Associate Lecturer - Counselling in Bedford

Location: Bedford College – Cauldwell Street Campus

Salary: £35.00 per hour

Hours: A minimum of 3 hours per week – always 18.00 to 21.00 on Wednesdays

Contract Type: Sessional – Hourly Paid

Right to Work: This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About the role: We are currently seeking an Associate Lecturer in Counselling to join our Adult and Community Learning and ESOL department at The Bedford College Group. As an Associate Lecturer, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Teaching, Learning & Student Achievement: Deliver high‑quality teaching across CPCAB Levels 2–3, supporting learners to achieve their potential through engaging, inclusive and student‑centred learning experiences.
• Assessment, Progress & Quality Assurance: Assess and verify learner work to awarding body standards, monitor progress and implement timely interventions to ensure achievement and meet deadlines.
• Curriculum Development & Innovation: Contribute proactively to curriculum design, develop schemes of work and learning materials, and support innovative teaching practices aligned with sector requirements.
• Learner Support, Tutorials & Mentoring: Provide individual and group tutorials, support student wellbeing and progression, and act as a mentor to learners and new teaching staff.
• Professional Practice, Collaboration & Compliance: Work collaboratively across teams, participate in recruitment and marketing activities, and uphold safeguarding, EDI, health & safety and CPD standards.

About you:

• Qualifications & Teaching Expertise: Relevant subject qualification (minimum one level above teaching level) with a Level 5 teaching qualification, supported by specialist knowledge of counselling practice and the BACP Ethical Framework.
• CPCAB Delivery & Sector Experience: Recent experience delivering CPCAB Levels 2–3 programmes, with ability to meet awarding body standards and contribute to curriculum delivery and development.
• Communication, Organisation & Classroom Management: Excellent communication, organisational and classroom management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and build strong professional relationships.
• Professional Skills, IT & Confidentiality: Strong IT skills (Microsoft Office), high attention to detail and ability to handle sensitive information confidentially while meeting deadlines under pressure.
• Professional Values, Safeguarding & Flexibility: Committed to safeguarding, equality and professional boundaries, adaptable to changing demands with flexibility to travel and work across sites in line with College values.

What is an Associate? Associates work on a short‑term basis as assigned. They teach or provide support services, and they work with and are supported by core staff. As an Associate you will be issued with an Associate Agreement, under this Agreement period you will be eligible to work on assignments offered to you.

Values:

• Valuing Teamwork: We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously: We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new ideas, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred: At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive: We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring: We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence: We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

Interview Process: Interviews to be held: TBC

Safeguarding and Vetting: The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to a thorough vetting process which includes an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Legal Information: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975 provide information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions, and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy. Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.