Designation: Secondary School Counsellor

Department: SWELL

Location: Lakeside

Reports to: Head of Inclusion

Works collaboratively with: Secondary school administrators, Grade 7-12 students, teachers and parents, Learner Success Team, including learning support teachers, grade level leaders and the school psychologist

Assigns task to / supervises: N/A

KEY ACCOUNTABILITY (Main purpose of this job):

The secondary school counsellor will work closely with the secondary school administration and related support services in planning and implementing a secondary school counselling program, providing direct counseling intervention to students and case consultations to school personnel and parents. The primary focus of secondary school counselling support will be:

• Promoting student social/emotional well-being to enable/enhance learning opportunities
• Student engagement in the learning process
• Personal and social development of students

RESPONSIBILITIES (Key areas of responsibility):

To ensure student success in the learning process by:

1. Establishing a relationship of trust and respect with students.
2. Working collaboratively with teachers, parents, administration, internal and external support agencies.
3. Supporting a climate that seeks improvements and celebrates student success.
4. Maintaining a high level of visibility.

To nurture student growth and development by:

1. Guiding and supporting students in developing the skills and attitudes to self advocate.
2. Guiding and supporting students in making decisions and choices to deal with learning challenges through the identification of strengths and weaknesses.
3. Being present to students, actively listening to their concerns and demonstrating empathy towards them.
4. Scheduling and coordinating times to meet with students as the need arises. This can occur during class, lunch, SMART, before/after school or student's free times as appropriate.
5. Providing individual and small group counseling services.
6. Devising and delivering culturally-sensitive interventions for students who need specific support in the area of social and emotional development based on the behavioural and emotional concerns presented by them.
7. Supporting transitions: Primary School to Secondary School, PYP to MYP, MYP to DP, and entering or leaving the school.
8. Contributing to student assemblies and/or parent sessions
9. Providing crisis intervention and support when needed.
10. Child Protection advocacy, training and consultation as child protection officer
11. Administering social, emotional, behavioural assessments

To foster both teacher and parent collaboration by:

1. Supporting parent/teacher/student conferences and making recommendations that will enhance learning opportunities and learning success for Secondary School students.
2. Assisting parents to liaise with external agencies for follow-up or assistance as appropriate.
3. Attending supervision and training courses as required and in consultation with Secondary School Administration.
4. Assisting teachers and parents to interpret assessment data cogently related to an identified student learning and/or behavior.
5. Supporting teachers to assess the learning, emotional and behavioural needs of students.
6. Attending grade level meetings when required.
7. Sharing information with the administration and Learner Success Team regarding students' social and emotional well-being.
8. Providing parent and/or teacher consultation as needed.

To fulfill related administrative duties including but not limited to:

1. Documenting and maintaining student records:

• Background history and dates
• Summary record of interventions
• Recommendations and plan of action.

2. Meeting Edutrust requirements, specifically updating 'Record of Counseling Sessions'.

3. Assisting teachers to draft counselling documentation as applicable.

To develop the structures and procedures of an effective school counseling programme by:

Continuing to be informed of current research and best practices in school counselling, including 'The International Model for School Counseling Programs'.

REQUIREMENTS & EXPERIENCE:

Required Qualification:

• Counselling qualification and master's degree preferred

Preferred Experience:

• Grade 7 - 12 school counsellor within an international school context

COMPETENCIES:

• Culturally competent and able to work with culturally diverse staff and students in a bilingual and multilingual setting.
• An effective communicator with the capacity to listen, empathize, and connect, as well as teach, present, and motivate
• A lifelong learner who keeps up-to-date with current research and best practices in teaching and learning.
• A facilitator able to build strong and productive relationships with students, parents, academic and non-academic staff, and the community
• A change agent, who can motivate and manage positive change in complex environments.
• A strategic thinker who is able to see connections between the school's vision and mission and IB programme philosophy and create action steps to move the school forward
• An activator with motivation, energy, and enthusiasm to spare
• A producer who is results oriented and has a strong sense of accountability for student success
• A character builder and role model, whose values, words, and deeds are marked by trustworthiness, respect, and integrity
• An active contributor whose priority is making contributions to the development and success of others