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Salary: £35,608.00 - £37,694.00 per annum
Closing Date: 17 November 2025
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package, the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
We are seeking to appoint a dynamic and impactful candidate to the post of Deputy Manager, Welfare and Counselling Services. This role reports to and works closely with the Manager of Welfare and Counselling, and is responsible for operational leadership and team management of the service.
The role requires strong line management skills to lead and support Counsellors and Mental Health Advisers, oversee daily operations, and uphold service standards. You will also form a key part of the senior escalation process, offering expert advice and guidance to internal and external colleagues and students in complex or high-risk situations. The role involves promoting a positive, respectful, and inclusive culture and supporting student access, progression, and retention.
The role will involve close operational collaboration with the Students’ Union, university departments, and key external stakeholders to support strategic priorities and ensure compliance with legal and sector obligations regarding disabled students. Visible leadership is key; the position is primarily campus-based, with occasional flexible hybrid working dependent on service needs.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am‑5 pm, with out‑of‑hours working required to support the Counselling Evening Clinic and occasional crisis management support.
Interviews will be held on Friday 28 November 2025. If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Kirsty Hutchinson, Manager of Welfare and Counselling Services, at kirsty.hutchinson@ncl.ac.uk.
To apply, upload your CV and cover letter evidencing how your skills and experience align to the person specification as set out in the job description, and answer the three role‑specific questions.
Key Accountabilities
* Service Leadership: Lead and develop a professional, welcoming, and accessible service that responds effectively to the diverse needs of the student population.
* Integrated Student Support: Collaborate with colleagues across SHWS to support an integrated and holistic student support model. Ensure that service data recording and reporting systems are fit for purpose and provide intersectional data for service enhancement, resource allocation and forward planning.
* Representation and Partnership: Represent the service and university at local and national multi‑disciplinary groups where required, building and maintaining partnerships to support a safe and positive student experience.
* Line Management and Development: Provide effective line management to direct reports, monitor performance against agreed targets, and support staff development.
* Operational Oversight: Support the leadership of day‑to‑day operational and personnel processes, including induction, absence and leave management, probation, performance reviews, and staffing finance.
* Policy and Procedure Development: Support the development, review, implementation and evaluation of relevant policies and procedures to ensure effective and inclusive service delivery.
* Service Governance and Quality Assurance: Oversee service governance, including compliance with training, supervision and data reporting systems, ensuring data is fit for purpose and informs service planning, enhancement and resource allocation.
* Training and Guidance: Work collaboratively with university teams to provide education, training and expert guidance to the wider university community.
* Legislative and Sector Knowledge: Maintain in‑depth knowledge of relevant legislation, sector standards and policy developments to inform the university’s provision of reasonable adjustments and risk mitigation strategies.
* Professional Standards and Student Support: Promote ethical practice and uphold professional standards within the team, maintaining a student‑facing role where appropriate and taking proactive responsibility for personal well‑being and professional development.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
* Proven strong leadership skills with a vision and the ability to motivate and support a team of staff through change.
* Ability to support and direct colleagues and key third parties in challenging situations.
* Professional interpersonal skills to engage, support colleagues, students and their families in crisis.
* Ability to maintain high levels of personal and professional resilience.
* Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to deliver training to a diverse audience.
* The capacity to delegate effectively.
* Experience creating and managing service data recording and reporting systems, to inform service delivery plans and evidence service impact.
* Excellent IT skills, strong attention to detail, including understanding and reporting of data.
* Experience working in partnership with external providers to effect positive change.
Attributes and Behaviour
* Planning and Organising – Effective at organising and managing complex responsibilities, maintaining flexibility and setting priorities in line with institutional and team objectives.
* Finding Solutions – Encourages creative and innovative thinking, recognises urgency and acts decisively, deals with complex information quickly.
* Influencing – Uses a variety of influencing styles, plans and prepares suitable approaches.
* Communicating – Tailors communication to the audience, uses face‑to‑face communication regularly, and listens and respects others’ views.
* Embracing Change – Takes initiative to present new ideas, accepts and prepares for change.
Other Relevant Information
* A DBS check is required for this post.
* The post requires out‑of‑hours working to support the management of the Evening Clinic and occasional crisis management support.
Qualifications
A degree level professional qualification appropriate to mental health care (e.g., Mental Health Social Work, Nursing, Safeguarding, Counselling).
Employer Commitment
Newcastle University is a global university that treats everyone with dignity and respect. We are a University of Sanctuary, support people fleeing violence and persecution, and we actively recruit, support and retain colleagues from all sectors of society. We are committed to being fully inclusive, offering equal opportunities and supporting those with disabilities. We hold the Athena Swan Gold award and the Race Equality Charter Bronze award. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.
Other Information
We are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 28758
Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Other; Industry: Higher Education
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