School Counsellor - Term time plus (0.84FTE)

Core Aims

• To co-ordinate an evidence-informed approach leading to improved standards of mental health and wellbeing for all members of our community
• To be a presence around the school by spending time outside of the counselling room supporting students and staff from Nursery to Year 11
• To improve student progress and achievement by working with other staff to support engagement, attendance, behaviour, transition and progression

Key Responsibilities

• To provide a professional level of counselling for pupils, staff and parents, through referrals, self-referrals and regular drop-in sessions.
• To provide a ‘safe haven’ for those students in crisis.
• To provide support and guidance to the pastoral team enabling them to identify and support students with emotional health and wellbeing difficulties.
• To provide support, guidance and advice to pupils, staff and parents via assemblies, presentations or other group sessions.
• To lead on specific areas such as self-harm, eating disorders and low self-esteem issues in conjunction with the DSLs.
• To signpost students and parents to national and local mental health services and refer students to NHS services or equivalent where appropriate.
• To become an integral member of the Pastoral Care Team, attending weekly safeguarding and pastoral care meetings.
• To provide regular audit information such as numbers, age range and types of problems to the Deputy Head Pastoral(s).
• To have a strategic vision for promoting positive mental health across the school.
• To establish, maintain and monitor appropriate administrative systems and records with regard to referrals in accordance with GDPR requirements.
• To closely follow the school’s safeguarding policy and procedures, working with and supporting the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current issues in counselling and mental health in relation to young people.
• To ensure that the BACP Code of Ethics and Practice is adhered to.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

• A Diploma, preferably a degree in Counselling
• BACP (or equivalent) Accredited/Registered Counsellor
• Evidence of post qualifying supervised practice
• Experience of working with other agencies
• Experience of working with children aged 11-16 (essential)
• Experience of working with children aged 3-16 (desirable)
• Experience of counselling in an education environment (essential)

Skills and Personal Attributes

• The successful candidate will display:
• Superb communication and listening skills
• A caring, patient and tolerant nature
• A sense of humour
• A can-do attitude
• A desire to be a presence around the school
• Excellent organisation skills
• Confidence in the use of ICT

Crosfields School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. For further information, please see here Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 .

As a result of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, employers now have to verify that new recruits who are not British nationals are eligible to work in this country. Therefore, any applicant who is offered an interview will asked to provide official documentation to verify their ID, address and right to work in the UK. It is also normal practice for the School to ask for original qualifications and professional membership documents to be presented at interview as detailed on the application form.

Crosfields School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers, online checks and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Further information on our recruitment processes can be found on our website: Crosfields School Recruitment Policy

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Reading: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Experience:

• Counselling: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 01/09/2023