Student Counsellor

Job Description

The School Counsellor is responsible for providing professional, confidential and age-appropriate counselling and wellbeing support to students across the school. The postholder will contribute to a safe, inclusive and supportive school environment where students are able to develop emotionally, socially and academically.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individual counselling and emotional support to students experiencing personal, social, emotional or school-related difficulties.
• Conduct age-appropriate counselling sessions using evidence-informed approaches.
• Develop appropriate support plans based on students' identified needs.
• Support students experiencing anxiety, stress, friendship difficulties, family changes, bereavement, low self-esteem, emotional regulation difficulties and other wellbeing concerns.
• Provide short-term targeted interventions and refer students for specialist support where required.
• Promote students' resilience, self-awareness, emotional regulation and positive coping strategies.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality in accordance with school policies and safeguarding requirements.
• Follow the school's safeguarding, child-protection, confidentiality and information-sharing policies.
• Work as part of the school's safeguarding and child-protection framework.
• Report safeguarding concerns promptly to the designated safeguarding lead in accordance with school procedures.
• Participate in safeguarding meetings and case discussions where appropriate.
• Work closely with Heads of Year, Form Tutors, Heads of Department, SENCO/Inclusion staff and pastoral leaders.
• Communicate professionally with parents and carers regarding appropriate aspects of student wellbeing and support.
• Identify when a student's needs exceed the scope of school-based counselling.
• Maintain accurate and confidential counselling records.
  
  

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong listening and counselling skills
• Empathy and emotional intelligence
• Professional judgement
• Strong safeguarding awareness
• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Excellent organisational and record-keeping skills
• Ability to build trusting professional relationships with students
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness
• Calmness and resilience when managing sensitive situations