Head of Department

Position: Head – Student Well Being

FLAME University is the pioneer of liberal education in India, delivering the country’s premier interdisciplinary education experience. It’s educational philosophy is rooted in the concept of liberal education, a system of instruction that transcends the artificial divisions that exists between disciplines and unmasks the underlying unity of all knowledge. It urges the student to engage with multiple disciplines in order to view issues from different perspectives for a better understanding of the subject and discover more effective solutions to problems. FLAME University is driven to being one of India’s most respected and reputed centres of learning - the premier destination of choice for higher education in the nation for learners and teachers, to push the design and nature of studies and to create a societal up-gradation phenomenon, particularly in the fields of liberal education and leadership. FLAME has been set up with an idealistic vision and a social commitment to contribute to society nobly.

Head – Student Well Being

Planning and Strategizing for Wellbeing

• Develop systematic ways to assess, improve, and renew support provided to students and make plans for improvements.
• Manage, audit and develop the wellbeing services at FLAME.
• Plan, budget and schedule workshops, talks and seminars and campaigns on mental health issues& awareness at FLAME campus
• Create a culture that is friendly and inclusive to mental health challenges.
• Provide inputs to the management on budgetary requirements
• Collaborate with the Asst. Dean – Student Affairs and the HoD for inputs and support on key activities, process design, and overall framework.

Guidance & Counseling

• Provide individual crisis intervention counseling to referred and self-referred students who are experiencing social, emotional, or academic difficulties; Assist student in cases of crisis assessment and prevention
• Examine issues including substance abuse, aging, bullying, anger management, careers, depression, relationships, LGBTQ issues, self-image, stress and suicide and provide appropriate guidance.
• Work in concert with the Academic staff to assist and assess students identified by as experiencing social or behavioural difficulties in the classroom
• Work with families, guardians, friends, deans whenever necessary maintaining norms of client confidentiality.
• Facilitate group conflict resolution sessions for referred and self-referred students
• Encourage students to discuss emotions and experiences.
• Undertake assessments, including assessment of mental health needs, risk assessment and psychometric testing wherever necessary & formulate a psychological explanation of the student’s issues
• Help students define goals, plan action and gain insight.
• Effectively manage life issues such as bereavement, domestic violence, relationship difficulties, sexual abuse & traumas etc.
• Support students through mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) & psychosis.
• Plan and implement specialist psychological treatments with the help of professionals.
• Refer students to psychologists or appropriate therapeutic agencies and other services outside of FLAME when needed. Take constant progress report from the referred medical practitioner about case progress and developments.

Development & Improvement initiatives

• Work with individuals &groups to improve mental health at FLAME and make FLAME as a mental health friendly community.
• Develop therapeutic processes and methods & take a holistic (mind and body) approach to mental health care.
• Organise workshops, talks and seminars and campaigns on mental health issues at FLAME campus on regular intervals.
• Conduct in-service workshops, as requested, for academic and residential staff on topics such as child abuse, crisis intervention, learning disabilities, medications, and self-destructive behaviour identification & prevention
• Design, supervises, and conducts workshops/presentations on specific psychological topics for the university community.
• Carry out continuing personal and professional development to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

Other Duties

• Work in co-ordination with the Admissions team to assist and assess potential students identified by assessors as experiencing social or behavioural difficulties and provide inputs on admission.
• Maintain documentation and case files for all sessions conducted in a timely accurate and prescribed manner.
• Monitor and evaluate the outcome of treatments and provide regular updates to seniors.
• Prepare evaluations and reports at the end of treatment plans and share with necessary stakeholders.
• Maintain documentation of service delivery in accordance with standards of the profession.

Stakeholder Management

• Establish a collaborative working relationship with the students based on trust and respect
• Collaborate with - and provide advice to - colleagues, the broader multidisciplinary team and referrers in the planning of treatment and provision of services to meet the students’ needs
• Communicate complex, technical and/or clinically sensitive information clearly, both orally and in writing, to clients, their families and carers keeping in norms with client confidentiality.
• Serve as liaison to parents regarding concerns about students’ emotional and behavioural difficulties such as homesickness, social withdrawal, or aggressive behaviours.
• Work in concert with the Residential Life Coordinator to assist and assess students identified by residential staff as experiencing social or behavioural difficulties in the residential setting
• Discuss individual students with resident councillors, counsellors, Deans and make timely escalations wherever necessary.
• Provide consultation to the university community regarding individuals of concern.
• Actively engage in liaison relationships and serve on university committees as needed

Requirements:

• A master’s degree or comparable formal training is required with graduate coursework in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience. Experience with students is preferred.
• Interpersonal and psychotherapeutic skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Counselling skills
• An open-minded and sensitive approach
• The ability to explore emotional issues
• Analytical skills
• Independence and self-motivation
• Capability of working under pressure
• Time management skills to be able to manage a caseload
• Understanding of cultural and religious diversity.