Kāpiti College Wellington

Lead Guidance Counsellor

"Piki tahi, eke tahi" — climb together, achieve together.

Our direction is guided by four Pou:

Pou 1: Excellence and Achievement – Fostering excellence in a supportive environment to equip students for the future.  

Pou 2: Well-being and Belonging – Creating a safe, inclusive space where everyone feels pride and a sense of belonging.  

Pou 3: Whānau and Community Partnerships – Building strong connections with whānau, mana whenua, and the community.  

Pou 4: Cultural Growth – Celebrating diversity while embedding Mātauranga Māori and the values of Parihaka Mai Ai.

These Pou reflect our everyday aspirations, and the Parihaka Values guide our journey. As the Lead Guidance Counsellor, you will focus primarily on Pou 2 by upholding student wellbeing and belonging, while supporting Pou 1 by removing barriers to achievement, Pou 3 by building strong whānau and community partnerships, and Pou 4 by delivering culturally responsive practices.

About the role  

Located in Te Whare Awhina, our dedicated wellbeing hub, you will lead and manage a team consisting of three Counsellors and one within-school Social Worker. Your responsibilities will include delivering professional counselling support for students in Years 9–13, coordinating safe responses, and implementing proactive whole-school wellbeing initiatives aligned with our Pou.

We are seeking a registered counsellor (or equivalent) with:  

• Proven leadership or senior counselling experience in a secondary school (preferred)  
• Strong knowledge of adolescent mental health, resilience, and restorative practices  
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Excellent skills in supervision, team development, and community partnerships  

This is a rewarding opportunity to lead a professional team in a values-driven school where your work will truly make a difference.