Specialist Mentor (Mental Health) – Higher Education
Beacon Support Ltd. is recruiting Specialist Mentors to support students with disabilities and mental health conditions across multiple UK locations. The role offers flexible, freelance/self‑employed contract hours at £35 per hour, with a robust CPD programme and autonomy over your own case load, while a support manager remains readily available.
Locations
Aberystwyth, Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, Southampton, Suffolk (University of Gloucestershire – Cheltenham), Wolverhampton, York.
Responsibilities
* Assist students to learn coping strategies and techniques to overcome disability‑related difficulties.
* Encourage students to build on their strengths, introduce appropriate interventions, and develop confidence and organisational skills.
* Support students in managing workloads and addressing issues that impact on study.
* Maintain excellent communication, organisational, and flexible skills to adapt to changing student needs.
* Tailor support to individual students, setting clear goals and timescales, and use a Mentor Action Plan (MAP) to organise sessions and negotiate responsibilities.
Qualifications
* Experience working with students with specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) in higher or further education.
* Willingness to meet students face‑to‑face if requested.
* Professional membership with one of the following organisations:
o Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) – Full member.
o The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) – Accredited membership.
o The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – Registered Member (MBACP) or Accredited Member (MBACP – Accred).
o British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) – Member institution.
o British Psychological Society (BPS) – Chartered Member (CPsychol) or Graduate Member (MBPsS); PG qualification in Psychology or Mental Health.
o Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA) – Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist.
o Federation of Drug and Alcohol Practitioners (FDAP) – National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (NCAC).
o General Medical Council (GMC) – Psychiatry – Full member or above.
o Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – Arts Therapist / Occupational Therapist / Practitioner Psychologist / Social Worker in England.
o Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) – Accredited member.
o National Counselling Society (NCS) – Accredited Registrants or Senior Accredited Registrant; NCS Fellowship.
o National Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – Mental Health Nurse / Community Mental Health Nurse / Psychiatric Nurse.
o Social Care Wales (SCW).
o Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
o UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) – Full clinical individual member.
o The University Mental Health Advisers Network (UMHAN).
o Association of Christian Counsellors (UK) – Accredited Counsellor.
* For students with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), a degree and comprehensive training in adult autism – not mandatory for general mental‑health specialist mentors.
Benefits
* Flexible working hours based around your own case load.
* £35 per hour freelance/self‑employed contract.
* Robust CPD programme.
* Autonomy to manage your own case load with ready access to a support manager.
* Being part of a professional and caring team.
Beacon Support Ltd. is an equal opportunities employer.
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