Student Counsellor

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

The Student Mental Health, Counselling, Therapies and Wellbeing Service is a confidential service for students with ongoing or persistent difficulties who need support to help them get back on track with their academic studies. The immediate team comprises the Counselling Service Manager; permanent psychotherapists and counsellors; placement provision for counselling and psychotherapy trainees, Dclinpsych trainees, and honorary counsellors and psychotherapists. The clinical team is supported by an Administration and Reception team.

The Service is committed to contributing to the overall (physical, psychological and social) wellbeing and opportunities for success of all students in the context of their academic studies.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Offer time limited counselling and psychotherapy to students of the university as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-modality team.
• Plan and organise a varied caseload, which may include delivering trauma informed therapy as part of the University’s sexual violence pathway, to meet student demand in a flexible and ethical manner, contributing to the team’s shared casework.
• Contribute to the service trainee placement provision.
• Manage and monitor safeguarding issues in line with the policies of the University.
• Maintain client records appropriately in keeping with Data Protection and confidentiality policies.
• Work effectively in accordance with university clinical governance, BACP/ UKCP codes of ethics and service accreditation requirements.
• Assess, manage and monitor risk, taking appropriate action as and when required in line with local and wider organisational clinical governance policies.
• Effectively engage with regular clinical supervision, managerial supervision, and reflexive conversations and meetings with other clinical staff.
• Contribute to service planning and delivery of student wellbeing events to improve awareness and timely access to student support.
• Contribute to development and maintenance of self-help resources.
• Develop an excellent understanding of internal and external sources of student support and be able to signpost students when appropriate.
• As a member of our Professional Staff, you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework.
• In order to offer better access for students who may not be able to attend appointments during core hours due to academic placements or employment, the post holder may be required to work extended hours one day per week in order to meet service demand.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
  
  

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling/Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification (Accredited by UKCP, BACP or BABCP) with evidence of training in a trauma informed therapy approach. (application)
• Excellent written and verbal interpersonal communication skills, with extensive experience of communicating effectively with service users and colleagues from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds and using a range of IT applications. (application/interview)
• Experience of working effectively within a time limited therapy framework, servicing the needs of a large and diverse population, providing face to face, online and telephone counselling/psychotherapy. (application/interview)
• Experience of maintaining and working within the boundaries of client confidentiality and to a recognized ethical framework, whilst creating and maintaining student records in line with service/organisational clinical notes and data management policies. (application/interview)
• A clear understanding and experience of managing risk and safeguarding issues in a clinical context, making onward referral when appropriate, and willingness to undertake up to date and ongoing training in this area. (application/interview)
• Experience in assessment of mental health difficulties, effective assessment and management of risk, and willingness to work flexibly as part of an integrated mental health service with a multidisciplinary team. (application/interview)
• Ability to develop a good knowledge of local services, build effective working relationships with other teams within an organisation and with external agencies. (application/interview)
• Experience of working on own initiative, making effective use of clinical and managerial supervision (meeting minimum requirements of accrediting body), and willingness to engage in continued professional development opportunities relevant to the role which aligns with both personal and service development needs (application/interview).
• Ability to work to the university’s policies on equality and diversity, showing patience, tolerance, and sensitivity and being non-judgmental whilst working with people from a range of different backgrounds (application/interview)
• An understanding of working within an educational context, engaging with and embedding research into clinical practice. (application/interview)
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Completion of a post graduate training and qualification in counselling/psychotherapy supervision or evidence of working towards this. (application/interview)
• Additional training in providing counselling/psychotherapy to young people 16-18 years old. (application)
  
  

Further Information

Grade: 7

Salary: From £38,249 - £46,735 depending on experience.

Work arrangement: 1 Full-time position and 1 part-time position available

Line manager: Counselling and Therapies Service Manager

Direct reports: N/A

For informal enquiries about this job, contact

Rebecca Murray-Leslie, Counselling and Therapies Service Manager: on r.murray-leslie@sheffield.ac.uk.

Next steps in the recruitment process

Interviews will consist of both an interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing w/c 5th May 2025 If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Julian on j.a.hermoso@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• support for those going through the menopause
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more
  

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Criminal record

An enhanced with barred lists DBS check will be needed for this role. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.