Counsellor

University of Bristol - Student Counselling Service

The role

We are excited to be recruiting a 30 hour Counsellor, to provide specialist medium-term (12 week blocks) counselling for victims of sexual violence. The counsellor will join the University of Bristol’s Student Counselling Service for an 18-month fixed term contract. During this period we will endeavour to secure long-term or permanent funding for the role, but this cannot be guaranteed. The role will provide 2 full days of sexual violence counselling (approx. 9 sessions) and 2 full days of One at a Time Therapy (OAAT), which will include a variety of needs and presentations, not just sexual violence support. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the OAAT model before applying and ensure they’re happy to work in this manner: One at a Time Counselling.

This post sits within our multidisciplinary service, reporting to a Counsellor Manager, and working alongside counsellors, mental health advisors, and other specialist practitioners. We are looking for a specific working pattern for this role, so it’s important you can work to these hours: Tuesday: 9:00-17:00 Wednesday: 12:00-20:00 Thursday: 9:00-17:00 Friday: 9:00-17:00

What will you be doing?

• Provide one-to-one counselling to students impacted by sexual violence, sexual harassment, and other forms of gender-based harm, with specialist knowledge and training, such as trauma-informed, and pre-trial therapy.
• Deliver support using our One at a Time Therapy (OAAT) model, ensuring a focused, responsive, and accessible approach.
• Offer therapeutic interventions at a low to moderate level of complexity and risk, including psychoeducational and trauma-informed work.
• Work within a survivor-centred, and safeguarding-aware framework, ensuring students feel heard, believed, and empowered.
• Contribute to university-wide prevention and awareness initiatives, collaborating with colleagues in Student Wellbeing, Residential Wellbeing, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and the Sexual Violence Liaison team.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case records in line with BACP Ethical Framework (or equivalent) and UK GDPR.
• Counselling is provided in person on campus in line with student preference and needs. These roles are not suitable for remote or home-based delivery, particularly because of the nature of the work.

We provide regular specialist supervision, group supervision, and funded CPD opportunities to ensure practitioners are supported in working with trauma and sexual violence disclosures.

You should apply if

We welcome applications from counsellors who:

• Are BACP/UKCP/BABCP or equivalent accredited (or ready to apply for accreditation during the role).
• Have specialist training and experience in supporting survivors of sexual violence and trauma, ideally in a university, youth, or community setting.
• Are confident working within a single-session or brief therapy model.
• Understand the complexities of intersectionality and the impact of cultural, racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ identity in the experience of sexual violence.
• Can contribute to a diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist service environment.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic practitioners and those with lived experience relevant to the role. Appointments will be made on merit.

The Student Counselling Service is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive workplace, reflecting the diversity of our student body and ensuring students can access culturally sensitive and appropriate therapeutic support.

Additional information

Contract type: Fixed term contract until 12/04/27

Work pattern: 30 hours per week

Salary: £43,482 - £50,253 per annum pro rata

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Thursday 18th September.

For informal queries please contact Deputy Head of the Student Counselling Service alison.clist@bristol.ac.uk