Description
School Guidance Counsellor
Purpose of Role
Nibras International School is looking for School Guidance Counsellor to join the team in August 2024.
All staff in school share a responsibility to ensure that children are always safe and properly supervised. Our school is committed to ‘amazing learning’- providing enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences so that every pupil makes as much progress as possible. All staff are expected to adhere to NIS policies and code of conduct and commit to promoting our vision – ‘A happy community school with amazing learning at its heart where pupils are empowered to make choices, engage in meaningful learning experiences and make exceptional progress’
ISP Principles
Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.
Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.
Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.
Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.
Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.
Key qualities and skills:
- Proven working experience in school counselling with children aged 3 up
- Integrity and professionalism
- Kind, considerate and welcoming
- Ability to respond effectively to the needs of a diverse community
- Working knowledge of various counselling models, practices and resources
- Engaging interpersonal skills and excellent communication skills
- Sound judgement and emotional intelligence
- Ability to work and support children, staff and families
Core purpose of a School Guidance Counsellor:
The Counsellors priority is to support the academic and social welfare of pupils by initiating and maintaining a positive relationship with pupils, staff and families in order to enhance the school’s academic mission of providing amazing learning. He/she is also responsible for engaging the community in building cooperative partnerships for the sake of a pupil’s success. He/she is expected to develop a healthy, safe and productive environment in which pupils can achieve their potential and are required to counsel and support pupils on personal development issues or when dealing with complex and sensitive issues
This is a very varied role. We are looking for a professional school counsellor to ensure our children are safe and happy in school so they can focus on amazing learning. This will involve working with groups and individuals informally helping children manage issues and feelings including time to talk, as well as providing formal counselling with parental consent and working closely with staff and families
Key Duties:
The School Guidance Counsellor must undertake various tasks, including:
- Helping children manage their feelings and deal with a range of incidents
- Providing group and individual support on an ad hoc and planned time to talk basis
- Managing playground games, buddies and other systems within the school
- Monitoring and managing pupil attendance and punctuality
- Providing formal counselling with consent of the family
- Supporting staff in managing incidents and behaviour
- Supporting families – individuals, support groups and larger groups e.g. through workshops
- Working with staff to analyse in school assessments
- Working with the inclusion team, medical and safeguarding staff to provide the very best pastoral care for children
- Taking responsibility for personal professional development, keeping up to date with research and developments which may lead to improvements in the counselling service provided, arranging and delivering relevant training for staff as and when needs are identified.
- Meeting the requirements of the local regulatory body
- Contributing to the safe and smooth day to day running of the school
Skills, Qualifications and Experience
Education: Counseling certification, Psychology Degree
Experience: 2 years in Supporting the emotional wellbeing of children in a school setting
Competencies:
- Outstanding performance in counselling & wellbeing in a school setting
- Safeguarding and welfare of children
- Excellent communication skills and command of the English language, in spoken and written form
- A collaborative team-player with excellent interpersonal skills.
- Behavior management
Attributes:
- Collaborative team player, empathetic listener
- Integrity and confidentiality
- Internationally minded
- Emotional intelligence
- Intercultural awareness, creative
- Flexible and a can-do attitude
Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified.
Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description
Employees are expected to be courteous to colleagues and provide a welcoming environment to visitors and telephone callers.
ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles
ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.
ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.