Counsellor

Post Title: Counsellor

Department: Dean of Students Office, Student Wellbeing Services

FTE:  0.6 - 1.0 fte (multiple roles available)

Duration of Contract: Permanent

Salary: UH7 £37,099pa to £40,521pa pro rata with potential to progress to £44,263pa pro rata on achieving designated skills and experience

Annual Leave: 30 days pro rata plus standard public holidays and an additional four days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year.

Location: College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

The University has had a Counselling Service for more than 40 years. The Counselling Service responds to the needs of students presenting with a wide variety of concerns. It offers a range of interventions: individual counselling, workshops, and group therapy where possible. The majority of the work is short-term and solution-focused in nature.

Main duties and responsibilities

You will be required to provide one-to-one, short-term therapy/counselling using an a specialised model combined with an integrative and solution focused approach to students of the University, working to the BACP's Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and ensure you keep accurate clinical records of sessions in line with requirements and guidelines. You will be required to occasionally give workshops to staff or students on areas of Mental Health. You would also be expected to make appropriate referrals to both internal teams and external agencies where it is appropriate and act appropriately when presented with risk. In addition to this you should also create positive working relationships with members of university staff and contribute to activities in the wider university in order to promote the Counselling Service, Student Wellbeing Department and to promote the students emotional and psychological wellbeing.

Skills and experience required

For the role, you must have a minimum of 450 proven clinical hours in offering one-to-one short-term counselling/therapy, online and face-face and experience when integrating short-term interventions. You will also require proven experience of working with a wide variety of vulnerable clients who may have been in secondary care or assessed by psychological services. In addition to this you will need experience of working with high-risk clients, such as those who self-harm or have suicidal thoughts/intent.

You must have experience in using different clinical measures and experience of identifying and responding to clients who require further assessment and support. It is important you have knowledge of a range of therapeutic approaches as well as relevant legislation, and an understanding of complex clients and cases. Effective IT skills and the ability to work constructively in a team are essential for this role.

Qualifications & Memberships required:

You must hold a minimum of a post graduate training/Masters or Level 7 equivalent in Counselling or Psychotherapy, or substantial proven equivalent experience. In addition to this you will also be required to prove your BACP accreditation, UKCP accreditation, BABCP accreditation or HCPC and BAAT accreditation (you can be a maximum of 6 months away from relevant accreditation/registration). You must also have the required number of clinical hours obtained according to your accrediting body and have a minimum of 450 clinical hours. This must be specified in the application. Applications without accrediting body or clinical hours sited may not be shortlisted. If you have a BACP or UKCP recognised clinical supervision qualification in psychotherapy, trauma specialism or group therapy training, this would also be desirable.

In your Personal Statement please cite your registration or accreditation with BACP, UKCP or equivalent governing body. If not achieved, please describe your status of application for accreditation/registration and number of clinical hours reached.

Although we are offering some remote counselling with home working, the postholder will be required to also work face-face on our campus. The hours of work may be subject to change.

REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE

This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as amended. The University requires that the successful applicant who is offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check by the Disclosure Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. An Enhanced Disclosure will be required and this will include details of cautions, reprimands and final warnings, as well as convictions. The University of Hertfordshire complies with the 'Code of Practice for Registered Persons and other recipients of Disclosure Information'.

Overseas applicants and UK applicants who have lived abroad

Successful applicants who have lived over overseas will be required to produce a criminal records check, 'Certificate of Good Character', issued by any country in which they have been resident, consecutively or cumulatively, in the previous 10 years.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Chaitanya Pankhania, Interim Head of Student Wellbeing (Counselling and Mental Health), 01707 284453, [email protected]

Closing date:             30/04/2024

Interview date: To be confirmed

Reference number: 057275

Date advert placed: 16/04/2024

Our vision is to transform lives and UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications by suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave and discounted Sports Village memberships, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts