Job Title: School Counsellor

Location: Ware, Hertfordshire

Salary: £35 per hour, £20,685.46 per annum

Job Type: Part-time, TTO, Permanent

Working Hours: Mon, Tuesday 8.30am - 4.30pm (flexible)

Closing Date: Midday, Friday 12th April 2024

St Edmund's College offers modern facilities in a magnificent country setting in rural Hertfordshire, providing a safe and stimulating environment for young minds

About the Role:

We require a School Counsellor to contribute to the work of the College's pastoral team by providing expert therapeutic intervention and support to individual students. You will manage a caseload of students who require one to one professional therapy. You will also provide targeted intervention to support students with behavioural, social, emotional, health or familial challenges to overcome them and thrive

Therapeutic Intervention Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of students who require one to one professional and confidential therapy
• Promote emotional health and wellbeing in the college, enabling those being seen to develop positive coping strategies and resilience
• Provide targeted intervention to support students with behavioural, social, emotional, health or familial challenges to overcome them and thrive
• Provide therapeutic intervention to students with known trauma, pre-existing mental health concerns or those currently using negative coping strategies (such as disordered eating, self-harm, or substance misuse)
• Offer and utilise range of creative therapeutic techniques and skills, adapting these to suit the needs of the student/staff member and situation
• Sensitivity and calmly mange difficult and unplanned situations, ensuring adherence to safeguarding and data protection policies and balancing the need for confidentiality and privacy
• Work with diverse range of life challenges facing students, including (but not exclusively) bereavement and loss, transitions, eating disorders and self-harm, suicidal ideation and depression
• When necessary, develop safety plans with students and share these with staff and in accordance with confidentiality, consent and safeguarding procedures
• Identify next steps for students who are ending therapy sessions and support with referrals to other services

About You:

Essential Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Accredited training and relevant qualifications in psychotherapy, counselling, psychology, Mental Health Nursing or Social Work
• Professional Registration with the relevant regulatory body such as BACP, HCPC, UKCP, ACP, SWE, NMC
• Qualifications/certification in one or more of the following models (and experience in the application of these): Family therapy; systemic practice; Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP); Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); Cognitive Behavioural Approaches (CBT); Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and/or Adaptive Mentalisation Based Integrative Treatment (AMBIT)
• Extensive experience of working with children and young people in a therapeutic setting
• Experience of working with varying levels of risk with both adults and young people
• Experience of working and liaising with other agencies and/or an MDT
• Experience of working with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and ADHD

Skills and Knowledge:

• Ability to keep and maintain accurate notes/records
• Knowledge and application of use of a person-centred approach
• Enthusiasm for working with children and young people
• Possess an understanding of the key issues impacting on young people's lives today
• Knowledge of alternative support services available
• Knowledge of Child Protection and safeguarding legislation and policy
• Good knowledge and previous application of the biopsychosocial assessment process

Benefits:

• Excellent catering facilities including school lunches during term time when the kitchens are open. Cakes and biscuits during break times in the staff common room and hot drinks machines
• Free parking
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 25 Days annual leave (FTE) plus BH
• Pension: Employee contribution 4% College contribution 8.5%

Additional Information:

The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Candidates will be required to undergo relevant Safeguarding Checks

We will seek references on short-listed candidates that will include questions about past disciplinary actions or allegations in relation to behaviour with children and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications before interview

Please note that candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK to apply for this role

Please click on the APPLY button to send your CV and Cover Letter for this role

Candidates with experience or relevant job titles of; Student Support Coordinator, Academic Advisor and Wellness Counsellor, Student Mental Health, Education and Wellness Counsellor, Student Success and Wellbeing Advisor, School Counselling Coordinator, Student Emotional Wellness Coordinator, Resilience and Support Counsellor, Peer Support, Student Life and Wellbeing Coach, Wellness Engagement Coordinator, College Wellness Navigator and Emotional Support Specialist, Wellbeing Outreach Coordinator will all be considered