HOURS: 0.8fte 28 hours per week | fixed-term 1-year contract.
We are looking for an experienced, compassionate and professionally qualified Student Counsellor to join our Wellbeing Hub team and contribute to the delivery of high-quality counselling support to our students.
This is an important student-facing role within our wider wellbeing provision. You will provide ethical, accessible and appropriate time-limited counselling to students experiencing a range of emotional and mental health difficulties, helping them to manage challenges, engage successfully with university life and achieve their academic potential.
Working closely with the Counselling Team Leader and colleagues across the University, you will assess students’ needs, deliver individual therapeutic interventions and make appropriate recommendations for further support or referral where required. You will manage your own caseload and provide counselling both face-to-face at our Buckingham campus and, where appropriate, through online platforms.
Safeguarding and effective risk management are integral to the role. You will be confident in recognising and responding to students who may be at risk of harm to themselves or others, following University safeguarding procedures and working collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies where necessary.
Alongside individual counselling work, you will have opportunities to contribute to psychoeducational workshops, mental health awareness initiatives and the continuing development of our counselling and wellbeing provision. You will also work collaboratively with colleagues across the University to promote positive mental health, resilience and early intervention.
About you
You will be a skilled and empathetic practitioner who is comfortable working independently while being an active member of a multidisciplinary team.
You will have a relevant counselling qualification with a preferred modality of person-centred therapy to a minimum of Level 4 CPCAB or equivalent and will be a member or registered member of a recognised professional counselling body, such as the BACP, NCPS or equivalent.
You will also bring experience of supporting individuals with mental health difficulties and managing a varied caseload, together with strong assessment, communication and active listening skills. Experience of working with people from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds is particularly important within our diverse University community.
You should be highly organised, able to maintain accurate and confidential case records, and confident in balancing clinical judgement, professional boundaries and the needs of individual students. An understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and of the particular pressures and challenges experienced by students within higher education will also be important.
You will be committed to continuing professional development, professional supervision and maintaining high standards of ethical practice.
The closing date for applications is 15th of November and it is anticipated that interviews will be held on the week commencing 23rd of November, with a contractual start date of the 1st of January 2027.
Please note: if successful, any offer is subject to standard checks, including qualifications, eligibility to work in the UK on a permanent basis and DBS (if applicable).
For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website via the 'Apply' button above.
