1965 we employ a long‑term, trauma‑informed, asset‑based approach and a person‑centred, harm‑reduction model to support people whether their goal is to reduce consumption or achieve abstinence.
We offer free, confidential counselling services and a range of interventions including group work, employability support and holistic, inclusive services such as a women’s service for survivors of gender‑based violence, young people’s peer education and LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing support. We also provide professional training in alcohol use awareness, COSCA Counselling Skills and a Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Services are delivered six days a week across Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire, promoting meaningful, positive change in people’s lives.
About The Role
The Counselling Practice Manager will lead and manage our Integrated Counselling Services, which include commissioned counselling for adults with alcohol and/or drug use and a privately funded wellbeing counselling service.
The role involves managing and supporting all counsellors (including student placements, volunteers and trainee counsellors) across Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire. The post holder will also contribute to service delivery by managing a small caseload of clients and supporting the Head of Client Services/Deputy CEO in maintaining a high‑quality service.
The Counselling Practice Manager will report to the Head of Client Services / Deputy CEO and will be required to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for children and protected adults.
Key Responsibilities Of The Counselling Practice Manager
- Lead and manage the operational delivery of the Integrated Counselling Services across our operational regions.
- Ensure services comply with contractual service level agreements, NHS waiting times, COSCA/BACP ethical standards, quality assurance processes, risk management and effective client record management.
- Manage a small caseload of counselling clients, triage new referrals, provide cover in emergencies and respond to helpline calls from vulnerable individuals.
- Oversee service performance and development by managing referrals, waiting lists, caseloads, monitoring outcomes, analysing data, preparing reports and identifying opportunities to improve capacity and delivery.
- Provide effective leadership and line management for staff, volunteers and trainee counsellors, including recruitment, induction, one‑to‑ones, performance management, training, appraisals and fostering a team culture.
- Oversee the student placement process, providing recruitment, onboarding, induction and ongoing support, and liaise with external supervisors where appropriate.
- Develop and maintain close working relationships with senior management, service managers, internal teams, commissioners, community organisations and external stakeholders to enhance service delivery.
- Manage service resources and budgets, ensuring efficient use of funding and delivery of contractual objectives within agreed financial parameters.
- Promote continuous improvement and organisational compliance by maintaining policies, procedures, risk assessments, monitoring and evaluation systems, and ensuring health & safety, confidentiality and governance requirements are met.
- Contribute to the Ethics and Standards Committee and wider strategic objectives of the organisation.
- Attend regular practice supervision, line management and team meetings, and participate in relevant meetings and training opportunities.
- Undertake any other duties as required by the Head of Client Services / Deputy CEO.
Qualifications And Experience
- A relevant qualification in Counselling and a minimum of four years of post‑qualification experience, ideally in addictions, mental health or a related field.
- A relevant qualification in Counselling Supervision, willingness to pursue one, or equivalent skills through experience.
- Membership of COSCA, BACP or an equivalent recognised counselling authority.
- Experience in leading people and services within the health, social care, mental health, addictions, employability or voluntary sector, demonstrating effective people management through HR policies, recruitment, supervision, performance management, employee relations and wellbeing.
- Experience in partnership working with statutory, voluntary and community organisations, with an understanding of the challenges faced by those affected by poverty, inequality, addiction and exclusion. Knowledge of relevant Scottish policy and frameworks (e.g. No One Left Behind, Rights, Respect & Recovery, ROSC model) would be an advantage.
- Ability to travel across our service area and work one evening per week and Saturdays.
Skills And Competencies
- Collaborative and compassionate leader with excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.
- Strong organisational skills, able to balance competing priorities and manage a busy environment.
- Experience of using data to monitor performance, evaluate outcomes and produce clear reports.
- Demonstrated resilience, adaptability, solution‑focused mindset and confidence in managing change.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and other digital systems for information, budgets and reporting.
- Commitment to Murray’s Initiative’s values of respect, empathy and collaboration, bringing integrity, self‑awareness and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes.
Why Join Us?
Your work will contribute to making a real difference to people’s lives.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Very generous annual leave entitlement: 37 days (inclusive of 12 bank holidays) for full‑time employees, increasing with length of service.
- Duvet days for short‑notice time off.
- Death in service policy.
- Cycle‑to‑work scheme.
- Opportunities for continuous learning and career development.
- A supportive and inclusive work environment where contributions are valued.
Application Process
Interested candidates are invited to apply online via the Apply button.
Closing date for applications: Sunday 2nd August 2026.
Shortlisting: Thursday 6th August 2026.
Interviews: Wednesday 12th / Thursday 13th August 2026.
Start date: Mid September 2026.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Murray’s Initiative is an Equal Opportunities Organisation. We are committed to treating all workers and job applicants fairly and equally, regardless of sex, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, age, race, disability or gender identity and expression or any other personal characteristic.
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