Whole School Counsellor - Wellbeing

Key Responsibilities

• To provide counselling to suit the social and emotional needs of children and provide the relevant service including, individual counselling, group counselling and family meetings.
• To liaise with members of the wider school staff in order to work in the best interest of children.
• To hold regular meetings with parents of children who are using the service; as appropriate.
• To provide consultation where a child protection issue or other such issues arise.
• To provide support and guidance to teaching staff enabling them to better identify and support children with emotional and wellbeing difficulties.
• To maintain appropriate records and to ensure confidentiality is maintained in all aspects of work.
• To establish, maintain and monitor appropriate administrative systems with regards to student referral and to provide termly quantitative data reports for review, evaluation and planning.
• To contribute to the promotion of health and wellbeing initiatives in school.
• Liaising with the Curriculum Lead and PSHE lead on a regular basis regarding PSHE Education provision in relation to counselling and mental health.
• Supporting new families in the transition into a new school and country or city.

Financial management

Working with their line manager’s support, the Counsellor will:

• Budget for and distribute resources related to counselling and mental health effectively.
• Work as a team to coordinate overseas and local orders to ensure adequate resourcing for counselling and mental health.
• Contribute to the short, medium and long-term planning processes having regard to financial implications.
• Ensure that counselling provides good value for money through cost-effective and efficient delivery.

Education and Experience

• A diploma in Counselling / Certificate in Counselling Children and Adolescents (or equivalent recognised qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology)
• Possess a post graduate diploma or Masters qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy with a specialist qualification in child and adolescent work.
• Teaching qualification (desirable).
• BACP Accreditation, UKCP or BPC registration or other professional registering body.
• Experience of specialist psychotherapeutic assessment and treatment of students with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
• Experience in working with young children, ages 3-18, and their families.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current Child Protection and Safeguarding practice.
• Experience of working in a school context with knowledge of education systems.
• Awareness of global diversity and third culture issues.

Skills and Abilities

• Possess highly developed verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex, technical and sensitive information to students, families and colleagues.
• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner with an appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision.
• Ability to stay abreast of current counselling developments, evaluate such in terms of suitability and utility, and disseminate such information to teachers as appropriate.

Expectations

As a professional Counsellor, it will be expected that the counsellor will support our community effectively by:

• Inspiring trust and confidence.
• Ensures that Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures are followed effectively.
• Develop the safeguarding action plan alongside the safeguarding team in relation to counselling and mental health and report progress made against it.
• Working with colleagues to lead developments in the school’s counselling service.
• Gathering information from all sources to best help students.
• Participate in regular external clinical supervision that is financially supported by the school.
• Reporting to school bodies on recent developments in the field.
• Engage in your own professional development and support staff in their professional development.
• Promote achievement and share information with parents proactively through communications and parent presentations, workshops or focus groups.

Confidentiality

• The School Counsellor should follow the guidelines and codes of practice agreed between the counselling team and senior leadership to ensure the highest levels of confidentiality in all matters.
• The Counsellor should ensure all staff and students using the services are aware of the conditions of confidentiality.