Download Advert for Gr I Counsellor - University Counselling Service

Counselling Service
COPY OF ADVERTISEMENT
Senior Counsellor (Groups & Outreach)
£37,382 – £47,314
Ref. No. XD31262
Cambridge University Counselling Service is seeking a Senior Counsellor to take
responsibility for overseeing and developing its group and workshop programme as well
as its outreach work. This is a significant position in this large, busy and well-respected
multi-disciplinary Counselling Service.
You will be part of the Service management team, have line management
responsibilities, as well as offering individual and group counselling to students.
You will have professional-level counselling or psychotherapy qualifications, substantial
experience of individual and group counselling in an FE or HE context, be BACP
accredited / UKCP Registered or equivalent, and have relevant management experience.
Further information about the Service is available from www.counselling.cam.ac.uk
The post may be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.
The University is committed to equality of opportunity.
Closing date for applications: Monday 30th September 2013
Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon 16 th & Thursday 17th October
Vacancy available from 2nd January 2014
FURTHER INFORMATION
Job Title: Senior Counsellor
Reporting to: Head of University Counselling Service
Brief Outline: This is a significant opportunity to share in the management of the
University Counselling Service, which is the central counselling service for all the
University’s students. The successful candidate will have considerable clinical experience
in a Further or Higher Education setting, and a demonstrable ability to lead, motivate
and work as part of a highly professional multi-disciplinary team.
Background Information
The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world and one of the
largest in the United Kingdom. Its reputation for outstanding academic achievement is
known world-wide and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students, as well as the
world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges.
The University of Cambridge consists of over 100 departments, faculties and schools
plus a central administration.
1
The University Counselling Service was founded in 1969. It offers counselling to
undergraduate and postgraduate students of all of the Cambridge Colleges. Many
students self-refer, others are referred by College tutors, chaplains, nurses, or by GPs
and psychiatric services. Over 1500 students attended the Service last year, the
majority being seen individually on a weekly or fortnightly basis for mostly brief focal
therapy. As well as individual counselling, the Service also offers
 a wide range of workshops and counselling groups, typically offering 12 – 15 per
week
 runs various training activities for students
 and ‘reflective practice groups’ to a wide variety of staff groups such as college
nurses.
The Student Counselling Service
During the current year the Student Counselling Service will see over 1500 students,
and offer ~350 group sessions. More information about the Service is contained on the
Service website: http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk and recent Student Counselling
Annual Reports can be downloaded as PDF documents from:
http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/general/reports
The staff of the Student Service includes:
 2 Senior Counsellors (one being the post being advertised), 1 Senior CBT
Therapist & 1 Senior Mental Health Advisor, who together oversee the work of
the Service along with the Head of Service, line manage the other therapeutic
staff, and each having responsibility for an area of service delivery
 9 Counsellors and CBT Therapists (full- or part-time) who are experienced
therapists
 1 Mental Health Advisor
 7 Associate Counsellors on training placements, typically for 1 day per week
 and a Psychiatrist who attends the Service for half a day per week during term
time.
The therapeutic staff are supported by:
 an Office Manager and 3 part-time Secretary/Receptionists
 a Financial Administrator
 and a part-time Computer Officer.
Experienced external supervisors with different therapeutic approaches attend the
Service to conduct clinical supervision for all employed counsellors. Counsellors may
choose which member of the panel to have as a supervisor (logistics allowing).
The culture in the Service is friendly, collaborative and valuing of team-work and team
decisions, but also expects all staff to work hard and set high professional standards.
The Service is well respected within the University and Colleges.
The Service moved in 2007 to its current premises which were refurbished for our needs,
and comprises 19 counselling rooms and appropriate group and meeting rooms, as well
as administrative and staff space.
Further information about the post:
This vacancy arises from the retirement of the current post-holder and is available from
2nd January 2014. This is a significant position in the management of the Service.
Applicants should be professionally trained, accredited by an appropriate professional
body, have extensive experience of counselling within a Further or Higher Education
setting, extensive experience of group-work, and experience of managing aspects of a
counselling service. You may already be a Senior Counsellor, Deputy Head or Head of
Counselling in a smaller service.
2
Service staff include psychodynamic, integrative, cognitive behavioural, cognitive
analytic and person centred therapists. We are open-minded about the therapeutic
approach of the person appointed, but applicants should be interested in working in a
multi-disciplinary team, have a clear understanding of how the organisational context
impacts on therapeutic decisions, and be in sympathy with the Service’s policy of
offering a majority of brief focal therapy with a smaller amount of longer-term therapy
when possible and appropriate.
In addition, applicants should have experience of offering clinical supervision, facilitating
therapeutic groups and running workshops or training events, as the Service offers an
increasing number of groups and workshops to students and staff in the University.
An interest in research and contributing to innovative service development, including
technology-based counselling provision would also be helpful.
We are keen to have the appointee in post by 2nd January 2014.
Main Activities & Responsibilities:

To join the management team of the University Counselling Service, which
oversees the day-to-day delivery of all aspects of Service work, and the ongoing
development of the Service.

To take responsibility for running and developing the group and workshop
programme, as well as the outreach programmes the Service offers, including
‘reflective practice groups’ for various staff.

To line manage a number of counselling staff.

To contribute to a productive, collaborative and supportive team climate, while
ensuring that high professional and ethical standards are set and kept throughout
the counselling work of the Service. This includes ensuring that the service
complies with the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and
Psychotherapy and the law.

To offer clinical supervision to a number of Associate (trainee) counsellors.

To maintain a caseload of individual clients, amounting to 18 hours face-to-face
work per week (this figure includes any intake work, group-work, workshops,
training and supervising undertaken).

To produce reports and relevant statistics for internal use, and contribute
information for the Counselling Service Executive Committee and for Annual
Reports. You will need to be a confident computer user, in particular in the use
of MS Office, databases and email.

Staying informed of trends and developments in the professional field, especially
with regard to student counselling and to alert the Head of Counselling and
management team of the policy implications arising from these changes.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Senior Counsellor
Required
1. Minimum Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling or Psychotherapy qualification
3
2. Training in group counselling/therapy
3. BACP Accreditation or UKCP Registration, or other appropriate professional
accreditation and evidence of continual professional development
4. Substantial experience of offering counselling/psychotherapy in an FE or HE
context, and be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of how this context
impacts on therapeutic decisions
5. Experience of management or oversight of an aspect of the work of a team of
professional therapists or counsellors
6. Substantial experience of facilitating therapeutic groups and leading brief
focused workshops
7. Experience of delivering training or similar workshops to students or staff.
8. Experience in offering clinical supervision
9. Sympathy with and experience of offering brief individual therapy
10. Preparedness to follow policies of the University Counselling Service, including
flexible working when required
11. Confident computer user.
Desirable
1. Clinical supervision qualification
2. Management qualification
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
Hours
The Service is currently open on Mondays and Fridays from 8.45 am – 5.30 pm, with
extended opening to 7.30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The person appointed will be
expected to work during one evening to 7.30pm. The exact pattern of work is to be
agreed with the Head of Service.
The Service closes for about one week at Christmas/New Year and at Easter each year,
but remains open throughout the summer.
Holidays
The leave year runs from 1 October to 30 September and the annual leave entitlement is
33 days, excluding Public Holidays. Annual leave should be taken with the agreement of
the Head of Service and should be taken out of Term and during periods when the
Service is closed at Christmas / New Year and Easter.
The University does not take school half terms, and where Public Holidays fall during
Term, i.e. typically those falling in May each year, the Service is open and most staff
work as usual (staff working on Public Holidays may take time off in lieu out of termtime).
DBS disclosure
Depending on the professional registration of the successful applicant, the post may be
subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.
Probationary period
The appointment will be subject to confirmation on completion of an initial probationary
period of nine months.
Salary
4
The pensionable salary is on a scale from £37,382 – £47,314 per year (Grade 9 on the
University's single salary spine); the starting salary will be in the bottom half of this
scale. There is no payment for overtime hours worked. (All salaries are quoted at
current levels; a cost of living adjustment to salaries may be applicable from 1st August
2013.)
Application procedure
A Cover Sheet for CV applications [CHRIS6] can be downloaded from the University’s HR
Division web site:
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personnel/forms/chris6/
You should complete:
 Part 1 (including the names of two referees),
 Part 2 (Section B only) - for applications to positions which are eligible for a
Disclosure and Barring Service check
 Part 3 (Equal Opportunities Monitoring Slip). Completing this is optional and is
separated prior to the selection process.
The Cover Sheet, along with your letter of application and CV, quoting the vacancy Ref.
No. XD31262, should be returned by Monday 30th September 2013 to Mark Phippen,
Head of Service, Cambridge University Counselling Service, 2-3 Bene’t Place, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EL.
The University as an Employer
The University of Cambridge is committed to a policy and practice which require that
entry into employment with the University and progression within employment be
determined only by personal merit and by the application of criteria which are related to
the duties of each particular appointment and the relevant stipend or salary structure.
No applicant for an appointment in the University, or member of staff once appointed,
will be treated less favourably than another on the grounds of sex (including gender
reassignment), marital or parental status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour,
disability, sexual orientation, religion or age. If any employee considers that he or she is
suffering from unequal treatment on grounds of sex (including gender reassignment),
marital or parental status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, disability, sexual
orientation, religion or age, he or she may make a complaint which will be dealt with
through the agreed procedure for dealing with grievances.
Information if you have a Disability
The University's recruitment and selection procedures follow best practice and the
requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. Fair selection for employment is based
on the ability or potential ability of an applicant to carry out the duties of the post and
decisions on appointments are based on the merit and suitability of the candidate. If
you have a disability you are invited to request any special arrangements you may
require for interview, or adjustments you may anticipate would be needed in your
working arrangements, at the point of application. However, the University recognises
that you may prefer to forward this information if and when you are called for interview
and you may do so at that stage without prejudice, if you prefer.
Mark Phippen
Head of Service
16th August 2013
5