Counselling Officer

We are one of the largest partners of the University of the Highlands and Islands, a partnership of 11 colleges and research institutions comprising Scotland’s newest university.

As the UK’s leading tertiary education provider, we deliver both further education and higher education courses and that makes us different from traditional institutions. Through an innovative approach to learning and some of the best online learning technologies, we offer our students the complete learner journey, where they have choice and flexibility to study from access level right through to PhD.

Inverness College UHI is at the heart of the community. Working closely with businesses and stakeholders, our curriculum and research capacity is designed to meet the ever-evolving needs of industry and support the strengths and ambitions of the region. Through a personalised approach, we help our students discover their right path, providing them with a combination of qualification and job-ready skills to succeed in the workplace. Inverness College UHI has locations at Inverness Campus and also the Scottish School of Forestry (Balloch), a growing hub for research, innovation and enterprise set within a 215 acre site. 

We are seeking an enthusiastic, dedicated member of staff to join our Wellbeing and Learning Support team as a Counselling Officer, on a permanent basis.

Job Purpose:

Working predominantly with young adults experiencing a variety of challenges, this is an exciting opportunity for someone with the right set of skills to join a busy and proactive wellbeing team within an educational setting. In addition to covering our responsive drop-in service, you will be managing a diary of counselling sessions with students, for which you will receive professional supervision.

You must be a qualified and registered counsellor: the ideal candidate will also be professionally trained in suicide intervention and experienced in supporting people in mental health crisis. You will be required to liaise with and refer to external agencies, so you should already have an understanding of local health and social care services and third sector support providers.

As part of the college’s dispersed leadership approach, you will be expected to participate in team and wider college enhancement opportunities, by contributing your expertise when required.

You will be based primarily at UHI Inverness main campus Monday to Thursday, working flexibly within our opening hours. A hybrid working arrangement to include some days of working from home is also possible, pending a review of arrangements for confidentiality considerations.

Essential Criteria

•      BACP/ COSCA registered and accredited counsellor (or potential to re-register in a short time scale/seeking accreditation)

•      Diploma level Counselling qualification

•      Experience of working with young adults- awareness of common challenges for young adults.

Please see job profile below for full details.

Terms and Conditions

Please note: the successful post holder will need to pass a satisfactory PVG Scheme check through Disclosure Scotland prior to commencing employment.

Application closing date: 28/04/25

Shortlisting will take place on: 29/04/25

Interviews will take place on: 06/05/25

Requests for feedback after interview are welcomed, unfortunately this is not available at the shortlisting stage

If you have any queries about the application process, or to request a manual application form, please contact the Human Resources Department on recruitment.ic@uhi.ac.uk or 01463 273210.

Job Profile document

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