Counsellor

**Contract type**: Permanent

**Hours**:8.5 hours per week term time plus flexibility to accomodate additional appointments

**Salary**: £30 an hour

**Anticipated start date**: September 2023

**Closing date**: 27th July 2023

**Location**: Brackley, Northamptonshire

**Purpose of the Job**:
The School Counsellor will provide a confidential and professional counselling service to pupils when required.

**Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities**:

- To provide a prompt, sensitive and confidential counselling service to pupils put forwards by the Deputy Head Pastoral and Boarding during term time for one triage session;
- liaise with the Designated Safeguarding Lead;
- encourage a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes and feelings, and among all staff;
**Key Tasks**:

- Work with a diverse range of issues including bereavement and loss, transition, depression, anger management and erratic behaviour as a result of abuse, anxiety and fears.
- Provide ongoing sessions for pupils requiring further counselling in accordance with demand.
- Provide guidance to staff whose role it is to support pupils in distress.
- Work in consultation with the School with regards to Safeguarding and Child protection procedures, working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Keep suitable confidential case records on the counselling provided in a secure place, in accordance with the Data Protection Act and for safeguarding records as required
- Meet once per half-term with the Deputy Head Pastoral and Boarding to discuss the use of the Counselling service by pupils;
- Attend scheduled meetings as a member of the Schools’ Safeguarding and Child Protection Team
- Attend the Safeguarding and Pastoral Committee as required
- Report to the Deputy Head Pastoral and Boarding on a regular basis a summary of the main reasons for pupils accessing the Counselling service
- Liaise with personnel from other agencies as required; including the school Medical Centre, with a view to easing referrals and accessing specialist consultants in the areas of health, mental health, social services, education and voluntary agencies
- Attend supervision with a suitably qualified counselling supervisor
- Maintain professional membership of the BACP and individual liability insurance;
- Ensure adherence to statutory Health and Safety and Data Protection Legislation at all times.

Date agreed: July 2023

**Person Specification**

Attributes

Essential

Desirable

**Qualifications**:

- Accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy or the UK Council for Psychotherapy
- Diploma or Degree in Counselling/Psychotherapy

Specialist Skills & Experience
- Good communication skills both written and verbal
- The ability to communicate with a range of staff and students
- Experience of working as a counsellor with young people
- Positive communication and listening skills
- Ability to work independently

Experience of working with young people in a School context

Personal Qualities
- Ability to recognise and respect confidentiality
- Non-judgemental outlook
- Sensitivity
- An understanding of and an interest in education

Date agreed: July 2023