We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

Job Description - Psychological Wellbeing Advisor (25000628)

Job Description

Psychological Wellbeing Advisor (

Job Number:

Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time

Closing Date

Closing Date

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement : Please note that the successful applicant will require DBS disclosure. Further info: https://bit.ly/3DP5K8y

Working arrangements: Full-time, 35 hours per week. The maximum working day is seven hours with a one hour break. The post holder will typically work 9am to 5pm, weekdays; there is currently some flexibility around 8-4 hours but this is under review. Occasional evening work required. Options of full-time onsite working or hybrid pattern, minimum 3 days onsite.

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page.

The Role and Department

The Counselling & Mental Health Service is a multi-disciplinary central specialist service for student mental health and wellbeing provision in the University. It sits within the Student Support and Wellbeing Directorate. The Service provides individual and group interventions, advice for College and academic Staff, and the development and delivery of proactive initiatives around mental health and wellbeing. The Service exists to enable students to make the most of the academic and social opportunities that the University affords, and to support staff managing student mental health need across the University. The Service is responsive to the changing needs of Durham University and operates within clear ethical and professional guidelines.

The Psychological Wellbeing Advisors (PWAs) offer students individual support sessions, psychoeducational workshops and groups and drop-ins. They create wellbeing resources and identify areas of self-help information and resource need. The PWAs network with University staff, student groups and external resource providers, and take an active role in other aspects of Service provision.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development cou rses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in wh ich we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We

also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff

and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a

disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.

Your application should cover the following criteria:

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).

Experienced practitioner with expertise and relevant training to deliver psychological support and psychoeducational interventions to individuals and groups (from a background such as, but not limited to, psychological wellbeing practice, social work or nursing).

• Experience of implementing policy and procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
• Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to students and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
• Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice and to develop strong and productive working relationships.
• Experience of working with difference, including individuals with a range of Protected Characteristics
• Enthusiasm for and experience of delivering teaching, training and presentations.
• Working knowledge and experience of delivering listening support, and the cognitive-behavioural therapy model*
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to develop productive working relationships both internally and externally.
• Excellent digital competence with demonstrable skills in using core digital tools including internet, email, Microsoft 365 applications, and digital booking and records systems.
• Evidence of continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
• Ability to contribute to planning at an operational level and contribute to service-development.
• Experience of working in a support role in a higher education or similar context.
• Experience of mental health crisis-management

How to Apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

What you need to submit

• A CV: and

• A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification, numbered by criteria.

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Kate Augarde, Head of Service, Counselling & Mental Health Service: katharine.augarde@durham.ac.uk.

Knowledge and Experience

· Recognised professional practitioner and/or wellbeing interventions specialist

· Understanding of academic and wellbeing support needs, and the particular needs of students

· Awareness of current policy for University business goals such as widening participation and access

· Experience of conducting all work within relevant legislation, professional codes of conduct, and University and Service policies and procedures

· Experience of keeping abreast of current research and sector trends in psychological wellbeing.

S ervice Delivery/Development

• Provide specialist advice, brief interventions and listening support relating to mental health and wellbeing in line with the University’s policies, regulations and values.
• Develop and deliver our psychological wellbeing programme comprising psychoeducational and academic wellbeing workshops, webinars, drop-ins, campaigns and online self-help resources
• Manage the delivery of student support to a high standard and ensure that this is delivered in a student- focussed way.
• Offer students individual short-term psychological supportand psychoeducation including listening support, support with problem-solving and signposting.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of support and ongoing actions on the University record systems,ensuring that all records comply with data protection legislation;
• Contribute to the delivery of activities that generate external income.
• Demonstrate commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Contribute to staff and student training.

Planning and Organising

• Contribute to wider Service-development and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development of operational and strategic plans and service level agreements.
• Contribute to collection and analysis of Service data and feedback including identifying Service deficits (for example accessibility for under-represented groups) to recommend areas for future improvement.
• Seek feedback from students and other key stakeholders so that the service is adapted to meet client expectations and to plan future requirements.
• Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services.

· Use operational expertise to lead and participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.

• Develop and optimise Service communications such as social media and online resources to enhance student engagement and awareness
• Network with and outreach to the wider University student population such as the Durham Students Union and Junior Common Rooms to identify student support need

· Use a range of media and systems to communicate with internal and external stakeholders.

· Participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working internally and externally, for example:

o Attendance at conferences and workshops

o Engagement in practice supervision and line-management

o Networking with local community resource providers

· Any other reasonable duties.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

DBS Requirement: Please note that the successful applicant will require DBS disclosure.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk