Registered Junior Counsellor - Department of Student Affairs at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

Job Purpose
Screening, attending to or referral of incoming service requests to the Student Counselling Unit (SCU). Psychological and preventative interventions as per scope of practice in line with HPCSA guidelines, within the UP student community. Assist with projects to promote and enhance psychological wellbeing within the UP student community .
Responsibilities

1. The successful candidate's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
2. Screening, attending to or referral of service requests to the SCU:
3. Handling service requests to the Student Counselling Unit (SCU) via all platforms;
4. Conducting semi-structured evaluative interviews within a confidential and supportive framework;
5. Ensuring containment and onward referral of clients presenting in crisis and distress;
6. Ensuring feedback from clients on service delivery is recorded and analysed for referral to management in order to identify improvements

Counselling interventions:

1. Delivering short-term and supportive counselling interventions with clients in the student community;
2. Applying psychological theoretical frameworks and client development phases, in order to service client needs within appropriate scope;
3. Ensuring that counselling activities are within the role and scope limitations, and conducting appropriate referral when necessary;

Psychoeducation workshops and webinars:

1. Ensuring supportive functions in the delivery of workshops and webinars by other members of the SCU-team;
2. Ensuring that feedback from clients on service delivery is recorded and analysed for referral management in order to identify improvements;

Administrative duties and research assistance:

1. Keeping patient records up to date and correctly;
2. Attending to, and keeping records, of internal and external stakeholder’s engagements by ensuring communication on all platforms.

Minimum Requirements

1. Honours degree in Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych), or related approved Honours level Psychology degree;
2. Six months’ training practicum/internship completed for registration purposes at HPCSA; including:
3. Experience as a counsellor during practicum
4. Exposure during practicum to the management of psychological needs of students in a tertiary education environment;
5. Actively Registered with HPCSA as a registered Counsellor in Independent Practice.

Required Competencies (skills, Knowledge, And Behavioural Attributes)
Knowledge:

1. Psychological/theoretical knowledge of diagnostic systems and client development phases;
2. Ethical codes and legislation related to health care professionals;
3. Application of psychological theories;
4. Theoretical conceptual skills;
5. Health care systems and service delivery within a multi-disciplinary team;
6. Knowledge and application of psychological theoretical frameworks and client developmental phases;

Technical:

1. Administrative abilities (note taking, report writing, record keeping);
2. Computer literacy (MS Office) and patient record systems;
3. Data and information organisation and analysis;

Communication skills;
Behavioural competencies:

1. Ability to focus, remain calm, and act correctly under pressure;
2. Self-directedness, intellectual autonomy, and planning abilities;
3. Above average communication skills;
4. Ability to integrate into, and contribute to a health professions team;
5. Ability to respond positively to feedback and guidance from managers;
6. Ability to attend to many responsibilities at once.

Added Advantages And Preferences

1. Two years’ experience:
2. In excess of practicum;
3. Previous work experience in the higher education and tertiary sector in the management of student psychological needs;
4. In the development of workshops and community interventions to a student population.
5. This contract position will be remunerated with an hourly tariff, as determined by UP policy guidelines.