Counsellor (SLW)

ABOUT THE ROLE

With a recognised professional counselling qualification and the ability to work within a multi-disciplinary support setting, you will offer brief, time-limited counselling to students experiencing mental health and emotional difficulties. 

You must be able to work within a short-term therapeutic model (usually up to six sessions), as well as within a framework of brief assessment and intervention. Knowledge or experience of single session or session by session therapy would be beneficial. You will have significant post-qualifying experience, including working with issues common to the client group of students – such as transition, anxiety, self-esteem, self-harm, low mood, procrastination and/or exam panic. We are especially keen to hear from practitioners with experience of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and/or underrepresented social groups.

We particularly encourage applications from practitioners who identify as being from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, as these groups are currently under-represented in our team, although all appointments will be made on merit.

This is predominantly a face-to-face, campus-based role. Support is delivered to students face to face, by telephone and online via Microsoft Teams. 

To keep our services accessible to students, you will be expected to work one late shift per week (12pm–8pm).

We currently have a vacancy for

1 x 0.6 FTE counsellor (22.2hrs - 3 days per week).

Daily responsibilities include

• Providing brief, time-limited counselling to students experiencing mental health and emotional difficulties, usually over up to six sessions
• Carrying out brief triage assessments and interventions, which may include single-session work in the format of a wellbeing plan.
• Following the team's crisis and risk assessment protocols and respond to urgent cases
• Making internal and external referrals, as required
• Contributing to the wider work of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Team, promoting a whole university approach to mental health.
• Contributing to developing approaches aligned to sector best practice
• Delivering support face to face, by telephone and online via Microsoft Teams
• Helping improve student retention and the wider student experience

More information can be found in the job description.

ABOUT YOU

The successful candidate will hold a professionally recognised counselling qualification (for example, a postgraduate Diploma or Master's) in counselling, psychotherapy or counselling psychology and should also be a member of a recognised professional body, such as BACP or UKCP. Preferably accredited or be actively working towards accreditation.

Further information can be found in the person specification. 

For an informal chat about the role contact Ellen Smith: Head of Student Mental Health and Wellbeing - ellen2.smith@northumbria.ac.uk.

To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'.  Your application should include a covering letter and a CV. 

ABOUT US

Join Northumbria University, a research-intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education's University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power.  Discover more about us.

With over 37,000 students from 140+ countries, we offer world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and an outstanding student experience. We empower our exceptional staff, promoting a positive work-life balance and offering great benefits, including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, generous holiday entitlement and more.

Our Northumbria Values, co-created by our team, define who we are: Academic Excellence, Innovation, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Ambition. Our Behaviours shape our work culture: We listen and learn, support one another, respect everyone, trust each other, and are bold.  

Based in Newcastle upon Tyne and London, we are an on-campus organisation and offer flexible hours and location where the role allows. We pride ourselves on diversity and inclusivity, holding a Silver Athena Swan in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, a bronze Race Equality Charter Award and we are a Disability Confident Leader.

We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.

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