Student Counsellor

Post Details

Part time (67%FTE)

Fixed term for 8 months or until the substantive post holder returns

£37,099 - £44,263 p.a. pro-rata

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 20 October 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place on Monday 04 November 2024.

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

This role will require a membership of the PVG scheme. An offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory outcome of this process.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

The Post

An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen for a committed and experienced Counsellor, counselling Psychologist and/or qualified and professionally accredited CBT professional to join the existing Mental Health and Wellbeing team as a Student Counsellor on a part time (0.67 FTE) basis for an 8-month fixed term maternity cover.

The successful candidate will work four days per week, term time, across Monday to Friday. The exact working pattern will be agreed between the successful candidate and their line manager.

The successful applicant will fulfil a senior student support role in collaboration with other Student Support Advisors, to deliver an integrated and co-ordinated response to individual students undertaking all levels of study. They will report to the Head of Student Support Operations, who in return reports to the Director of student Services.

The role of a Student Counsellor, is to provide practical, student-centred short term focal support which positively impacts on student retention, progression and overall student wellbeing. The University of Stirling currently operates a One at a Time counselling model. This model delivers evidence-informed, student-focused counselling to provide a contained and targeted response to a student’s most pressing concern. Sessions focus on providing practical tools for students to implement before deciding whether they need to return for another session.

Student Counsellors are expected to be flexible in order to respond to the needs of students and the Student Support team depending on changing student requirements and the priorities of the team at different points of the year.

The post will be based within Student Support in the Cottrell Building, University of Stirling.

Working conditions

It is a requirement of this role that working hours are flexible to meet the demands of the business. In particular this may require staff to (a) work a rota operating 5 days over any 7 days (e.g. including weekends) and also (b) work out with “normal working hours” including, for example, early morning and evening work, or for a Student Open Day or during the exam diet etc. Some travel elsewhere in the UK e.g. to other campuses or conferences may occasionally be required.

Description of Duties

Specific responsibilities of a Student Counsellor within the Student Support team:

• Provide professional, practical and student focused one-to-one counselling sessions to students, normally face to face but, at times, using tools such as video calling or telephone
• Work within the One at a Time counselling model, delivering practical counselling sessions in a way that fosters autonomy, resilience, problem solving and independence in students
• Ensure that their counselling practice meets benchmarked professional standards and the requirements of various codes of practice e.g.BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy so as to safeguard the interests of clients, counsellors and the institution
• Develop and deliver innovative initiatives in support of student wellbeing e.g. therapeutic or psycho-educational developmental workshops
• Keep appraised of the services offered by other university departments and local agencies, and be able to refer students to the appropriate sources of additional or specialist support as required
• Proactively facilitate relationships with colleagues in response to the individual needs of each student and enhance the student experience. Contribute to the production of materials (written, online, or presentations) to raise awareness of the services offered by Mental Health and Wellbeing and the wider Student Support team
• Actively participate in workshops and events to raise awareness of the services offered (e.g. Open Days, Applicants Days, Mental Health awareness events)
• Ensure that records on interaction students are maintained to an accurate and comprehensive standard at all times within the University’s operating systems
• Update client records following each interaction with a student
• Contribute to the preparation of management reports and statistical returns in order to ensure service evaluation and enhancement of services
• Abide by the policies and procedures of the Student Support team, including policies on data sharing & confidentiality, record-keeping, responding to emergencies, and escalation of matters relating to students in crisis
• Participate in on-going professional development in accordance with professional body guidelines, to maintain and develop professional competence and ensure that the needs of the increasingly diverse student population are met
• Participate in team meetings, planning and development events, and contribute to the continuous improvement and enhancement of the service

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent
• A professional qualification in counselling e.g. post-graduate qualification in counselling or equivalent
• Substantial post-qualifying experience in a counselling role

Technical skills and knowledge

• Experience working with students or young people
• Significant experience of working with and supporting people in crisis
• Accredited by a recognised professional regulatory body (e.g. BACP, UKCP), or able to demonstrate sufficient evidence of working towards imminent accreditation
• A proven track record of providing counselling, psychological or CBT-based support and advice, preferably in a Higher Education setting
• Experience of working with students or teenagers and young adults
• An up to date knowledge of the higher education sector and, in particular, issues relating to student mental health and wellbeing
• An understanding of the range of issues facing an increasingly diverse student body in the UK university context, and experience of working in some depth with at least some of these issues (e.g. academic related stress; perfectionism; eating disorders; anxiety; depression; self-harm; suicidal ideation; gender based violence; relationship issues and identify issues)
• Good understanding of the range of external specialist agencies and online resources to which students can be referred as part of their therapy
• Experience of delivering therapeutic group work
• Skill and experience in designing and delivering interactive psycho-educational workshops and peer groups
• Sound knowledge of issues surrounding client confidentiality and data protection/data-sharing

Interpersonal skills

• Committed to providing high quality, student focused services
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills , including the ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in written form, at all levels
• Highly developed listening and questioning skills
• Understanding of and empathy with the needs of students
• Resilience to work effectively with clients who may be distressed, suicidal or demonstrating the impact of trauma
• A willingness to work in a pragmatic, short term and solution-focused way with students
• An understanding of and respect for diversity, including the ability to engage with students from a wide range of cultures and with a range of support needs

Self-management

• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise work effectively, to manage own workload, and to balance competing demands in order to meet agreed deadlines
• Ability to work calmly under pressure in a busy and high-pressure environment whilst delivering high quality work standards
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and able to work autonomously without the need for constant direction
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Ability to decipher information quickly and provide the appropriate response or refer in an appropriate manner to specialist colleagues
• Excellent record keeping skills

Desirable Criteria

• Qualifications or previous training in mental health support
• Supervisory qualifications and experience
• Experience of supervising or mentoring staff

For a full description of duties and essential/desirable criteria please click the apply button, which will take you directly to the University Website