Trainee Placements
Counselling training placements at Sheffield Hallam
Training placements: Counselling Service Policy
How to apply for a Counselling Training Placement

Counselling training placements at Sheffield Hallam
We offer placements to people who are students on counselling practitioner courses, and who have a high level of educational attainment. As a general principal, it is the policy of the Counselling Service not to offer placements to people who are students or employees of the University.

Placements are normally for half a day a week, for a year. Placements can start either in January, April or September, depending on course requirements and the readiness of applicants to work with clients. These placements are unpaid.
Trainees work to the normal service practice arrangements, including the professional requirements of confidentiality.
Trainees must have supervision arrangements in place before they start the placement. Supervision is normally external to the Service.
The Service provides each trainee with a mentor, who is one of the counsellors in the Service. Trainees meet regularly with their mentor.
Trainees are invited to attend case discussions within the Service. These are held three times in each term. Trainees are encouraged to attend them all, and are expected to attend at least one a term
The Service has a competitive recruitment process. This includes a written application followed by an interview for short-listed candidates. Candidates will be expected to discuss their ability to engage in therapeutic relationships, and to demonstrate understanding of the learning process and how it impinges psychologically on individuals.
A reference is required from someone who has some knowledge of a trainee's counselling, or other work in a one-to-one helping role. In addition, the Service always contacts the course to confirm the appropriateness of the placement, given the trainee's progress on the course.
Reviews of the placement are held with each trainee half way through the placement, at the end of the placement, and at other times if appropriate.
Continuing contact between the Service and the course is expected. Visits by course tutors are welcomed.
Training placements: Counselling Service Policy
The Counselling Service recognises the training needs of the profession, and welcomes the opportunity to offer placements to trainee counsellors.
Normally, only a trainee who is on a course of study with counselling practice as a major component will be considered.
Support and supervision arrangements for the trainee, including the responsibilities of both the Service and the course in their provision, will be clearly laid out. It is expected that a trainee will avail him or herself of
such support and supervision
It is a requirement of accepting the placement that the trainee works within the normal practice arrangements of the Counselling Service, including the requirement for confidentiality
As a general principal, it is the policy of the Counselling Service not to offer placements to people who are students or employees of the University.
How to apply for a Counselling Training Placement
To apply for a placement, candidates will need to provide us with the following:

A written application form followed by an interview for short-listed candidates. You will be expected to discuss your ability to engage in therapeutic relationships, and to demonstrate understanding of the learning process and how it impinges psychologically on individuals.
The name of someone who will give you a reference, and their position or status. This will need to be someone who has some experience of your one-to-one counselling work, or in other one-to-one helping roles.
Before applying, applicants will be well advised to consider whether a placement in an academic environment is the right one for them. Part of our requirements of candidates is a significant level of education, usually in higher education. Many clients bring academic -related issues, and difficulties in the learning process, as part of the work, and applicants will need to be able to address these.
The closing date for applications for placements in 2008/09 is May 2008. Interviews will take place during June 2008.

For specific dates and further details please contact the Counselling Service.

Contact us
Counselling Service,
Sheffield Hallam University,
Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB

Telephone: 0114 225 2136
Fax: 0114 225 2187
E-mail:

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