Student Counsellor

Role Overview

This role centres on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of a university community, blending direct client work with proactive prevention. The counsellor will meet students where they are—offering individual sessions, running group programmes, and stepping in during urgent situations—while also building the systems that support long-term mental health on campus. By collaborating with academic, residential, and external partners, this position ensures that students receive continuous, coordinated care from first concern through to follow-up.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide confidential counselling to students, and on occasion staff and faculty, using structured assessments and tailored intervention plans for each individual’s needs.
• Act as a first responder for mental health emergencies—including trauma, bereavement, self-harm, and abuse—by conducting risk assessments and implementing immediate safety measures.
• Design and deliver campus-wide mental health promotion, including seminars and workshops on stress management, anxiety, depression, relationships, resilience, and healthy living.
• Support students facing academic adjustment problems or personal barriers by helping them build coping strategies, decision-making skills, and realistic personal growth plans.
• Launch and oversee a peer counselling programme, which involves recruiting student volunteers, providing training, and offering ongoing supervision and guidance.
• Develop and maintain a robust referral network of external psychologists, psychiatrists, hospitals, and community agencies, then track referred students to ensure they receive adequate support and show progress.
• Work closely with residence staff, chaplaincy, disability support, faculty, and other university units in multidisciplinary meetings to address student welfare concerns holistically.
• Keep diligent records, manage case files, prepare periodic reports, and maintain counselling statistics to support policy compliance and continuous improvement.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or a closely related field is required; a PhD in one of these areas is considered an added advantage.
• Must be a registered and licensed counsellor with the relevant professional body and hold membership in a recognised counselling or psychological association.
• A minimum of three years’ counselling experience is required, preferably within a higher education institution or a youth-focused environment.
• Proven crisis intervention and conflict-resolution skills are essential, along with strong listening, communication, and report-writing abilities.
• Should be proficient in Microsoft Office applications and familiar with counselling management systems for record-keeping and data tracking.
• Must handle sensitive information with discretion, maintaining professional boundaries and adhering to ethical standards and safeguarding regulations.
• Should understand the mental health issues affecting young adults and be able to engage effectively with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
• Must be a born-again Christian in good standing in family, church, and society, as this is a stated requirement of the employing institution.
• Willingness to teach at least one unit per semester in a relevant subject area and to work occasional evenings or weekends for student activities and emergencies.