Please note, this vacancy is open to current University of Glasgow employees only

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 Lead 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 line management to a team of counsellors providing mental health assessment and short model therapeutic interventions, tailored to individual needs. The Lead Therapist will also carry a case load, provide advice and consultation regarding Students' psychological care, conduct 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 guidance and support to colleagues in 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 Lead 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 students presenting with a wide range of mental health problems, moderate to severe psychological distress and enduring mental health problems.

2. Lead a team of counsellors providing visible and dynamic leadership, acting as a point of escalation and supporting the day to day running of a high-volume service.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. To oversee the provision 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.

7. 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.

8. Supervise and mentor trainees from professional training programmes.

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

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

13. 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 Well developed leadership skills and the ability to support, mentor and develop staff.

C3 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.

C4 Able to recognise urgency, make clinical judgements on complex cases and take decisive action when required.

C5 Analytical and problem-solving capabilities, ability to work on own initiative.

C6 Able to work flexibly and creatively while maintaining personal and professional resilience.

C7 Competence in providing clinical supervision and development.

C8 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

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 leading diverse teams.

E3 Proven and comprehensive experience of clinical assessments and working with short model interventions.

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, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended.

Closing Date: 23:45 25th May 2025

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

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.