JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Student Counselling and Mental Health Manager Job Reference: LIB770 Campus: Hendon Campus School / Service: Library and Student Support Grade: Grade 8 Salary Range: 43,486-49,996 Period: Permanent Reports to: Deputy Head of Student Support and Wellbeing Reports to Job Holder: Counsellors, Associate Trainee Counsellors (ATCs, Voluntary), Mental Health Advisors (MHAs), Counselling Psychologist, and Psychiatric Consultancy Library & Student Support (LSS) provides a wide range of support services to students including Library & student IT Support, Student Support and Wellbeing Services, Learning Enhancement and the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture. Within the Student Support and Wellbeing Services, the Counselling and Mental Health team provides individual support sessions and group support to students dealing with immediate crises or enduring difficulties affecting their life in general or University life specifically; individual support frameworks for students presenting with mental health issues; and practical advice and guidance to academic colleagues on identifying and making appropriate referrals for students with mental health concerns. Overall Purpose: The post-holder will be responsible for the leadership, management and development of the multidisciplinary Student Counselling and Mental Health Service including Counsellors, Associate Trainee Counsellors, Mental Health Advisors, Counselling Psychologist, Psychiatric Consultancy and external specialist mental health care providers hosted on campus. They will work closely with colleagues with the Disability and Dyslexia Services and across the University to develop and maintain clear referral mechanisms and protocols for supporting students with mental health issues. The post holder will coordinate staff to manage a varied and complex caseload of students, assessing and managing the risks, and providing appropriate interventions and referrals according to individual needs. They will develop awareness and training across the institution to influence the culture of the organisation, provide support for Academic Advisors and encourage students to engage with services. In addition, the post holder will themselves manage a small caseload of students. Principle Duties: 1. Lead and manage staff within the counselling and mental health services, creating and maintaining strong team dynamics to support effective working and motivation, and encouraging collaborative working. 2. Review and develop the provision of professional and specialist services, to deliver an appropriate range of interventions and activities including one-to-one support, group work, on-line support and
materials, and self-help resources all with the aim of supporting individual students throughout their time at Middlesex in a way that will best enable them to manage their studies and wider University life. 3. Carry out clinical work: conduct initial assessments, maintain a small caseload of individual clients and provide support after traumatic incidents on campus or in halls. 4. Work with the Deputy Head of Student Support and Wellbeing to review and embed policies, procedures, and protocols based on best practice for the sector, which are explained and disseminated across the university and which best support students mental and emotional health. 5. Set challenging objectives and projects in line with LSS and University strategies and manage performance to ensure individuals meet their goals, whilst maintaining high professional standards and ethics, and compliance with competency frameworks. 6. Routinely monitor and review team member s casework to ensure compliance with professional ethics and standards. Oversee arrangements to ensure all team members receive suitable clinical supervision and ensure that staff are able to manage both the pressures of student demand and student distress. 7. Continually monitor and review the service and its resources, ensuring high standards in efficiency of service delivery are maintained and sustained at times of high demand, and that staff and other resources are planned to reflect variations in the service demand cycle and sector developments. 8. Network extensively throughout the University (including with the Students Union, Admissions and with Faculties) to develop collaborative relationships and promote awareness about mental health and its relationship to student retention, academic progress, progression and continuation. 9. Contribute to the writing and production of a range of communications to ensure the availability of relevant and accessible information to staff, and existing and prospective students on a range of mental health and emotional support issues using the most relevant media source. 10. Act as a University expert and consultant in matters relating to student mental health and counselling, explaining and interpreting the context of mental health support to applicants, students and colleagues. Provide support to Academic Advisors in the forms of guidance, training and robust management of referrals. 11. Work with colleagues within the Cause for Concern group, Wellbeing Services, Academic Registry and Faculties to sustain the Cause for Concern Framework protocols for students at risk and those in mental health crisis, including emergency referral and appropriate support for students returning to their studies. 12. Ensure the team make effective use of technology to ensure there is a) a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of services, b) maximising of efficiency, effectiveness and access to resources for students and staff and c) exploration and recommendation of new systems, software and processes to enhance service delivery. 13. Make links with and attend regular meetings of professional organisations, local community mental health teams, University networks, UMHAN and other support providers, to ensure the University s influence at local and national level regarding student mental health and counselling support. 14. Understand the University s legal obligations and responsibilities under the Equality Act and the Service s Code of Confidentiality and make appropriate and timely decisions to breach the code in cases where individuals might be at risk of harming themselves or others. 15. Keep thorough, accurate and up to date records of support /client case notes to ensure compliance with the Service s Code of Confidentiality, professional standards and data protection legislation. 16. Ensure that staff maintain student record databases and be able to provide statistics and reports to inform decision making and service development, to anticipate trends, and maximise service efficiency and continuity.
17. Be responsible for effective and timely response to complaints, and provision of data and reports as required, including for FOI requests and subject access requests on behalf of the service. 18. Contribute to discussions relating to student feedback, analysing the feedback and make recommendations on service improvements. 19. Maintain professional knowledge and expertise through CPD and active engagement with relevant networks such as HUCS, keeping abreast of developments in the HE sector and ensuring compliance with professional competency frameworks and best practice. PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Student Wellbeing (Counselling and Mental Health) Manager Campus: Hendon Grade: 8 The successful candidate should be able to clearly demonstrate the following key skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary for the role: Essential: A degree or equivalent professional qualification A registered and experienced practitioner, such as a Counsellor, Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist, with significant relevant and recent experience of a) post-qualification therapeutic work with clients including the management of complex and challenging cases and clinical risk and b) managing a service supporting clients with mental health or emotional wellbeing issues, preferably in an educational environment Significant experience of working in a service supporting people with complex and varied needs, including those with depression, bi-polar affective disorder and suicidal ideation/intent Experience and thorough working knowledge of relevant codes of practice and ability to interpret these for colleagues and clients/students Demonstrable leadership, management and motivational skills with a practical and creative approach to problem solving Effective staff and service performance management, with experience of successfully leading and developing a professional team using a range of different theoretical models in short-term and solution-focussed interventions Experience of developing good practice in service delivery and knowledge of a range of therapeutic models and their relevance/suitability to students An innovative approach to service development and ability to successfully initiate and implement change Excellent communication skills and ability to gain trust with students and staff and establish credibility at all levels Commitment to on-going professional development and reflective practice Highly developed IT skills and experience in preparing, analysing and presenting statistical reports Commitment to helping the University meet its core values of being student-focussed, collaboration, acting fairly with integrity, respect and purpose, and continuous improvement.
Desirable: Significant relevant and recent experience of managing a service supporting clients with mental health or emotional wellbeing issues, preferably in an HE environment Experience of working in an FE or HE institution and the issues currently facing the sector, and how these affect student and staff wellbeing and mental health Detailed and current knowledge of NHS structures, practices and referral systems relating to mental health and of other agencies Experience of effective promotion of referral protocols within an educational environment Experience of implementing new IT systems and refining/enhancing existing IT systems and procedures to assist with the efficient running of a busy service Knowledge of current research into mental health issues, treatment options and services delivered through the NHS Experience of, or willingness to train in safeguarding responsibilities and support for students This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service certificate. You are therefore required to disclose details of any criminal record. ALL criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings, even if they would otherwise be regarded as spent under this Act must be disclosed, as well as any other information that may have a bearing on your suitability for the post, including pending prosecutions. The University will apply for a DBS certificate before your appointment is confirmed. Hours: 35.5 hours per week for 52 weeks per annum; actual daily hours by arrangement. Some flexible working involving weekend or evening work will be required. Leave: 30 days annual leave plus six extra University days and all Bank Holidays. Flexibility: Please note that given the need for flexibility in order to meet the changing requirements, the duties / location of this post and the role of the post-holder may be changed after consultation. No Parking at Hendon campus: There are no parking facilities for new staff joining our Hendon campus, except for Blue Badge holders. Information on public transport to Hendon can be found here: http://www.mdx.ac.uk/campus/campuses/docs/hendon_campus_map.pdf We offer an interest-free season ticket loan, interest-free motorbike loan, and bicycle and motorbike parking and changing facilities. The post-holder should actively follow Middlesex University policies and procedures and maintain an awareness and observation of Fire and Health & Safety Regulations Middlesex University is working towards equality of opportunity. Flexible working applications (including part-time working) will be considered. If you wish to discuss the job in further detail please contact Louise Baddeley on (020) 8411 6412 or by email at l.baddeley@mdx.ac.uk. What Happens Next?
If selected for interview, you will hear directly from someone in the School / Service / Campus, usually within 3 weeks of the closing date. If you do not hear from us you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.