Student Wellbeing & Psychological Counsellor (3-5 Month Contract)

POSITION PURPOSE
The Student Wellbeing Counsellor plays a key role in supporting the holistic development and success of students at the University by promoting psychological wellbeing, emotional resilience, and personal growth throughout their university journey. The role provides both individual counselling and group activities, delivers preventative wellbeing programmes, and contributes to building a healthy, safe, and inclusive learning environment across the University.
Working closely with the Head of Student Engagement, the teammate and and relevant departments, the position holder will help identify emerging wellbeing needs among students, provide timely support and interventions, and design initiatives that strengthen students' capacity to manage academic, personal, and social challenges.
The Counsellor will also contribute to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of counselling policies, procedures, and service standards, ensuring alignment with best practices from UK partner universities, international higher education standards, and Vietnamese regulatory requirements (including MOET regulations).
Through counselling services, educational workshops, awareness campaigns, and cross-department collaboration, the role supports the University's mission of nurturing graduates who demonstrate kindness, resilience, compassion, integrity, and respect.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
1. Counselling and Student Support
• Provide confidential individual and group counselling to students experiencing social, emotional, psychological, or behavioural challenges.
• Support students in managing issues such as academic stress, anxiety, relationships, identity development, emotional regulation, and social integration.
• Conduct wellbeing screenings, assessments, and risk evaluations to identify potential concerns and provide appropriate support or intervention.
• Provide early intervention and case management for students facing wellbeing challenges, ensuring appropriate follow-up and documentation.
• Refer students to relevant internal services or external professional support where necessary.
2. Wellbeing Programmes, Workshops and Events
• Design and deliver wellbeing workshops, talks, campaigns, and awareness initiatives on topics such as mental health literacy, resilience, stress management, emotional intelligence, and healthy relationships...
• Plan and implement a structured annual wellbeing activities calendar aligned with the University academic cycle and student needs.
• Collaborate with student clubs, academic and operations departments, and university units to integrate wellbeing themes into co-curricular and student life activities.
• Support the delivery of wellbeing-related sessions during orientation and induction programs, Personal and Social Growth Programme and PSG Weeks, recruitment events, parents' events, and university engagement activities where appropriate.
3. Service Development, Quality Assurance and Best Practice
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of the University's counselling services, including policies, procedures, and operational frameworks.
• Ensure counselling practices align with professional ethical standards, UK partner university guidelines, and MOET regulations.
• Benchmark and adopt best practices from UK partner universities and international higher education wellbeing services.
• Support the development of new initiatives that improve student access, engagement, and awareness of wellbeing services.
• Maintain accurate and confidential counselling records in accordance with data protection and professional standards.
4. University-wide Wellbeing Promotion
• Work collaboratively with academic staff, student services teams, and university leadership to promote a whole-institution approach to student wellbeing.
• Support the development and implementation of preventative wellbeing programmes that contribute to a positive campus environment.
• Promote policies and initiatives that enhance student safety, inclusiveness, and respect across the University community.
• Provide consultation to university staff regarding student wellbeing concerns where appropriate.
5. Monitoring, Reporting and Administration
• Collect and analyse data relating to counselling services usage, student wellbeing trends, and programme outcomes to inform service improvement.
• Prepare weekly case updates, semester reports, and annual wellbeing reports for the Head of Student Engagement.
• Develop and manage semesterly wellbeing activity plans and budgets for events and initiatives.
• Support departmental communication, including newsletters, student communications, and wellbeing awareness materials.
• Ensure timely and professional responses to enquiries from students, parents, and university stakeholders.
6. Safeguarding and Student Protection
• Maintain strict confidentiality and professional ethics in handling all student cases.
• Remain vigilant to signs that a student may be at risk due to bullying, harassment, mental health concerns, abuse, or other safety issues.
• Escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately and coordinate with relevant university units when necessary.
7. Other Duties
• Assist in supervising and supporting students during university events and activities where wellbeing oversight is required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of Student Engagement or University management.