Mental Health Lead

MENTAL HEALTH LEAD 

THRIVE+ SERVICE 

Can you provide strategic, operational and therapeutic leadership for MACS’ developing counselling and therapeutic provision for young people aged 16–25 experiencing homelessness, housing instability, trauma, emotional distress and mental health difficulties? 


The Mental Health Lead will oversee the development and implementation of MACS’ counselling service, including the recruitment, onboarding, coordination, governance and quality assurance of self-employed counsellors delivering therapeutic interventions to young people across MACS services.

The role will ensure that counselling provision is trauma-informed, accessible, outcome-focused and aligned with safeguarding, professional and organisational governance standards. 

The Mental Health Lead will also provide direct leadership and line management to the Thrive+ service, including oversight of Therapeutic Practitioners delivering individual and group therapeutic interventions to young people with complex emotional and mental health needs. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and ongoing development of MACS’ counselling and therapeutic services.
• Lead the recruitment, induction, coordination and ongoing management of self-employed counsellors delivering counselling within MACS.
• Provide direct line management, leadership and support to Thrive+ Therapeutic Practitioners.
• Support practitioners in delivering structured, trauma-informed individual and group therapeutic interventions to young people experiencing mental health difficulties, emotional distress, trauma and housing-related challenges.
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding, risk assessment, suicide ideation responses, self-harm management and crisis escalation processes across therapeutic services.
• Act as the first point of contact for concerns, complaints or governance issues relating to therapeutic provision and escalate appropriately in line with organisational procedures.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with the Public Health Agency (PHA), Health and Social Care Trusts, CAMHS, counselling providers, GPs, social workers, community organisations and other relevant partners.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of outcome data relating to mental health, wellbeing, tenancy sustainment and engagement.

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Please see attached Job Description and Person specification for essential skills and knowledge required for the post and click apply to submit your CV. 

See attached Recruitment Guidance notes and Why Work For MACS for more information or email hr@macsni.org if you have any further queries.  CVs submitted must demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria required for the post. 

Post Available: 
1 x full time, 2 year fixed term contract, based 303 Ormeau Road, Belfast. 

Salary: £44,000 per annum

Benefits: MACS Pension contribution of 4% of salary; up to 41 days annual leave (pro rata and including bank holidays); enhanced paid leave for Sick, Maternity and Carers leave; paid training days per year; Flexible and Hybrid working options available and Health Benefits. 

Closing Date: Friday 12th June 2026 at 9.30am.

MACS is committed to equality of opportunity and to selection on merit and all offers of employment are subject to an Access NI Disclosure Check. MACS is dedicated to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for all, if you have a disability which means you require a reasonable adjustment to be considered at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us and we will endeavour to facilitate the request.