Specialist Mentor (Mental Health) – Higher Education
Beacon Support Ltd. is recruiting Specialist Mentors to support students with disabilities and mental health conditions across multiple UK locations. The role offers flexible, freelance/self‑employed contract hours at £35 per hour, with a robust CPD programme and autonomy over your own case load, while a support manager remains readily available.
Locations
Aberystwyth, Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, Southampton, Suffolk (University of Gloucestershire – Cheltenham), Wolverhampton, York.
Responsibilities
- Assist students to learn coping strategies and techniques to overcome disability‑related difficulties.
- Encourage students to build on their strengths, introduce appropriate interventions, and develop confidence and organisational skills.
- Support students in managing workloads and addressing issues that impact on study.
- Maintain excellent communication, organisational, and flexible skills to adapt to changing student needs.
- Tailor support to individual students, setting clear goals and timescales, and use a Mentor Action Plan (MAP) to organise sessions and negotiate responsibilities.
Qualifications
- Experience working with students with specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) in higher or further education.
- Willingness to meet students face‑to‑face if requested.
- Professional membership with one of the following organisations:
- Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) – Full member.
- The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) – Accredited membership.
- The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – Registered Member (MBACP) or Accredited Member (MBACP – Accred).
- British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) – Member institution.
- British Psychological Society (BPS) – Chartered Member (CPsychol) or Graduate Member (MBPsS); PG qualification in Psychology or Mental Health.
- Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA) – Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist.
- Federation of Drug and Alcohol Practitioners (FDAP) – National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (NCAC).
- General Medical Council (GMC) – Psychiatry – Full member or above.
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – Arts Therapist / Occupational Therapist / Practitioner Psychologist / Social Worker in England.
- Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) – Accredited member.
- National Counselling Society (NCS) – Accredited Registrants or Senior Accredited Registrant; NCS Fellowship.
- National Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – Mental Health Nurse / Community Mental Health Nurse / Psychiatric Nurse.
- Social Care Wales (SCW).
- Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
- UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) – Full clinical individual member.
- The University Mental Health Advisers Network (UMHAN).
- Association of Christian Counsellors (UK) – Accredited Counsellor.
- For students with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), a degree and comprehensive training in adult autism – not mandatory for general mental‑health specialist mentors.
Benefits
- Flexible working hours based around your own case load.
- £35 per hour freelance/self‑employed contract.
- Robust CPD programme.
- Autonomy to manage your own case load with ready access to a support manager.
- Being part of a professional and caring team.
Beacon Support Ltd. is an equal opportunities employer.
