JOB TITLE: Counselling Psychologist
DEPARTMENT: Student support service
REPORTS TO: Director of Student Support Services
PURPOSE: To provide effective and integrated counselling and psychological services to students of the University, by delivering clinical assessment, counselling and other related forms of assistance to students, consultations, training, guidance and support to staff of the University on matters concerning student mental and emotional wellbeing, active involvement in service development and in improving policies and practices within the University, design and deliver psycho educational group programmes.
CONTEXT: WIUT Student Support Services provide a wide range of support services to students including Academic Support, Student Information & Advice, Personal and Professional Development, Health and Welfare. The Health and Welfare team combines a number of services to deliver holistic support for students, including Health Services, Sports and Psychological Counselling.
PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- To provide expert short-term counselling/psychological therapy to students presenting to the service, both individually and in groups.
- To provide professional clinical assessments and make appropriate decisions regarding the potential course of action for students.
- To administer same-day mini appointment service for students.
- To take a lead role in devising and delivering psychoeducational group programmes
- To deliver training in the areas of mental health and wellbeing for University staff and students and to create and deliver presentations and workshops to a range of audiences at across the University at departmental training days or similar University events to raise awareness of the service and appropriate referral mechanisms
- In collaboration with the Director of Student Support Services and other colleagues, to contribute to the development of university strategies, policies and practices, which ensure a healthier learning and working environment for students and staff.
- To 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 regulations, ethical framework and confidentiality agreement.
- To work in liaison with other colleagues involved in the pastoral care and mental health provision at the University (Academic Counsellors).
- To review and evaluate client work through clinical and management supervision in order to ensure competence, fitness to practice and to comply with professional standards.
- To take responsibility for specific areas of service development and delivery in consultation with the Director of Student Support Services
- To pursue continued professional development opportunities and actively participate in professional associations in order to maintain accreditation and also ensure increased knowledge base, self-awareness and enhanced skills.
- To maintain appropriate electronic and written records on clients, including session notes and records of contact with other relevant parties.
- To routinely monitor and review casework to ensure compliance with professional ethics and standards, and to take responsibility for deciding when to invoke peer or management supervision in order to address difficult ethical dilemmas or exceptionally complex cases.
- To organise and prioritise caseload, taking into account students’ needs and any urgent action required.
- To organise and prioritise availability for student appointments, same-day mini-appointments sessions, and workshops, ensuring an appropriate service level is maintained at all times
- To contribute to the writing and production of a range of publications and guidance for students and staff, including material for print and online channels, to ensure the availability of relevant and accessible information on a range of student wellbeing issues
- To collaborate with colleagues across the Department and University on projects as agreed with the Director of Student Support
- To work collaboratively within the Health and Welfare Services team and play a proactive role in the development of the service, contributing to the formulation and revision of policies, procedures and operational matters, to ensure high service standards at all times
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The person appointed to this post should be able to demonstrate the following essential elements:
QUALIFICATIONS
- A degree or equivalent professional qualification, preferably with specialism in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
EXPERIENCE
- Demonstrable experience in relation to conducting clinical assessments, including the management of risk
APTITUDES, ABILITIES, SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES
- Understanding of the issues affecting adults engaged in Further and/or Higher education, and their relationship to student mental health and wellbeing
- Well-developed aptitude for self-awareness and demonstrable self-reflexive practice enabling the candidate to work calmly under pressure
- A good understanding of the emotional and developmental aspects of learning
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Uzbek, Russian and English
- IT literate (e.g. electronic databases/file systems; interrogating and reporting on data; email and other electronic communication; social media)
- Ability to work on own initiative and manage the competing demands of a varied workload
- Interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within a team, and across a range of academic and professional staff
Note: This job description does not form part of your contract but is provided for guidance. The precise duties and responsibilities of any job may be expected to change over time. Job Holders should be consulted over any changes to this job description before implementation.
How to Apply
To apply please complete the application form online.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Review other job vacancies at http://www.wiut.uz/job-wiut
