Upper School Counsellor (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)

ACS International School Egham is recruiting a School Counsellor to work within our Upper School, covering grades 6-12.

ACS International School Egham is an IB World School offering PYP, MYP IBDP and IBCP making us only one of two schools in the UK to offer all four International Baccalaureate programmes.

We’ve been teaching the IB at ACS for over fifty years and have a proud history of creating excellent educational experiences designed around our purpose to inspire the world’s next thinkers and doers. We achieve this by helping to develop students who are ready to change the world as confident individuals, caring contributors, and effective learners.

Our commitment to the IB Philosophy, underpinned by the ACS International Schools mission, vision and values, as well as passionate and creative staff, working in a stunning 30-acre campus of beautiful British countryside, with a committed international community, all aligns to create our fantastic school. We are committed to living sustainably and championing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Through a culturally competent lens, the School Counsellor serves as a leader, an assertive advocate for all students, a consultant to families and educators, and a collaborator to promote equity and access by connecting school counselling to ACS Egham’s purpose, vision, and values.

The School Counsellor will be the initial staff contact for all Safeguarding and Child Protection matters which arise in the student population for whom they are responsible. 

Key responsibilities

• Provides direct and indirect services to advocate for and support students with their personal and academic goals.
• Supports the healthy development of global perspective and identity.
• Promotes a positive school climate by helping to design and deliver a comprehensive student support system for student mental health and wellbeing.
• Advocates for students’ development with key stakeholders within the community.
• Helps to ensure children’s welfare as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, coordinating effectively with community resources. 
• Uses the International Model for School Counselling Programmes (ISCA) to develop comprehensive counselling services, liaising with Advisory and PSHE programme leads as a subject matter expert on social, emotional and mental health.
•  Leads professional learning and growth that helps staff understand current trends in social-emotional learning, student wellbeing and child protection.
• Advocate for the professional role through engagement with a considered program of counselling and effective and data-driven planning.

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Principal Accountabilities 

• Hold the necessary status and authority within the school to carry out the duties of the post, including delivering training and supporting, and directing other staff to safeguard and actively promote the welfare of all children. 
• Maintain an overview of safeguarding and child protection matters within an identified section of the school, including low level concerns.
• Ensure that all associated categories relevant to a vulnerable child are known and considered (including category crossover with SEN/Learning Support, SEMH concerns, and Behaviour Plans), when designing Student Safeguarding Plans and Risk Assessments.

Other Duties

•   Maintain high levels of confidentiality and diplomacy, responding appropriately and promptly to students, staff and visitors.

•   To provide an effective liaison between departments.

•   To attend various meetings as required.

•   To attend and contribute to cross-organisation meetings, and other school committees / forums as required.

•   To provide cover and support for colleagues as required.

•   To ensure that business operations are conducted within the boundaries of ACS’ Health and Safety policy and procedures. 

•   To undertake any other such duties or general tasks and hours of work as may reasonably be required, and work in other locations within the ACS International Schools group as required

•   Lead by example, exemplifying the ACS Egham’s values – Imagine Better, Welcome Everyone, Aim High & Make It Happen, Work Together, and Act With Kindness.

Start date: August 2025

ACS celebrates diversity as an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and, as an employee of ACS, you are expected to share this commitment. This position is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.