Head of Student Counselling & Mental Wellbeing
Role Description
Grade & Salary:
Grade 6 Part Time (0.6FTE)
Campus Location:
Merchiston
Head of Student Wellbeing
Line Manager:
Line
Management 2 part time Student Counsellors
2 full time Mental Health Advisers
Responsibility for:
Organisational Structure:
Role Summary:
1 full time Student Wellbeing Assistant
Casual counselling staff
Tick to confirm attached
Student & Academic Services (S&AS) work to provide high
quality and effective professional services to support potential
and current students from their initial enquiry to Edinburgh
Napier University through to graduation and beyond.
Within Student & Academic Services, the Student Counselling &
Mental Wellbeing team provides a range of services to support
the mental health & wellbeing of students including counselling
and first line response. The team also sets a policy framework
and promotes a range of resources and self-help techniques to
maintain and safeguard physical and mental health and
wellbeing..
The role holder will be a counselling or mental health practitioner
who will also manage the work of the team. The role holder will
contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of
the University’s student development and wellbeing support
services, and to the overall management of Student & Academic
Services, by leading and motivating staff to achieve University
and departmental plans.
October 2015
Main Duties and Responsibilities
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To plan, manage and evaluate the University’s counselling and mental wellbeing service to
students. Responsibilities include:
 undertaking clinical responsibility for counselling and mental wellbeing delivery
 ensuring ethical standards are met and maintained
 reviewing delivery in the light of changing demands in a multi campus setting.
To contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of student wellbeing
policies working in partnership with senior managers across the University and with the
Napier Students’ Association to provide high quality and effective professional services.
To review faith provision, spirituality and chaplaincy services for students.
To contribute to the development of service delivery across our campuses, and to input into
the ways in which student wellbeing services are delivered through digital platforms such as
MyNapier, Moodle and the staff intranet, and to students studying at our partners and at a
distance.
To be responsible for the counselling and wellbeing of students, managing a caseload and
for providing referral to a range of specialist services to assist this process.
To oversee the use of quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform activities to improve the
quality of the student experience and to help identify trends, mental health issues and other
risk groups to aid strategic planning of service provision.
To provide occasional supervision and guidance to trainee counsellors on placement.
To support the preparation of reports on student counselling and mental wellbeing services
for the University Leadership Team, the University Court, Academic Board, Student
Experience Committee and other committees and working groups; exercising discretion and
judgement as appropriate.
To draft responses to external policy documents and consultation exercises on student
counselling, preparing briefing papers on the impact on Edinburgh Napier.
To establish effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders through
networking and membership of relevant committees and working groups.
To manage the work of the Student Counselling & Mental Wellbeing team on a day-to-day
basis and contribute to the overall management of Student & Academic Services by:
 working in partnership with staff in Schools, Student & Academic Services and other
professional services to provide information and advice on student counselling
functions;
 managing the implementation of University and departmental plans, policies and
procedures;
 attending and contributing fully to management meetings and team events;
 leading on the operational planning and development of the Student Counselling &
Mental Wellbeing team;
 managing and implementing projects which support the achievement of departmental
objectives;
 delivering improvements in service delivery;
 managing designated budgets;
 ensuring that information is communicated to staff and other interested parties as
appropriate;
 taking responsibility for the recruitment, selection, induction and development of staff
within the Student Counselling & Mental Wellbeing team including setting objectives,
undertaking Personal Development Reviews and monitoring performance.
To be responsible for ensuring that the information and records processed (received,
created, used, stored, destroyed) on behalf of the University are managed in compliance
October 2015
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with ALL applicable legislation, codes and policies e.g. Data Protection, Information
Security and Records Management.
To take part in the University’s annual Professional Development Review process.
To work in line with the University’s stated values & behaviours.
To undertake any other relevant duties as may be requested by the Head of Student
Wellbeing.
www.news.napier.ac.uk/vacancies
October 2015
Person Specification
Attributes
Essential
Requirements
Desirable
Requirements
Degree or equivalent.
Education/Qualifications
Recognised Counselling
Diploma or Mental
Wellbeing related
qualification or
equivalent.
Experience
Management experience
in student support,
including financial and
human resource
management.
Extensive experience in
counselling individuals
or managing a clinical
caseload.
Understanding of mental
health issues and the
related policy context.
Experience of
successfully managing
and implementing
projects
Experience of
successfully contributing
to strategic planning,
development and
delivery in the context of
enhancing the student
experience
Skills/Personal
Requirements
October 2015
Ability to work effectively
with diverse internal and
external groups.
Experience of working in
Further/ Higher
Education.
Experience of
social/community work.
Experience of
teaching/coaching.
Experience of managing
faith provision within a
large organisation
Excellent interpersonal,
communication and
organisational skills.
Capability to lead,
motivate and facilitate
the work of a team.
Ability to manage
change and respond
positively to new
challenges.
Creative and innovative
approach to strategic
thinking and problem
solving.
Ability to maintain a high
level of confidentiality.
Ability to prioritise
competing demands,
meet deadlines and
manage own workload
with minimal
supervision.
Ability to work effectively
as part of the
management team.
Commitment to high
service standards and
customer focus and to
upholding the
University’s values and
behaviours.
Willingness to work
flexible hours including
occasional evening and
weekend work.
Commitment to
upholding the University
values and behaviours
www.news.napier.ac.uk/vacancies
October 2015
 Essential Selection Criteria are mandatory requirements for a post-holder. If a
potential candidate does not evidence all of these requirements in their application
form they do not meet the essential criteria of the role and, therefore, will not be
short-listed for interview.
October 2015