School Counsellor
We’re recruiting a part-time school counsellor to join us at Tring Park School.
Tring Park School for the Performing Arts is one of the UK’s leading vocational and academic schools, set in glorious countryside just half an hour from London. With 360 boarding and day pupils aged 7 to 19, you will join a dedicated and supportive staff team that offers the benefit of small classes with talented and committed students, along with strong public examination results.
We offer a wide range of benefits, including free school lunches during term time (while you are working), a cycle-to-work scheme, an employee assistance programme, free onsite parking, and enhanced maternity and paternity schemes.
About the role
The School Counsellor is required to provide a confidential and professional counselling service to pupils using a wide range of therapeutic interventions, working alongside our school counselling team.
This role is for 8 hours per week during term time with some flexibility to work on Wednesday/Thursday or Tuesday afternoons. Group supervision will be monthly on Monday afternoons.
Main Duties
- To offer confidential, non-judgemental and professional counselling to pupils, aged 7-19 years.
- To provide age-appropriate counselling designed to support the learning and development of individuals and, if requested, to groups.
- To work with a diverse range of social, emotional and mental health concerns including, but not limited to, bereavement, loss, transitions, disordered eating, self-harm, educational issues, trauma, body image/dysmorphia, depression, anger, sadness, neurodiversity, SEND, sexuality, performance, peer relationships, domestic circumstances and family issues, abuse, anxiety, perfectionism as well as other issues.
- To promote a caring and supportive environment where such concerns may be explored, thereby promoting the mental and emotional health of the student.
- To provide students with a safe and non-judgmental way to voice their concerns or worries.
- Use a variety of approaches and skills to engage with and establish relationships with pupils and students who are experiencing emotional upset, which is a barrier to their learning.
- To uphold BACP or equivalent ethical guidelines, maintaining safe, ethical, and professional standards.
- To securely manage case records in compliance with GDPR and school policy.
- To liaise with the Lead Nurse and nurse team on a frequent basis to ensure the appropriate care of the pupils receiving counselling.
- To assess pupils for suitability for counselling and allocate cases to qualified or trainee counsellors.
- In discussion with the Lead Counsellor and Medical Centre team, to contribute to other counselling initiatives.
- To liaise with the Safeguarding team as required, understanding that confidentiality may need to be breached at times.
- To communicate the confidential nature of the service clearly to pupils, staff, and parents.
- To be alert to trends and patterns of problems and to be willing to identify causes and recommend corrective action, and to continually review and evaluate the service.
- To attend regular 1:1 supervision with a suitably qualified supervisor, as appropriate.
- To attend and actively contribute to monthly term time in school group supervision.
- To attend INSET days as required throughout the academic year.
- To participate in the school’s annual Performance Appraisal System.
- Provide input, feedback and analysis for an annual Counselling report to the Principal and Deputy Principal.
- To introduce and promote the school’s counselling service to new students and to remind existing students of what it offers by speaking in assembly, or writing emails to all pupils and staff from time to time.
- Ensure that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and pupils and students, and comply with school policies and procedures.
- To undertake any reasonable additional duties at the request of the Principal.
Professional development:
- To maintain a high level of knowledge and awareness of changes and developments in the fields of counselling and education, and their impact on the delivery of counselling
- To have a positive approach to learning in role and identifying own training needs as appropriate;
- To be responsible for their Professional Development maintenance and updating, both school-specific and wider knowledge and awareness through Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Person Specification
Essential
The ideal candidate will be a qualified and experienced counsellor, with BACP, NCPS, UKCP (or equivalent) accreditation. They would have proven experience of engaging young people aged 8-19 years in counselling. Further training in working with trauma and disordered eating would also be an advantage.
- Proven experience of working effectively as a counsellor with young people aged 7-19 years, ideally in a school setting.
- Evidence of ability as an excellent, qualified counsellor.
- Commitment to ongoing registration and maintaining the ethical standards of the BACP, NCPS, UKCP or equivalent.
- Excellent inter-personal and communication skills with experience of liaising effectively with school staff, parents and external agencies.
- An understanding of and commitment to integrating and promoting counselling within the school.
- Commitment to own ongoing regular school-specific and wider subject area CPD and clinical supervision.
- A positive and proactive approach to working in a school environment.
- Ability to work under own initiative.
- Proven successful decision-making skills, with a mature and non-judgmental outlook.
- Kindness, compassion, patience, tolerance and sensitivity.
- Enthusiasm, energy and commitment.
- Approachability, accessibility and flexible approach to the role.
- A good understanding of effective ways to safeguard and support vulnerable students
- Knowledge of recent development in practice and ability to apply and communicate these with other colleagues
- Ability to work with a range of teams and individuals within a school setting and, if necessary, external agencies
- Ability to support the development of high-quality pastoral care across the school.
- A genuine interest in and strong commitment to the wellbeing of pupils emotionally, socially and academically, and the development of the whole person.
Desirable
- Accreditation with BACP, NCPS or UKCP (or equivalent).
- Flexibility with hours to best meet client availability/needs.
Apply
Step 1. Complete Application Form
Step 2. Apply via email
If you would like to apply for this role, please email us the Application Form along with a cover letter.
Tring Park School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. It is an offence to apply for a role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity with children. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration form relating to any criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children.
Tring Park School aims to create an inclusive culture that encourages and values diversity within its workforce, building on the differences individuals bring, enabling the School’s ongoing success.
We seek to embrace diversity drawing on a wide range of views and experiences to provide equality, fairness and respect for all in our employment whilst observing our commitment and responsibility to current legislation.
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