Counsellor

Overview

Part Time (15 hrs per week) - Permanent, Location: High Wycombe with need to travel to other campuses as per service needs

Salary - £33,951 per annum (pro rata)

Buckinghamshire New University is an ambitious, modern university that is always open to fresh ideas and thinking. We believe in the transformative power of education, and in doing the right thing by our students, people and local community. That’s why our BNU community is a special place to work and study, and where people who want to make a difference can contribute and succeed.

Our University’s DRIVE values are at the heart of all that we do. We are united in being dynamic, responsible, inclusive, visionary and empowering to ensure that we provide the best experience to our learners and offer excellent service to our partners and to each other as colleagues. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission.

Job Description

We are seeking a qualified and experienced Counsellor to provide high-quality, short-term therapeutic support to students experiencing a range of emotional and psychological difficulties. The role plays a key part in enhancing student wellbeing, supporting academic engagement, and improving retention and progression outcomes.

You will deliver time-limited counselling interventions (typically up to 6 sessions), and make informed decisions regarding risk management, safeguarding, and onward referral to internal or external services where appropriate. Managing a caseload of approximately 10 clients per week across 2 working days, you will work with students presenting with varying levels of complexity.

As part of a multi-disciplinary Counselling and Mental Health service under the wider Directorate of Student Success, you will also contribute (where needed) in delivering psychoeducational workshops, supporting staff training, and promoting a whole-university approach to mental health and wellbeing within a diverse and inclusive student community.

What We Offer

• a generous holiday entitlement (30 days per annum, plus bank holidays & closure days)
• Hybrid working (dependent on business needs)
• training & development support opportunities
• contributory pension scheme
• discounted gym membership for our on-site gym
• a range of staff discounts with major retailers.

Please click here to see our wide range of benefits available for employees.

Please click here for our behavioural based interview question bank.

Please click here to view our employee handbook.

If you have the qualities and attributes representative of the University’s values and ambition, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Job Details

Job Title: Counsellor

Function - Student Success

Grade: F

Location: High Wycombe and other campuses on a need to basis. (Might need to cover weekend provision as well)

Hours: 15

Responsible to: Counselling and Mental Health Manager (Clinical Lead)

Responsible for: N/A

Job Purpose

To provide short-term counselling support to students experiencing emotional and/or psychological difficulties, supporting their wellbeing, engagement with studies, and progression beyond university. The role includes clinical assessment, brief therapeutic interventions, risk management, and appropriate referral or signposting, delivered within the policies, procedures, and ethical frameworks of the Counselling and Mental Health Service. The postholder will also contribute to a whole-university approach to mental health and wellbeing, including psychoeducational activity and promoting an inclusive environment where all students feel able to be themselves.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To be an active member of the Counselling Team, providing responsive, professional counselling to students, including comprehensive clinical and risk assessments and determining suitability for short-term counselling.
• To manage an ongoing caseload, typically up to 10 clients per week (over a 2-day work week), delivering short-term counselling (normally up to 6 sessions), with flexibility for longer-term work where clinically appropriate.
• To identify and respond appropriately to students at risk, including those experiencing mental health crises, and to ensure effective referral, escalation, and safeguarding actions where required.
• To design and deliver psychoeducational workshops, group sessions, and wellbeing initiatives for students.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues (e.g. Counsellors, Clinical Lead, Psychiatrist, GPs, and external mental health services) to support case management and coordinated care, particularly for complex or high-risk cases.
• To contribute to the development and delivery of training for staff and students, in collaboration with the Clinical Lead, where required.
• To represent the Counselling and Mental Health Service at university events and across campuses.
• To maintain a high standard of professional practice by working within recognised ethical frameworks and the policies and procedures of the service.
• To engage in clinical supervision and continuous professional development (CPD) in line with professional body requirements.
• To maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date clinical records in accordance with legal and professional standards on the CMS.
• To effectively use information and communication technologies to support service delivery.
• To comply with relevant legislative and regulatory requirements (e.g. Data Protection Act 2018, GDPR, Health & Safety, UKVI, Equality and Diversity) in all working practices.
• To undertake such other duties, temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required.

Person Specification

A = Application T = Test I = Interview

Education, Qualifications & Training

Means of Testing

Professional Qualification at Diploma, Degree or Masters level in Counselling, Psychotherapy or Counselling Psychology.

A

Working towards accreditation or accredited to a recognised professional body such as BACP, UKCP or BPS.

A/I

Knowledge & Experience

Minimum of 1 year post-qualifying experience of providing supervised therapeutic interventions to individuals, some of which should have been within an institutional setting.

A/I

An understanding of the role of the counselling service within a University setting.

I

Experience of working with young adults/ adolescents including a working knowledge of the specific issues common to this client group e.g. adolescent development; transitions; self-harm; suicide; eating disorders; drugs and alcohol; separation; procrastination; exam panic

A/I

Ability to make sound clinical judgments to identify clients at serious risk of harm to self or others and make decisions relating to best clinical practice.

I

Ability to identify and respond appropriately to clients who are in need of psychiatric support or assessments.

I

A thorough understanding of the BACP/ UKCP ethical framework and guidelines for good practice.

I

Skills

Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with colleagues within a multi-disciplinary team and wider institutional setting.

A/I

Ability to work under pressure, seeing up to 5 clients per day

A/I

A willingness to use supervision effectively to monitor fitness to practice.

I

A commitment to abide by the ethical principles as outlined by the BACP/ UKCP ethical framework.

I

Use of appropriate levels of IT skills to enable best use of available information and communications as necessary for the post.

A/I

Ability to develop and deliver training to staff and students.

I

Special Requirements

Ability to establish a relationship of trust and respect with clients and accept without bias the issues raised by them.

I

BBF (Top 3 key behavioural categories)

• Delivering Excellent Service
• Managing Self and Personal Skills
• Working Together

Note: This description reflects the role as of the date shown and may be subject to change.

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