Senior Therapist/Counsellor

Job Purpose

The University of Glasgow is committed to the wellbeing and success of its students. As a member of the Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Team, the Senior Therapist will work within a multi-disciplinary team of professional staff to deliver high quality support to students presenting with a range of mental health difficulties. The post holder will provide mental health assessment and short model therapeutic interventions tailored to individual needs. As required, the Senior Therapist will provide advice and consultation regarding Students' psychological care, carrying out early assessment/intervention for those at risk i.e. presenting with suicidal ideation and plans and be confident, if appropriate, in liaising with external services.

The post holder will provide training, guidance and support to staff of the University on matters concerning student mental and emotional wellbeing. Participate in service development that includes service policy and practices within the University. Provide clinical supervision to trainee practitioners and work collaboratively with the Clinical Leads and Head of Service to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide highly specialised consultation, assessment and appropriate therapeutic intervention to clients presenting with a wide range of mental health problems, moderate to severe psychological distress, enduring mental health problems and personality disorders.

2. Make recommendations regarding the suitability of interventions, appropriateness and priority of referrals; consider alternative referral options for those cases not deemed suitable for the University Counselling Service. This may involve liaising with GPs, NHS community mental health teams, other clinicians and other university colleagues involved in pastoral care, crisis management and mental health provision.

3. Take responsibility for clinical decisions and convene case conferences where necessary in order to agree strategies for supporting students who are considered to be a risk to themselves and/or to others.

4. To undertake mental health risk assessment and risk management for relevant students and provide advice on the psychological aspects of risk to the multi-disciplinary team.

5. To undertake a range of therapeutic interventions, drawing on a range of psychological models, and employing a range of modalities (individual/ groups) adapted and tailored to the

needs of the student, and in line with current evidence-based practice.

6. To communicate written and orally in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment and treatment plans of clients and to monitor and evaluate progress during the course of treatment.

7. Supervise and mentor trainees from professional training programmes.

8. In collaboration with the Clinical Leads and other colleagues, contribute to the development of strategies, policies and practices, which ensure a healthier learning and working environment for students and staff.

9. Be responsible for providing an informed opinion and/or verifying students' mitigating circumstances to academic colleagues and external funding bodies in accordance with the

University and funding agencies regulations and service Code of Confidentiality and Management of Personal Information.

10. Engage in regular clinical and management supervision to evaluate client work in order to ensure competence, fitness to practice and to comply with good practice guidelines and

professional standards.

11. To participate in the training and development of University staff involved in student support, crisis management, and pastoral care.

12. Engage with colleges and schools to ensure that frontline staff are equipped to support students and have access to advice and guidance when it is required.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

A2 Accredited with a relevant professional body such as NMC, BABCP/BACP or registered with the Health & Care Professions Council as a Counselling/Clinical psychologist.

A3 Thorough knowledge and understanding of the BACP/HCPC ethical frameworks for the professional practice of counselling, psychotherapy, clinical/counselling psychology and

supervision.

A4 Demonstrable knowledge of the specific challenges of mental health care within an HE environment.

A5 Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by professional body.

Desirable

B1 Further accredited training in evidence based psychological therapies (e.g. IOT, CBT, CAT and EMDR).

B2 Training in supervision.

Skills

Essential

C1 Able to manage risk and adapt approaches to suit the HE setting, demonstrating clinical competence in assessment and working with a breadth of client problems using a range of

therapeutic interventions and techniques.

C2 Excellent interpersonal, oral presentation and communications skills, with the ability to form positive working relationships with a wide range of staff within the University community and externally.

C3 Able to recognise urgency, make clinical judgements on complex cases and take decisive action when required.

C4 Analytical and problem-solving capabilities, ability to work on own initiative.

C5 Able to work flexibly and creatively while maintaining personal and professional resilience.

C6 Competence in providing clinical supervision and development.

C7 Ability to work effectively with students from diverse cultural and social backgrounds.

Desirable

D1 Skills in the use of CORE NET or similar system to record the outcomes of therapeutic interventions

D2 Leadership skills.

Experience

Essential

E1 Extensive experience of providing counselling and or mental health care, including working with people with complex difficulties/experiencing crisis.

E2 Proven and comprehensive experience of working in a short-term / brief therapy model.

E3 Proven and comprehensive experience of clinical assessments.

E4 Experience of working with external agencies operating in the field of mental health and wellbeing.

E5 Experience of managing difficult and complex cases.

E6 Online/telephone counselling experience.

Desirable

F1 Experience of facilitating therapeutic groups (particularly CBT based) and other workshops.

F2 Experience in public speaking and delivering training.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £37,474 - £42,155 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and open ended. Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme

The post for which you are applying is considered “registered work” in terms of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act. It requires the successful applicant to become a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme member prior to appointment. This check is necessary to ensure that the University of Glasgow fulfils its legal duties under the Act. If you are successful in your application, the offer of employment will be subject to PVG Scheme membership.  Further information is available at: https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme/

Please note that under Section 34(1) of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 it is a criminal offence to apply to carry out or to carry out regulated work from which that individual is barred.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.