Counsellor and Pastoral Intervention Officer

We seek a trained counsellor to provide targeted emotional, therapeutic and pastoral support to students across the school, helping them to overcome barriers to learning, improve emotional wellbeing, develop positive behaviours and engage successfully with education

The successful candidate will be part of the wider pastoral and attendance team.

The role:

• To use professional counselling skills and experience to deliver targeted support to students experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA);
• Support students in developing resilience, self-awareness, coping strategies and positive approaches to managing challenges;
• Recognise when a student's needs fall outside the scope of the postholder's role and refer or escalate concerns appropriately;
• Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date records of counselling sessions and interventions, in line with school policies and professional requirements;
• Working alongside the attendance team to identify patterns of absence relating to key students;
• Support the attendance and pastoral team with regard to students missing from lessons;
• Support the pastoral team with behaviour and punctuality after lunchtime.

About you:

• Evidence of a recognised counselling qualification;
• Experience of counselling secondary age students;
• Ability to be flexible and work as part of a team;
• Excellent communication skills;
• A genuine passion for improving outcomes for young people.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• A good standard of education to at least level 3 standard or equivalent
• High standard of literacy and numeracy to at least level 2 standard
• Relevant professional qualification in counselling
• Motivated to work with children and young people to ensure they are successful
• Commitment to, and belief in, the equal value of all students
• Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people
• Emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours and attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline
• Experience of delivering counselling and pastoral intervention to secondary age students
• Experience of working with and knowledge of services available to support young people and families
• Highly skilled in a range of assertive discipline strategies
• Efficient and organised: independent and effective in time management
• Strong ICT skills, especially Word and Excel
• Strong skills in data analysis
• Authoritative, consistent and fair: a commanding presence
• Ability to communicate effectively and relate well to all stakeholders
• Ability to handle difficult situations with sensitivity, confidentiality and discretion
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Evidence of resilience when working effectively under pressure
• Good sense of humour

• Experience of delivering counselling to adults
• Knowledge and experience of school behaviour and attendance systems and related government guidance
• Knowledge and experience of the requirements of safeguarding within schools, including Child Protection
• Willingness to contribute to the wider aspects of school life