Counselling jobs in United Kingdom

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Registry support all aspects of the student journey, right from initial enquiry and application, all the way through to final award and student completion. We strive to provide an outstanding service to all our users and to be thought leaders in our fields of expertise, developing research informed practise. Registry teams work collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver a high-performance culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all, supporting excellent student experience.

Student Services provides a range of student support, information, guidance and development services across the University including, counselling, disability, mental health, financial support and other key services delivered centrally These teams work closely together (and with other sections of the university) to provide the best possible services to our students, to enhance the student experience, to help students achieve their full potential and to meet the strategic aims of the University. These services are central to the student experience, they are visible, seamless, effective and tailored to the needs of our student community.

The Student Welfare Team will support Student Services transformational journey towards a more inclusive and accessible service that engages with the whole student body and translates to improvements in student experience, success, and outcomes.

The Student Welfare Manager is responsible for ensuring that students receive specialist advice and guidance on a broad range of welfare matters that may impact their ability to engage with their studies, achieve academically, and enjoy a positive student experience. This includes working closely with academic staff, wider student services, and external agencies to coordinate support and provide a seamless, joined-up approach. Beyond problem-solving, the role is also developmental in nature: supporting and empowering students and enabling them to thrive both during their time at the University of Derby and beyond. The postholder plays a key role in fostering a culture of inclusion, helping students to overcome barriers, maximise their potential, and progress successfully.

You will be an experienced leader with a strong background in student welfare and safeguarding, ideally within an education setting. You’ll bring excellent organisational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage complex cases and lead a multidisciplinary team. A relevant degree or equivalent experience is essential, alongside professional safeguarding training and expertise in mental health or social care. You are proactive, resilient, and committed to delivering a student-centred service that promotes wellbeing and inclusion.

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Sarah Richardson, Head of Student Services via s.richardson@derby.ac.uk

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Please visit our website for more information.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.