Student Wellbeing Counsellor (Maternity Leave Cover)

Location: York

Salary: £34,610 - £39,906 per annum.

Contract: Fixed Term, Full Time.

Introduction to York St John University

Situated in the heart of the historic city of York, and with the addition of our London Campus, York St John University has a long and proud tradition as a distinguished higher education provider. Our success is founded on the quality of academic teaching and research, our thriving campus environments, our professional and pastoral support, and our values of an inclusive, innovative and ambitious community with a strong sense of belonging.

The Team

The Student Wellbeing, Disability and Inclusion Service provides high quality support to students. Comprising of two teams: Wellbeing & Welfare and Disability & Inclusion, providing holistic clinical and solution focussed support to enable students to engage successfully with their studies. The service offers a multi-disciplinary approach to student wellbeing, working collaboratively to achieve excellent outcomes for students.

The Wellbeing team have two key areas of responsibility; delivering clinical mental health support to students and ensuring the effective coordination of the University’s response to complex and serious welfare incidents (such as domestic violence, serious assault, etc.). The team is made up of Mental Health Practitioners (Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers), and qualified Counsellors. We also employ Senior Practitioners and a Complex Case Lead to provide clinical leadership on students with complex mental health needs.

The Role

This role is a 12 month fixed term contract. We are looking for an accredited Counsellor to provide maternity leave cover within our multi-disciplinary service which includes counsellors, mental health practitioners, welfare advisers who provide a range of supportive brief interventions for students.

As a registered and accredited counsellor, you will be a key member of York St John University’s multi-disciplinary Wellbeing Team. Your role will involve working with a caseload of students carrying out assessments of mental health and wellbeing, risk assessments, and providing counselling as part of a brief intervention offer to support the mental wellbeing of students.

The successful candidate may also be required to work in the Wellbeing drop-in service where you will be responsible for providing in person support and guidance to students. The drop-in service provides mental health and wellbeing support to students who may be experiencing anxiety, stress, thoughts of suicide, difficulties related to studies, relationship difficulties, and other concerns.

You will have experience of the assessment and management of risk, and be able to utilise these skills in a fast-paced environment where high levels of situational awareness are essential to ensure agility of response.

A key part of the role involves collaborating with other key University services and academic departments/School teams, making and receiving effective referrals to ensure that the support students receive from the wider University is properly coordinated. You will also follow up with internal and external stakeholders following serious student incidents, such as a student being hospitalised or an incidence of serious self-harm, to ensure such cases are properly coordinated across the University.

Responsibilities

• Carry out assessments of mental health and wellbeing and risk assessments; provide counselling as part of a brief intervention to support students.
• Work in the Wellbeing drop-in service to provide in-person support and guidance to students for issues including anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties and other wellbeing concerns.
• Collaborate with other University services and academic departments; make and receive referrals to ensure coordinated support for students.
• Follow up with internal and external stakeholders after serious student incidents to ensure proper coordination across the University.

Qualifications

• Professional Counselling Qualifications at either Degree or Diploma level.
• Current accreditation with the BACP, NCPS or UKCP.

Additional information

Enhanced DBS check which will be conducted upon successful offer. Note: this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship; however applicants able to evidence right to work in the UK via an alternative route are welcome.

Queries about the role should be directed to Sonia Rooney (Head of Student Wellbeing, Disability and Inclusion). Email: s.rooney@yorksj.ac.uk.

Interviews are expected to be held on Friday 13th March 2026; those who apply are asked to keep this date free.

Please contact vacancies@yorksj.ac.uk to request a reasonable adjustment during the application process.

We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive policies and facilities to support staff from different backgrounds. As part of our commitment to providing an inclusive working environment, consideration is given to all requests for job share or flexible working arrangements.

Please note that CVs are not accepted in place of the application form. Within the application process you will be asked to answer a selection of work-related questions. Our aim is to get to know you, and understand your individual skills and experience, and how you would apply these within the role. We are aware that AI can assist you with this, but we would prefer you to share your answers in your own words.