Senior Counsellor

Hours: 22.5 hours per week (3 days), term time only (30 weeks per year; 10 weeks per term)
Contract: Permanent – earliest start date January 2027

Are you an experienced, accredited counsellor ready to shape student mental health provision within a world-leading university? Join the University Counselling Service and play a key role in clinical leadership, service development, training and delivering high-quality therapeutic support.

About Us

The University of Oxford is a globally renowned institution committed to excellence in research, education and student wellbeing.

Student Welfare and Support Services (SWSS) brings together the Counselling Service, Disability Advisory Service, Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service, and Peer Support and Mental Health Awareness programmes to provide coordinated support. The Counselling Service supports around 3,200 students annually, delivering brief psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural interventions that help students thrive personally and academically.

What We Offer

• 38 days' annual leave (including public holidays), with the option to purchase more.
• Generous family leave schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working options.
• Excellent contributory pension scheme.
• Extensive learning and development opportunities.
• Free University Club membership and discounted sports facilities.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.

About the Role

You will combine expert clinical practice with responsibility for service development and operational leadership. You will deliver high-quality psychodynamic or cognitive behavioural therapy, undertake complex assessments and risk management, and manage your own caseload within the BACP Ethical Framework.

You will also contribute to service delivery by assessing referrals, responding to urgent matters, delivering individual and group therapy, facilitating workshops, and providing culturally responsive support to a diverse student community.

In this senior role, you will:

• Supervise trainees and associate counsellors on placement.
• Lead a specialist area of practice, contributing to service innovation.
• Undertake service evaluation and small-scale research.
• Design and deliver training for college and departmental staff.
• Support Peer Support training and supervision.

You will attend weekly team meetings and work one evening each week during term time.

About You

You will hold BACP Individual Accreditation, UKCP Registration or equivalent. Clinical or counselling psychologists must be eligible for BPS chartership.

We welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented or minoritised backgrounds who meet the essential criteria.

You will bring:

• Significant experience delivering psychodynamic or cognitive behavioural therapy.
• Experience adapting therapeutic approaches for brief interventions and complex presentations.
• Experience delivering training, workshops or group work.
• A strong understanding of student mental health in higher education.
• Experience contributing to service development or evaluation.
• Excellent communication skills, including presenting complex clinical concepts.
• Emotional resilience and the ability to work in a high-demand environment.
• Confidence delivering online assessments and therapy.

Experience providing clinical supervision and supporting organisational development is desirable.

Sponsorship and Right to Work

This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applications are welcome from candidates who already hold, or are eligible to obtain, an alternative visa permitting work in the UK.

Application Process

Please upload:

• A covering letter/supporting statement.
• Your CV.
• Details of two referees.

Closing date: 12 noon, Friday 14 August.

Group interviews are expected on Wednesday 2 September. Successful candidates will then attend an individual interview on Tuesday 8 or Wednesday 9 September. All interviews will be held face to face. Please ensure you are available on all three dates.

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