Counsellor

Position Overview

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Counsellor to join our esteemed team, playing a pivotal role in fostering the mental health and emotional well-being of our students. This position is instrumental in providing continuous, high-quality mental health support, particularly to students with additional needs, ensuring their social and emotional development thrives within a nurturing and inclusive environment. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of child psychotherapy, exceptional interpersonal skills, and a commitment to safeguarding the welfare of all students.

Key Responsibilities

The Counsellor will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Collaborative Assessment and Treatment: Liaise with students, parents, academic staff, and external agencies—such as approved educational psychologists—to lead and support the assessment and treatment of students facing mental health challenges. Utilize a multidisciplinary approach to address the child’s needs within the broader context of their life.
• Individualized Support: Address a variety of concerns, including self-esteem, confidence, anger management, time management, academic coping strategies, friendship issues, communication skills, grief, and depression. Provide regular counselling sessions to identified or referred students to foster their emotional resilience and growth.
• Psychotherapeutic Expertise: Conduct specialist psychotherapeutic assessments in consultation with other professionals to determine the most appropriate treatment plans. Develop and implement tailored care programs, delivering psychotherapeutic interventions either individually or in group settings.
• Observation and Response: Monitor students closely, interpreting their verbal and non-verbal communications to identify underlying emotional or psychological needs. Create a supportive and caring environment that promotes a sense of safety, belonging, and trust among students.
• Interprofessional Collaboration: Participate in core group meetings and work alongside professionals from schools, hospitals, children’s services, and child protection agencies to devise comprehensive support plans for students and their families. Regularly review and evaluate the outcomes of assessments and treatments to ensure continuous improvement.
• Professional Development and Supervision: Offer psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic guidance, training, and supervision to colleagues involved in a student’s treatment plan. Engage in regular clinical supervision with a senior child psychotherapist to enhance professional practice and maintain high standards of care.
• Wellbeing Promotion: Collaborate with the assistant principal’s wellbeing team to advance broader mental health initiatives, such as puberty education for students, INSET (In-Service Training) for teaching staff, and workshops for parents on wellbeing and mental health priorities.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to cultural perspectives regarding mental health and wellbeing, particularly within the context of a school in Saudi Arabia. Ensure that all interventions are inclusive and respectful of diverse backgrounds.
• Risk Management: Conduct thorough risk assessments and implement risk management strategies from a child psychotherapy perspective to safeguard students and promote their well-being.
• Employee Wellbeing Support: Extend mental health and wellbeing support to Misk employees within the schools, fostering a holistic approach to health and wellness.
• Continuous Learning: Stay abreast of developments in counselling theory and research, actively participating in continuing professional development (CPD) to enhance skills and knowledge. Undertake additional duties as required by the line manager to support the school’s objectives.
• Safeguarding Commitment: Uphold the highest standards of safeguarding by promoting and protecting the welfare of children and young people. Adhere to the school’s safeguarding policies and the staff code of conduct, supporting the designated safeguarding lead in ensuring the safety and well-being of all students.

Qualifications and Experience

To excel in this role, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent vocational professional qualification in counselling or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of two years of successful counselling experience in a school setting or an equivalent environment, with a proven track record of delivering outstanding pastoral care.
• Skills and Abilities: In-depth knowledge of counselling principles, a strong grasp of key mental health challenges facing young people, and up-to-date expertise in therapeutic responses and treatments. Exceptional communication skills, the ability to build effective working relationships, and a deep understanding of professional boundaries are essential. Proficiency in managing diverse expectations and personalities while working with students of varying learning, social, and psychological needs is critical.