Mental Health Specialist

Location: One Portsoken and Devon House, London

Term: Part-time, 0.6 FTE, permanent

Salary Range: Up to £28,470 pro rata per annum, depending on experience

Benefits

The university supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, offering flexible working and parental leave opportunities, an Employee Assistance Programme as well as optional private medical insurance, season ticket loans and a cycle to work scheme. Tuition fee remission is also available.

Employees are automatically enrolled in the University’s pension scheme with a minimum 4% contribution. They may also join the Salary Sacrifice plan to make additional tax efficient pension contributions. The University matches 4% as standard, rising to 8% maximum for higher contributions. Employees can tailor their contributions with support from an appointed independent financial advisor.

Direct Reports: None

Reports to: Student Mental Health Manager

Start: October 2026

The Role 

Reporting to the Student Mental Health Manager, the Mental Health Specialist will provide high-quality, accessible mental health support and advice to students across the university, helping them to manage their wellbeing and achieve their academic potential. This is a varied and rewarding role that sits at the heart of student life, working collaboratively with academic staff, external services, and other professional support teams. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one mental health assessments, advice, and ongoing support to students presenting with a wide range of mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression, and other common mental health conditions.
• Develop, implement, and review individual support/safety plans in collaboration with students, identifying appropriate goals and strategies.
• Offer short-term, structured interventions (e.g. psychoeducation, guided self-help, CBT-informed techniques) to students experiencing mild to severe mental health difficulties.
• Support students in crisis through appropriate triage, risk assessment, and safety planning, making timely referrals to specialist services where required.
• Liaise with NHS mental health services, GPs, and other external agencies to facilitate onward referrals and joined-up care.
• Contribute to the university's mental health awareness campaigns and wellbeing events, including activities during World Mental Health Day and Northeastern’s Wellness Week.
• Deliver workshops for staff and students on topics such as professional boundaries, stress management, resilience, sleep, and mindfulness.
• Work closely with academic and professional services staff to provide guidance on supporting students with mental health difficulties.
• Act as a mental health champion within the university, promoting a whole-university approach to wellbeing in line with the University Mental Health Charter.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings and case management, contributing to a coordinated approach to student support.
• Maintain accurate, confidential case records in accordance with GDPR, university data protection policies, and professional standards.
• Monitor and manage a caseload effectively, prioritising risk and ensuring timely follow-up.
• Contribute to the collection of data and outcome measures to support service evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Stay up to date with relevant legislation, sector guidance, and best practice in student mental health.

Person specification criteria

To undertake this role, the following should apply – should you not have the experience below, please do highlight where transferrable skills would assist with you undertaking the role.

• A recognised professional qualification in mental health, counselling, psychology, social work, or a related field (e.g. degree-level or above), or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• A solid understanding of common mental health conditions and evidence-based interventions.
• Demonstrable experience of working with young adults or students in a mental health, wellbeing, or advisory capacity.
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding legislation and duty of care responsibilities.
• Experience of conducting mental health assessments and risk assessments.
• Excellent communication and active listening skills, with the ability to build rapport with a diverse student population.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload, prioritise effectively, and work under pressure.
• A non-judgmental, empathetic, and student-centred approach.
• IT literacy and experience of maintaining accurate electronic case records.
• Experience working within a higher education or further education setting.
• Training in specific therapeutic modalities (e.g. CBT, ACT, motivational interviewing, solution-focused approaches).
• Knowledge of the University Mental Health Charter framework.
• Understanding of the particular mental health challenges faced by international students, including transition, academic pressure, and identity development.
• Experience delivering psychoeducational workshops or group interventions.

Enquiries

Informal enquiries may be made to the Student Mental Health Manager, Shona Leahy, on shona.leahy@nulondon.ac.uk. However, all applications must be made in accordance with the application process specified.

Application process

Applications must include a covering letter of no more than one page and a full curriculum vitae. Please reference your application “MHS0826”

Please email your application to Shona Leahy via the above 'Apply'  button (e: shona.leahy@nulondon.ac.uk) by the 11^th of September 2026.

The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post before the closing date if we receive a large number of applications.

Interviews are expected to commence w/c 21^st September 2026. 

Participation in the equal opportunities section is encouraged, but voluntary.

Please note this role will require an enhanced DBS check. Our organisation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of our students and staff, and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and Ofsted requirements. You must adhere to the above if you are offered a role with NU London.

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, including the Global Majority. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

Job sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.