Qualified School Counsellor - Crawley

We are looking for an experienced qualified School Counsellor

Responsible to: Assistant Principal & Safeguarding Lead

Term-Time only Responsible to: Headteacher, DSL

Responsible for: Counselling students with SEND

Job Purpose:

• To support all students at Serenity School Crawley through the provision of an independent and confidential counselling service.

• To facilitate and encourage a counselling experience, which provides students with the opportunity to increase their self-awareness, develop their personal resources and understanding of their own problems as well as developing strategies to cope with change.

• To be committed to the safeguarding of children, liaising with the designated senior member of staff for Child Protection when necessary. Disclosure level: Enhanced Responsibilities and Administration:

 • Provide high quality, one to one counselling sessions in-person or online where appropriate.

 • Offer pupils, a comfortable, safe, non-judgemental and confidential space to voice and explore their thoughts, feelings and worries, along with complex experiences and personal concerns and difficulties.

 • Form and maintain strong and effective therapeutic relationships with children and young people with social, emotional and behavioural issues.

 • Undertake, ongoing assessment of pupils within the counselling service in order to identify, plan, implement and review appropriate therapeutic intervention and care.

• Liaise and work collaboratively with the safeguarding team, listening staff, mentors, medical staff and external agencies when targeted support is deemed appropriate e.g. referrals to CAMHS, Eating Disorder Specialists etc.

• Attend clinical supervision with service lead and team meeting when needed. • Keep appropriate case records in a secure space.

 • Contribute to the collation of service user information, to facilitate ongoing evaluation of the counselling service.

• Liaise and work collaboratively with all staff whose role it is to support pupils in distress, including the pastoral team, Heads of Years, class teachers, SLT, Principal, parents, governors. This can be done through CPOMS for example.

• Where specialist intervention is identified to contribute to referrals and liaise collaboratively with professionals from external agencies and services in supporting the pupil in school.

• Hold a strong commitment to safeguarding, adhering to school safeguarding policies at all times. CPD: • To take part in the school’s CPD programme by participating in arrangements for further training and professional development

• To continue personal development in the relevant areas

• To engage actively in the Performance Review process

• To work as a member of a designated team and to contribute positively to effective working relations within the school. • To attend meetings etc. in accordance with the school calendar Support Information:

• To provide, or contribute to, oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual students and groups of students. Communications:

• To communicate effectively with the parents of students as appropriate. • To communicate and co-operate with persons or bodies outside the school where appropriate. • To follow agreed policies for communications in the school. Marketing and Liaison: • To liaise with staff in taking and making referrals to and from agencies for young people including health, education and welfare services, both statutory and voluntary. • To develop effective links with external agencies such as CAMHS, Children’s Services, mediation, youth and careers services. Other Specific Duties: • To play a full part in the life of the school community. • To continue personal, professional practice and development through regular and ongoing management and clinical supervision and training and through involvement in service evaluation and auditing.

• To comply with the school’s procedures concerning safeguarding and to ensure that training is accessed.

• Good numeracy/literacy skills / GCSE (or equiv) Maths and English • A recognised counselling/psychotherapy qualification

• Be accredited or working towards accreditation by a recognised body such as The BACP, UKCP, ACP or BPC EXPERIENCE

Having successfully completed an accredited training

 have had experience of working as a Counsellor/psychotherapist

• Have had experience of working as a counsellor/psychotherapist with children and adolescents.

• Have had experience of working in a school counselling service environment or different educational settings

• Be able to work independently and with initiative

• Be able to work flexibly and under pressure

We will consider Fixed-Term applicants

The closing date for this advert is 31 May 2023, although we will be looking at applications as they come in and may shortlist in advance of the closing date.

Interviews are ongoing

This advert will close early if there is sufficient interest before the closing date.

Please submit applications to Ifeoma Emezie hr@serenityschool.org.uk

We offer a competitive salary that is among the best in our sector, pension scheme, full independent school holidays and membership of an occupational health scheme. 

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sectors of the community.

Serenity Education group are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.

Closing date is 31 May 2023