We have a unique opportunity for an experienced counsellor to lead and develop our specialist perinatal counselling service, making a real impact across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Pregnancy Counselling and Care (Scotland) is a small, Edinburgh-based charity providing practical and emotional support to individuals and families during pregnancy, early parenthood, or in times of loss. Through our Baby Bank and Counselling Service, we support people when they need it most - ensuring that no one faces these challenges alone.

We are currently seeking a Counselling Lead to manage and shape our specialist perinatal counselling service across the Edinburgh & the Lothians. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced counsellor with strong leadership skills who is passionate about supporting others and improving mental health care at a grassroots level.

About the Role

The Counselling Lead is a part time role (21 hours/week), based in a hybrid fashion from home and the Gyle Shopping Centre, the base for our Baby Bank service and one of our counselling rooms, and Dialogue and Space, our other in person counselling rooms in the east of the city.

The Counselling Team includes a part time Counselling Assistant (hybrid role) and a team of (currently) ten counsellors including both qualified practitioners (senior counsellors) and trainees (placement counsellors). The Counselling Lead will manage the counselling service, line managing counselling team and will work closely with the Counselling Assistant to manage the waiting list and allocate them to counsellors appropriate to each client’s needs.

You will also play a vital role in driving forward our strategic priorities:

1. To increase capacity of our Baby Bank and our Counselling Service
2. To improve awareness of all our services and their impact on individuals and families
3. To improve the quality of the services we provide

Job Description

Counselling Delivery and Team Support

• Provide leadership and line management to our counselling team made up of sessional senior counsellors, volunteer and placement counsellors
• Work with the Counselling Assistant to agree allocation of waiting list to counsellors for initial assessments and first appointments
• Support counsellors in their work with clients via line management supervision and regular check ins with placement counsellors, regular senior counsellor team meetings and case discussions as required
• Provide in-person support for placement counsellors at both counselling venues when required, in conjunction with Counselling Assistant and Operations Manager

Counselling Team Recruitment

• Recruit senior counsellors when required, and placement counsellors on a biannual basis, with admin support from the Counselling Assistant
• Provide biannual induction training for placement counsellors and ongoing training opportunities for the team
• Oversee PVG applications for the service, with admin support from the Counselling Assistant

Governance

• Hold day to day responsibility for child and adult protection concerns within the service with support from Operations Manager
• Review counselling policies and procedures, ensuring child and adult protection procedures are followed and service remain in line with COSCA standards
• Ensure counselling premises are suitable for the needs of the service and maintain relationships with in-person space providers

Data Management

• Oversee the use of Bacpac (client management software) by all counsellors and the Counselling Assistant
• Collate statistics from Bacpac and other client feedback routes to report against KPIs

Stakeholder Relationships & Marketing

• Liaise with other referral organisations and other agencies to build up partnerships
• Promote the counselling service through awareness campaigns and creation of resources for referrers and key audiences

Service Development

• Contribute to the operational and strategic development of the counselling service
• Work as a team with all the staff, contributing to team meetings and discussions
• Provide regular reports to Board, liaise with fundraiser and Board members as required
• Liaise with Operations Manager and Baby Bank Development Workers to respond to the needs of the charity

Person Specification

Essential:

• Fully qualified counsellor with a minimum of 200 hours of client work
• Full membership to COSCA or BACP or other recognised governing body
• Willingness to work to COSCA Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice
• Current PVG membership or willingness to join the PVG scheme
• Experience in
  • Handling child and adult protection concerns and disclosures
  • Providing online and in person counselling
• Comfortable with Excel, databases, and general IT use
• Experience in training delivery or event coordination
• Strong team leadership skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication, workload and people management skills
• A proactive and positive approach to problem-solving
• Ability to work effectively, both independently and as part of a team
• Flexibility regarding specific hours worked, and attitude to activities undertaken
• A passion to support others experiencing difficulties in their lives

Desirable:

• Experience of line management supervision, preferably in a counselling context
• Clinical supervisor qualification
• Counselling experience and / or knowledge of pregnancy and early parenting-related issues
• Experience writing content for social media

Simba’s vision is that Every family in Scotland receives the support they need following the loss of a baby.

With a values led, purpose driven approach to everything we do and strong leadership and governance at all levels, we are seeking new Trustees to join our Board. If you have skills and experience in these areas; Investment and Financial Management, Fundraising, Political Awareness & Influence or the Bereavement Sector, we would be particularly interested in hearing from you! You would be pivotal in helping us deliver our mission of supporting bereaved families to honour and remember their precious baby whenever the time is right. And you would join us in living our values through Compassion, Empathy, Collaboration, Thoughtfulness and Support.

You can view our Trustee Information Pack here simbacharity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Becoming-a-Trustee.pdf

If you would like an informal chat with either Sarah Pryde-Smith, our CEO or Theresa Fyffe, our Chair, please contact enquiries@simbacharity.org.uk.

Do you dream of working with children and families where you can see positive results from your input? Do you feel like your life experiences give you the skills and knowledge to help others in need? Do you relish the thought of managing your own diary and being in an environment when no two days are ever the same?

What we offer...

If you answered yes to the above, we would love to hear from you. In return for working with Aberlour you will be rewarded by becoming a member of a very supportive team within a Scottish Children’s Charity who care as much about our staff as we do about our children. You will receive a competitive salary, flexible working conditions and many additional staff benefits. You will be provided with training and ongoing support to help you deliver your best work. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

What are you waiting for? Applying today could change your life and the lives of local children and families.

About Sustain Borders…

Aberlour Sustain Borders is a developing service which is taking forward Aberlour’s ground-breaking ‘Edge of Care’ service. Sustain delivers early intervention and engagement activities which support children, young people and their families and enables children and young people to remain at home, living with their families rather than moving into residential care.

What we are looking for....

We are looking to recruit one full-time Community Support Practitioner to join our team. Candidates should have enthusiasm and energy and share our vision that collaborative early intervention and engagement is the best option for children and families who are on the ‘edge of care’. Not afraid to test new ways of working, you will bring a fresh and collaborative approach in a way which responds to the needs of the families when they need it – this requires you to work flexibly including some early mornings, evenings and weekends.

You should be dynamic and creative and be able to deliver flexible, person-centred services to vulnerable children and families in a way which can be playful, warm, accepting, curious, tenacious and empathetic.

Work will be carried out flexibly including early mornings, evenings and weekends. There will be the requirement for you to work 1 weekend in every 4 to provide an out of hours phone cover to the service. Where work is delivered outside office hours, appropriate time off will be agreed with your line manager.

This is a fixed term role until November 2025.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who

can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice. You must be comfortable working in an environment where Aberlour’s

values are lived in practice. You must hold a current driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tracy Hall, Service Manager on 07849 083730.

Do you dream of working with children and families where you can see positive results from your input? Do you feel like your life experiences give you the skills and knowledge to help others in need? Do you relish the thought of managing your own diary and being in an environment when no two days are ever the same?

What we offer...

If you answered yes to the above, we would love to hear from you. In return for working with Aberlour you will be rewarded by becoming a member of a very supportive team within a Scottish Children’s Charity who care as much about our staff as we do about our children. You will receive a competitive salary, flexible working conditions and many additional staff benefits. You will be provided with training and ongoing support to help you deliver your best work. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

What are you waiting for? Applying today could change your life and the lives of local children and families.

About Sustain Borders…

Aberlour Sustain Borders is a developing service which is taking forward Aberlour’s ground-breaking ‘Edge of Care’ service. Sustain delivers early intervention and engagement activities which support children, young people and their families and enables children and young people to remain at home, living with their families rather than moving into residential care.

What we are looking for....

We are looking to recruit one Part Time Community Support Practitioner to join our team. Candidates should have enthusiasm and energy and share our vision that collaborative early intervention and engagement is the best option for children and families who are on the ‘edge of care’. Not afraid to test new ways of working, you will bring a fresh and collaborative approach in a way which responds to the needs of the families when they need it – this requires you to work flexibly including some early mornings, evenings and weekends.

You should be dynamic and creative and be able to deliver flexible, person-centred services to vulnerable children and families in a way which can be playful, warm, accepting, curious, tenacious and empathetic.

Work will be carried out flexibly including early mornings, evenings and weekends. There will be the requirement for you to work 1 weekend in every 4 to provide an out of hours phone cover to the service. Where work is delivered outside office hours, appropriate time off will be agreed with your line manager.

This is a fixed term role until November 2025.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who

can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice. You must be comfortable working in an environment where Aberlour’s

values are lived in practice. You must hold a current driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tracy Hall, Service Manager on 07849 083730.