Psychological Wellbeing Advisor

Updated: over 1 year ago
Location: Durham, ENGLAND
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 12 Dec 2022

PVC Colleges & Student Experience Office

Grade 7: - £35,333 - £42,155 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 12-Dec-2022, 7:59:00 AM

Job Title: Psychological Wellbeing Advisor
Department: Counselling & Mental Health Service
Grade: Grade 7
Salary range: £35,333 - £42,155 per annum
Working arrangements: Full-time, 35 hours per week.  The maximum working day is seven hours with a one hour break. The post holder will typically work 9am to 5pm, weekdays; there is some flexibility around 8-4 hours.  Occasional evening work required.  Options of full-time onsite working, or hybrid pattern, minimum 3 days onsite. Majority of annual leave to be taken in University vacations.

The University 

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.   

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.  We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.  Further information about the University can be found here

The Role and Department

The Counselling & Mental Health Service is a multi-disciplinary central specialist service for student mental health and wellbeing provision in the University.  It sits within the Student Support and Wellbeing Directorate.  The Service provides individual and group interventions, advice for College and Departmental Staff, and the development and delivery of proactive initiatives around mental health and wellbeing.  The Service exists to enable students to make the most of the academic and social opportunities that the University affords, and to support staff managing student mental health need across the University.  The Service is responsive to the changing needs of Durham University and operates within clear ethical and professional guidelines.

The Wellbeing Advisor offers offer students short, practical psychoeducational groups and individual support sessions.  They create and deliver new wellbeing programmes and resources and identify areas of self-help information and resource need. They will create an intervention  package for students experiencing stress and anxiety comprising individual sessions, webinars,in-person workshops and drop-ins.  The Advisor networks network with University staff, student groups and external resource providers and will take an active role in other aspects of Service provision as directed by the Heads of Service from Counselling & Mental Health and Disability Support.  The Advisor line-manages one Assistant Wellbeing Advisor.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description. 

Working at Durham  

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:  

  • 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.   
  • The University closes between Christmas and New Year. 
  • We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled  into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). 
  • No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. 
  • There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.  
  • Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. 
  • On site nursery is available and children’s clubs in the summer holidays. 
  • Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). 
  • The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community 
  • Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.  
  • A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.  
  • If you are moving to Durham, we can help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.   As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. 

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Person Specification 

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills and experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.  

Essential Criteria

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to develop productive working relationships both internally and externally. 
  • Excellent digital competence with demonstrable skills in using core digital tools including internet, email, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking system and creative design software.
  • Five GCSE’s at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent experience).
  • Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
  • Evidence of continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
  • Experienced practitioner with knowledge and expertise (from a background such as, but not limited to,
  • Psychological Wellbeing practice, youth or social work, nursing, teaching or education) to deliver psychological support and psychoeducational interventions to individuals and groups.
  • Experience of line-management and/or supervision of staff. Experience of working with difference, including individuals with a range of Protected Characteristics 
  • Experience of implementing policy and procedures, and involvement with service-development. 
  • Experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.    
  • Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues. 
  • Enthusiasm for and experience of delivering teaching, training and presentations.
  • Desirable Criteria

    • Experience of offering psychological support and/or wellbeing information to individuals and/or groups in a higher education or similar context.  
    • Experience of mental health crisis-management 
    • Knowledge of the cognitive-behavioural therapy model 

    How to Apply

    To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria.

    While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.  

    Submitting your application

    We prefer to receive applications online.   We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. 

    What you need to submit

    • A CV 
    • A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification

    Contact details

    For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Kate Augarde, Head of Service, at [email protected]

    Typical Role Requirements

    Service Delivery

    • Line-manage Assistant Wellbeing Advisor and oversee sub-team workload and operations
    • Develop a psychological wellbeing programme comprising psychoeducational and academic wellbeing workshops, webinars, drop-ins, campaigns and online self-help resources
    • Promote and deliver the programme in response to student need 
    • Offer students individual short-term psychological support including listening support, problem-solving and signposting  
    • Maintain accurate and timely records of support and ongoing actions on the University record system, currently Target Connect, ensuring that all records comply with data protection legislation;  
    • Oversight of online self-help programmes and appraisal of supplementary wellbeing and self-help resources
    • Contribute to the delivery of activities that generate external income. 
    • Demonstrate commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.

    Planning and Organising

    • Contribute to wider Service-development and continual improvement. 
    • Contribute to the development of operational and strategic plans and service level agreements.  
    • Contribute to collection and analysis of Service data and feedback including identifying Service deficits (for example accessibility for under-represented groups).

    Communication and Networking

    • Develop and optimise Service communications such as social media and online resources to enhance student engagement and awareness 
    • Network with and outreach to the wider University student population such as the Durham Students Union and Junior Common Rooms to identify student support need 
    • Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access 
    • Contribute to and lead business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at departmental and operational service levels. 
    • Participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working internally and externally, for example: 
      • Attendance at conferences and workshops  Engagement in practice supervision and line-management 
      • Networking with local community resource providers

    Knowledge and Experience

    • Recognised professional practitioner and/or wellbeing interventions specialist
    • Experience of academic and wellbeing support needs, and the particular needs of students
    • Awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access
    • Conduct all work within relevant legislation, professional codes of conduct, and University and Service policies and procedures
    • Keep abreast of current research and sector trends in psychological wellbeing. 
    • Any other reasonable duties. 

    Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

    When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

    DBS Requirement: Please note that the successful applicant will require DBS disclosure.



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