University Counsellor

The Mental Health Support Team at The University of Manchester is looking for experienced, professional Counsellors to join our team on a full-time, agency basis for a minimum of 5 months.

The role operates on a hybrid model, requiring 3 days on campus and 2 days working from home per week.

In this role, you will deliver confidential, short-term therapeutic interventions, brief psychological support, and manage risk/crisis presentations for students facing personal and academic challenges that affect their mental health, safety, and overall well-being. You will play a vital role in enhancing the student experience by offering expert support in a fast-paced higher education environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide confidential, professional counselling, brief therapeutic interventions, and mental health support tailored to student needs.

• Conduct initial mental health and risk assessments, managing crisis presentations effectively.

• Maintain accurate, timely clinical records and contribute to service audit, evaluation, and quality assurance.

• Offer advice, guidance, and third-party support to University colleagues, students, and external contacts in accordance with confidentiality and data protection policies.

• Build collaborative working relationships with external psychological, psychiatric, and support services.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Professional Membership:

• Degree-level education or equivalent.

• Qualification in counselling or psychological therapy.

• Accreditation (or eligibility for accreditation) with a recognised professional body (e.g., BACP, BABCP, UKCP, BPS).

Essential Experience & Skills:

• Significant post-qualifying experience delivering psychological therapies, preferably within Higher Education or the NHS.

• Proven track record in mental health risk assessment and crisis management.

• Expertise and enthusiasm for brief counselling modalities, including single-session interventions.

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and team-working skills.

• Understanding of current issues in mental health, well-being, and psychological treatments within higher education.

Desirable:

• Experience managing a large caseload within NHS or Higher Education settings