Student Placement 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.
We are offering counselling placements to second or third year counselling students from January 2026, based at our offices in Bristol or Taunton.
Hours: Minimum 6 hours per week (4 clients)
Location: Bristol or Taunton
Closing Date: midnight on Tuesday 18 November 2025
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
About the role
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.
About you
We are pleased to announce that we now have placements available to counselling and psychotherapy students in Bristol and Taunton starting in January 2026!
Volunteers are an integral part of the services we offer victim-survivors of rape and sexual abuse, so thank you for considering SARSAS for your potential counselling / placement.
“SARSAS has been a great holding environment for a placement, supporting me to work with a range of clients. The team are always welcoming and interested in my training/progression and there’s such a wealth of expertise and knowledge in the organisation with people always happy to share it. I’d definitely recommend!”
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.
SARSAS also campaigns and raises awareness about rape and sexual violence to change the narrative about sexual violence and enable survivor’s voices to be heard. Partnership work with a range of agencies locally and nationally is a priority to enable social change.
SARSAS works to feminist principles: this underpins both what our service is and how it is run. 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.
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
Closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 18 November 2025
Interviews will be held in person in our Bristol office.
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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