Therapeutic Practitioner - Academic Services - 105907 - Grade 7

University of Birmingham; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Birmingham seeks a Therapeutic Practitioner for its Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, providing structured support for students. This role involves conducting therapeutic sessions, managing caseloads, and collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance student wellbeing within the academic environment. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and a strong background in mental health support.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Experience in providing 1-to-1 therapeutic support.
• Membership of an appropriate professional body required.
• Experience in managing a caseload of students.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of approximately 25 students.
• Conduct assessments of need and risk.
• Deliver structured sessions both face-to-face and online.

Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Counseling Techniques

Risk Assessment

Problem Solving

Education

Relevant qualification at Undergraduate level

Tools

MS Teams

Outlook

Word

Excel

Job description

Therapeutic Practitioner - Academic Services - 105907 - Grade 7

Client:

University of Birmingham

Location:

United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

Job Reference:

03eb807b903a

Job Views:

4

Posted:

29.06.2025

Expiry Date:

13.08.2025

Job Description:

Summary

The University of Birmingham Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is a busy Service that offers structured, short term therapeutic support to registered students. Students can register for up to 5 sessions of Counselling/therapeutic support – either in person on campus at the Aston Webb Student Services Hub or online. We are seeking Therapeutic Practitioners to join the team to support students who register for 121 structured sessions to improve their mental health, wellbeing and engagement with University.

We are looking to recruit Therapeutic Practitioners to work with students who are experiencing a wide range of mental health and emotional struggles to support them in engaging with University to their best potential and improve their wellbeing. We are seeking candidates with experience of managing large caseloads and working with diverse individuals therapeutically in a short term basis - this might include candidates from Mental health, Counselling or Psychology backgrounds. The post holder will need manage a caseload of students experiencing a diverse and complex range of mental health needs and provide structured sessions (maximum 5) to enable them to work towards their academic and personal development goals as well as signpost and refer to longer term services where necessary.

Therapeutic Practitioners main role is deliveringplanned face to face and online interventions to support students who are experiencing distress in common mental health areas such as anxiety, low mood, Intrusive Thoughts, Self Esteem and Stress. Therapeutic Practitioners also conduct rapid assessments for students based on need and risk presented and support those students accessing the most appropriate services. High levels of administration skills and organisation skills are required. There is some scope for design and delivery of psycho-educational workshops and mentoring to help studentsengage in developing skills for managing and maintain good mental health and wellbeing.

Responsibilities include working to embed innovative and inclusive practices across the University through networking and contributing to training.

Main Duties

• To manage a caseload of students (25 approx) and deliver up to 5 planned and structured sessions on a weekly or fortnightly basis that will enable those students to work on the emotional issues that they may be struggling with.
• Offer sessions both in person on campus (B15 2TT) and online and record notes after each session summarising work carried out.
• Sign post and refer students to more appropriate services where it appears that the need or risk is greater than the University can support.
• Conduct assessments of need and/or risk for students who register with the Service and triage to appropriate Services within the University as well as externally.
• Escalate any risk concerns as appropriate.
• Ensure all administration tasks are completed timely and to a high level including case notes, spreadsheets and sending of emails.
• Identify student needs and suggest and innovate new ideas and projects to support students through a process of design, delivery and review/evaluation.
• Occasional support of Service delivery through covering key aspects such as triage or referrals.
• Active participation in monthly Supervision as well as team meetings and adhoc events such as Welcome Week.
• To participate in the development of collaborative working partnerships within Student Wellbeing Services, staff across the University and with outside agencies to ensure a high quality experience for students and to embed best practice.
• To contribute to the development of new initiatives and ways of working to meet changing needs and demand of students, including development of online and digital self-help resources for students and staff.
• To work collaboratively with academic and professional service staff to ensure a delivery of accessible mental health and wellbeing support to students, and to ensure that best practice around inclusiveness is disseminated across the University, with a particular focus on mental health awareness.
• To contribute to the development of an ongoing and responsive mental health policy in conjunction with Service managers, drafting policy and procedures for delivery of mental health services within the University.
• To work collaboratively with Student Wellbeing and Partnerships Team and Wellbeing Leads across the Colleges to support student wellbeing and manage complex cases.
• To contribute to the wider work of Student Services and Academic Services work, including supporting, for example, Open days, Welcome, and Graduation activity.
• To work as an accountable member of the service, acting as a role model for colleagues by displaying enthusiasm and the values of inclusivity and professionalism expected of all staff in the Division.
• To work flexibly to support the delivery of wider Wellbeing service responsibilities by undertaking other tasks and duties as needed to meet the requirements of the service.
• To communicate effectively with students, University staff and outside agencies as appropriate. This communication will include verbal, written reports, case conferences and team and committee meetings.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• Relevant qualification at a minimum of Undergraduate level as well as substantial experience in a related area where significant 121 support has been facilitated to improve client’s mental health and wellbeing. For example, substantial experience in supporting people and a qualification in Counselling, Psychology, Nursing, (RMN) Social Work (AMP).
• Membership of an appropriate professional body, such as NMC/RCN/HCPC/BACP/UKCP.
• All post holders are subject to a satisfactory and enhanced DBS check.

Knowledge and Experience

• Previous experience of support students in Higher Education and working in a short-term capacity.
• Significant demonstrable experience of working meaningfully with clients with a wide range of mental health and emotional issues including (but not limited to) Anxiety, Depression, Self Esteem, Intrusive Thoughts, Relationship issues.
• Experience of case management in supporting clients therapeutically in a short term basis (this may include Counselling, CBT, DBT etc).
• Experience of conducting risk assessments for clients who may be at risk to themselves or others.
• Experience of assessing the therapeutic support needs of people from diverse backgrounds.
• Good understanding of neurodiversity and knowledge and experience of Neurodivergent-affirming therapy practices.
• Experience of assessing and working therapeutically with people who self-harm and experience suicidal feelings.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver a service.
• Experience of designing and delivering training and workshops as part of health and wellbeing, . personal resilience.
• Experience of developing effective working relationships with internal partners and external agencies.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver mental health and/or wellbeing services.
• Experience of working with mental health issues in a group setting, and an ability to deal with difficult and challenging group dynamics.

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent IT skills and experience of using systems to manage work requirements including, but not limited to, MS Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Ability to keep thorough and accurate client case notes and records, and ensure compliance with confidentiality policies and procedures, professional standards, and Data Protection and GDPR legislation.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the mental health needs of HE students including an awareness of issues of diversity, the social context of their lives and of the different ways they may express stress..
• Ability to engage people individually and in groups in developing strategies and skills for managing their mental health and wellbeing by using creative methods, models and processes.
• Excellent communication skills and an ability to deal with people at all levels.
• Experience of developing and delivering training for a variety of audiences.
• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise own workload and manage time effectively in an environment of change and conflicting priorities.

Professional Commitment

• Ensuring that issues of equality and a respect for diversity are reflected in all aspects of work.
• Continued professional development through undertaking training and participating in other learning opportunities in line with role and service needs.
• Recognition of the need to be accountable for work through supervision, performance management and other relevant processes.
• Work as part of a multi disciplinary team.

OH/DBS required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS clearance prior to appointment.

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Created on 29/06/2025 by TN United Kingdom