Counselling Placement Coordinator - AD1477

University of St Andrews; St Andrews; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 46,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation contribution

USS Pension scheme

Hybrid working environment

Staff discount scheme

Job summary

University of St Andrews is seeking an experienced Counselling Placement Coordinator within Student Services. The role combines direct clinical work with establishing a high‑quality placement pathway for trainee counsellors and supporting student wellbeing.

You will manage a caseload, implement procedures, recruit and induct placement students, and coordinate with training providers while ensuring ethical and professional service standards are met.

Qualifications

• Accredited counsellor with current practising status.
• Experience delivering counselling to students and coordinating services.
• Ability to supervise or develop others in a counselling setting.
• Experience coordinating placements or developing new services.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of the University's counselling placement programme.
• Coordinate recruitment, induction, supervision and development of placement students.
• Establish relationships with training providers and ensure placements meet professional standards.
• Conduct assessments, risk assessments, and support students in crisis or distress.

Skills

Accredited counsellor

Counselling

Communication

Stakeholder mgmt

Supervision

Job description

Student Services provides a comprehensive welfare and support service for all matriculated students. This includes:

• Counselling, Wellbeing Advice and Mental Health Coordination
• Disability, Money and Academic
• Advice Advice and Support Centre
• A residential student experience programme (Halls Life)

Applications are invited for the role of Counselling Placement Coordinator. This is an exciting opportunity for an accredited counsellor to combine direct clinical work with the development of a new counselling placement programme within the University. The role offers the opportunity to shape and establish a high-quality placement pathway for trainee counsellors while contributing to the delivery of counselling support for students.

The post holder will provide counselling and therapeutic support to students experiencing a range of emotional, psychological and mental health difficulties. Alongside managing a small counselling caseload, the successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of the University's counselling placement programme, including establishing relationships with training providers, developing procedures and processes, and creating the framework required to support counselling placements within the service.

You will undertake assessment, risk assessment and risk management, including supporting students presenting in crisis or experiencing significant distress. You will work closely with colleagues across Student Services and the wider University, as well as external agencies where appropriate, to coordinate support and promote student wellbeing. Once established, the post holder will coordinate the placement programme and act as a key point of contact for counselling placement students and training providers. This will include supporting the recruitment, induction, supervision and development of placement students, ensuring placements operate in line with professional, ethical and service requirements.

You will be an experienced counsellor with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to build effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders. Experience of supporting, supervising or developing others is essential, and experience of working with trainee counsellors, coordinating placements or developing new services would be advantageous.

Further information and informal enquiries may be directed to Ellen Mackintosh, email: [e-mail], Tel: [phone].

St Andrews offers more than just a place to work-it is a place to belong. We value collegiality, inclusion, and wellbeing, and we are committed to creating a workplace where staff can thrive and perform at their best.

In addition to the salary on offer for this position, there are a wide range of benefits for staff working at the University of St Andrews. The package for the Counselling Placement Coordinator includes:

• Financial contribution to relocation (subject to eligibility)
• Membership of the USS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions of 14.5%
• A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies, supporting work-life balance
• Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services
• Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel
• Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme
• 34 Days Annual Leave plus 5 Public Holidays

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the St Andrews experience. We strive to create a fair and inclusive culture demonstrated through our commitment to diversity awards (Athena Swan, Carer Positive, LGBT Charter, Race Charter and Stonewall). We celebrate diversity by promoting profiles of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and LGBTQI+ staff and supporting networks including the Staff BAME Network, Staff with Disabilities Network, Staff LGBTQI+ Network, and the Staff Parents & Carers Network. Full details are available online: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/

Applications are particularly welcome from people from the LGBTQI+ community, people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in professional posts at the University.

Closing Date: 11 October 2026 Interview Date: 21 October 2026Please Quote Ref: AD1477CMJob Description: AD1477CM FPs.pdf

Student Services

Salary: Grade 6, £38,784 - £46,049 per annum, pro rata

Hours: 21.75 hours per week

Start Date: As soon as possible

Duration: Permanent, Part Time