Job summary
We are excited to be looking for the next Deputy Head of Student
Counselling, for the University of Bristols Student Counselling Service. The
role is full-time and permanent, working alongside 3 other Deputy Heads and
managing approximately 8 members of staff. The Student Counselling Service sits
within the Education and Student Success division and is part of a very large
system of support services.
Main duties of the job
As part of the management team, you will operationally
and clinically manage the service and report directly into the Head. You will
have the opportunity to manage a very small caseload of students, and this will
flux with the changing needs of the service. Please note, that due to this
small and fluctuating caseload, it may be difficult to maintain the
requirements of certain accreditations within this role; this is a management
focused post. The workload is diverse and complex; you will need to manage operational
planning and delivery, including elements of project management, risk
management, short-term reactive through to long-term workstreams, and manage
and support a team of experienced counsellors. You will collaborate with staff
across a very large institute to progress the needs and aims of the service.
About us
The Student Counselling Service provides therapeutic sessions for individuals and groups; students with complex mental health needs may be referred to the Mental Health Advisory Service, to create a care plan including onward referral to the NHS and internal services.
Place in the University.
The Student Counselling Service
is part of Education and Student Experience, led by the Executive Director for
Education and Student Experience and is under the remit of the Director of
Student Health and Inclusion.
Internal Structure.
The Head of Student Counselling
Service is the strategic clinical director of the service, a team of 20+ paid
counsellors and psychotherapist (including CBT specific therapists), 4 Mental
Health Advisors, an Officer Manager and an admin team. This post is one of 4 deputy heads that share
responsibility for line management of the counsellors, and one of the deputies
carries sole reponisbiltiy of managing the Mental Health Advisory Team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To
support the Head of Service in managing the delivery of a professional and
appropriate service to students and to the University. This will involve
working closely with the Head of Service, other Deputy Heads and Office
Managers. Deputies take day to day responsibility for clinical decision making
in relation to clients progression through the service, working closely with
the administrative team and would need the experience, robustness and
flexibility to be able to step into direct delivery of any aspect of the
service.
The
Deputies are expected to develop and coordinate agreed projects in the service
which will change over time, to contribute to the development of future
strategy and would also hold a small case load of clinical work.
You
would cover the role of Duty Manager and allocations on a rota basis, taking
responsibility for counsellor, student, administrative staff and external
queries and risk management on that day.
The role requires extensive internal and external liaison to support
students, progress workloads and build on the reputation of the service.
Please see the full job description for more information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To
support the Head of Service in managing the delivery of a professional and
appropriate service to students and to the University. This will involve
working closely with the Head of Service, other Deputy Heads and Office
Managers. Deputies take day to day responsibility for clinical decision making
in relation to clients progression through the service, working closely with
the administrative team and would need the experience, robustness and
flexibility to be able to step into direct delivery of any aspect of the
service.
The
Deputies are expected to develop and coordinate agreed projects in the service
which will change over time, to contribute to the development of future
strategy and would also hold a small case load of clinical work.
You
would cover the role of Duty Manager and allocations on a rota basis, taking
responsibility for counsellor, student, administrative staff and external
queries and risk management on that day.
The role requires extensive internal and external liaison to support
students, progress workloads and build on the reputation of the service.
Please see the full job description for more information.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Clinical assessment skills and experience in delivering counselling.
- Ability to maintain a caseload.
- Understanding of issues of working in a large organisation.
- Well developed skills in planning,project management, organisation and administration.
- Skills and experience as a Line Manager.
- Sound IT skills (micorsoft office) and facilty for learning and quickly adapting to new IT systems as they evolve.
- Emotional Maturity.
- Experience of leading therapeutic groups.
- Appreciations of issues pertinent to HE context.
Desirable
- Clinical supervision (experience and training).
- Experience of working with young people.
- Knowledge and or experience of university life.
- Experience of being involved in management of change.
- Experience of having worked within a large organisation.
Qualifications
Essential
- A first degree or equivalent
- Post graduate diploma in counselling
- Minimum of 5 yrs post qualification experience with a wide range of presenting issues.
- Accredited member of BACP/UKCP or equivalent professional body
Desirable
- Management Training
- Supervision qualification and experience.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Essential
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
- Tact, discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality and confidence in assessing when and how to break this appropriately.
- Ability to develop the skills of others and work with mediation and conflict resolution.
- Ability to work as part of a small management team, within a larger team.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Ability to give and receive honest feedback.
- Ability to hold boundaries and deal professionally with conduct issues.
Desirable
- Having had experience of being in longer term therapy.
- Experience of working with and/or leading teams on projects.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Clinical assessment skills and experience in delivering counselling.
- Ability to maintain a caseload.
- Understanding of issues of working in a large organisation.
- Well developed skills in planning,project management, organisation and administration.
- Skills and experience as a Line Manager.
- Sound IT skills (micorsoft office) and facilty for learning and quickly adapting to new IT systems as they evolve.
- Emotional Maturity.
- Experience of leading therapeutic groups.
- Appreciations of issues pertinent to HE context.
Desirable
- Clinical supervision (experience and training).
- Experience of working with young people.
- Knowledge and or experience of university life.
- Experience of being involved in management of change.
- Experience of having worked within a large organisation.
Qualifications
Essential
- A first degree or equivalent
- Post graduate diploma in counselling
- Minimum of 5 yrs post qualification experience with a wide range of presenting issues.
- Accredited member of BACP/UKCP or equivalent professional body
Desirable
- Management Training
- Supervision qualification and experience.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Essential
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
- Tact, discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality and confidence in assessing when and how to break this appropriately.
- Ability to develop the skills of others and work with mediation and conflict resolution.
- Ability to work as part of a small management team, within a larger team.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Ability to give and receive honest feedback.
- Ability to hold boundaries and deal professionally with conduct issues.
Desirable
- Having had experience of being in longer term therapy.
- Experience of working with and/or leading teams on projects.
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
