Student Counsellor
We have a valuable opportunity for counselling students to join SARSAS as a Student Placement Counsellor, working with adults who have experienced sexual violence.
About the role
We are offering counselling placements to second or third year counselling students from September 2025, based at our offices in Bristol or Taunton. You will work with up to four adult clients each week who have experienced sexual violence, under supervision and within with your academic requirements.
You will become an integral part of the SARSAS team, gaining meaningful, practical experience in trauma-informed counselling, while receiving regular clinical supervision, line management, and specialist training.
Hours: minimum 6 hours per week (4 clients)
Location: Bristol or Taunton
Responsible to: Counselling Manager and Counselling Coordinator
Closing date: midnight on Sunday 6th July 2025
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
About you
You will be a skilled counselling practitioner who has experience of working with clients who have experienced significant trauma, including rape and sexual abuse. You will work creatively and in an integrative way within a person-centred framework and will be committed to creating an environment and relationship through which your clients feel safe to explore, understand and heal from their experiences.
You will be passionate about supporting people who have experienced sexual violence and committed to promoting the values and ethos of SARSAS.
What we would like from you:
- a commitment of at least one year in placement.
- to be registered as a student with a professional counselling or psychotherapy body such as BACP, or equivalent.
- to see 4 clients a week during a 6-hour block (Monday to Friday only).
What we can offer you:
- 4 counselling clients a week
- up to 2 hours of supervision a month (depending on course requirements)
- monthly line management with the Counselling Manager / Counselling Coordinator.
- mandatory training on safeguarding, GDPR, FGM, Prevent, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), and working with clients in distress.
- a supportive, caring and friendly working environment.
About SARSAS
SARSAS exists to relieve the trauma and distress and help rebuild the lives of survivors who live in Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and BANES, who have experienced any form of sexual violence, at any point in their lives. We campaign and educate to raise awareness and bring an end to sexual violence. Partnership work with a variety of agencies locally and nationally is a priority to enable social change.
Our work is guided by a trauma-informed approach which understands how traumatic experiences can impact on survivors and keeps an awareness of the effects of trauma at the forefront of our approach to support.
This video developed as part of the 2021 GSK Impact Awards will give you a taster of the work we do.
Equity, diversity, and inclusion
At SARSAS we strive to create a workplace that reflect the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We want to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates diverse voices. We actively encourage applicants with protected characteristics to apply.
We are committed to taking an inclusive approach to recruitment and selection whilst ensuring there is no discrimination in our processes and that our team and prospective employees are treated fairly, with respect and without bias. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can be made to accommodate additional requirements. Applicants are encouraged to highlight any specific adjustments needed to enable participation in the recruitment process. For more information, contact recruitment@sarsas.org.uk or call 0117 929 9556.
How to apply
Download and read the job description and person specification
Download and complete the application form
Return your completed application to recruitment@sarsas.org.uk by midnight on Sunday 6th July 2025.
Interview date: Interviews will be held on Friday 11 July, Monday 14 July and Tuesday 15 July 2025. Please ensure you are available for an interview on these dates.
If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@sarsas.org.uk or ring our Bristol office on 0117 929 9556 and speak to Laura Fitzgerald, HR Administrator.
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