School Counsellor

Main duties and responsibilities:

 To be the key lead for developing and maintaining a high-quality counselling service for the whole school, that enhances the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils.

 To offer pupils independent and confidential individual counselling and support, using a range of therapeutic interventions.

 To work with a diverse range of issues including bereavement and loss, transition, eating disorders, depression, anger management and erratic behavior, abuse of any kind, anxiety and fears.

 To employ and develop a range of solution-focused interventions to encourage confidence, independence, reflection and resilience in young people.

 To provide information on the counselling service, the role of the counsellor and the boundaries of confidentiality to pupils, staff and parents.

 To take the lead in professional consultations with staff, parent/carers, general practitioners, psychiatrists, mental health workers, social workers, school nurses and educational psychologists.

Assist parents and teachers in understanding and responding to developmental levels of students.

 To perform duties within the codes of practice and ethics recommended by the professional bodies e-g BACP, UKCP or equivalent organizations.

 To promote a caring and supportive environment where such concerns may be explored thereby promoting mental and emotional health.

 To be alert to trends and patterns of problems and to be willing to identify causes and recommend corrective action.

 To attend meetings or discussion sessions with parents if asked and as appropriate within agreed confidentiality guidelines.

 To contribute to social education and the development of emotional wellbeing within the school through assemblies, pupil induction and group work.

Frequently monitor students in classroom and play settings, and may suggest changes to the curriculum so that it better meets the needs of the students.