School Counsellor

Overall Purpose

The School Counsellor will be part of a wider team supporting the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of pupils during their time at Canford.  Based in the School’s purpose built Health Centre and working closely with the Senior Health Centre Nurse, Safeguarding Officer and Deputy Head Pastoral, the School Counsellor offers counselling to both boarding and day pupils whilst liaising as appropriate with internal colleagues and external agencies.

Duties

• Deliver face-to-face counselling with pupils aged 13 to 18 years using a wide range of appropriate interventions.
• Provide an independent and confidential counselling service to both boarding and day pupils through one- to-one sessions, responding as appropriate to personal, social, emotional or educational concerns
• Assess the appropriateness of the counselling service offered on an individual basis
• Promote a caring and supportive environment where pupils are comfortable and concerns can be explored in confidence
• Meet regularly with the Safeguarding Officer and Senior Health Centre Nurse to discuss caseload, progress of individual pupils and discuss levels of support required
• Liaise with relevant staff to ensure good attendance to sessions whilst monitoring which lessons are missed for counselling and where possible alternating sessions to avoid the same subject being frequently missed
• Liaise with parents or carers where appropriate, maintaining good lines of communication offering guidance where necessary
• Liaise with external agencies, working collaboratively as required
• Maintain clear and adequate professional records in accordance with relevant legislation
• Manage referrals and own diary
• Ensure best practice using informed evidence-based decision making to achieve positive outcomes for pupils
• Fulfil professional clinical supervision and CPD requirements attending relevant training as required
• Maintain a high level of knowledge and awareness of changes and developments in the counselling field
• Maintain good awareness of issues facing young adults
• Ensure that care is taken at all times in relation to the health, safety and welfare of pupils, complying with Canford’s policies and procedures at all times
• Adhere to the School’s safeguarding policies and procedures passing on any concerns to the School’s Safeguarding team.
• Maintain records on the School’s safeguarding system Myconcern where necessary
• Attend the School’s Multi-Disciplinary Team to discuss pupils with complex needs
• Make visits to the ten Houses and the Sixth Form College so that pupils are aware of who the School Counsellor is and how to access the service
• Attend multi-agency meetings when required
• Ensure that the provision of counselling is reflective of the School’s needs

 Knowledge / Experience

• Professional qualification in counselling (or similar)  (E)
• BACP Registration (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy)  (E)
• Educated to degree level or equivalent  (D)
• Current First Aid Certificate   (D)
• Experience of counselling in either a School setting or in an environment with young adults  (E)
• Knowledge, understanding and experience of a range of behavioural difficulties together with an understanding or underlying causes and triggers  (E)
• Understanding of appropriate intervention strategies  (E)
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures within a boarding environment  (E)
• Understanding of GDPR together with an appreciation of issues surrounding confidentiality(E)
• IT Literate  (E)
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills  (E)
• Ability to build strong relationships with pupils and staff of all levels  (E)
• Ability to remain calm  (E)
• Ability to plan own workloads and work independently  (E)
• Excellent time management skills  (E)
• A friendly, caring and approachable manner, with the ability to communicate with pupils, colleagues and external bodies as required  (E)
• Trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality  (E)
• Excellent listening skills  (E)
• Willing to undergo further training as required by the position  (E)
• Flexible and available at short notice  (E)
• Full Driving Licence  (D)
• Lives locally  (D)

Consideration will be given to candidates wishing to "job share" in this role

Canford is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our community and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates.  We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  All successful job applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening.