Job Description
Aim:
The role of School Counsellor is primarily to provide a professional, confidential counselling service for pupils at The Banda School. Alongside this the School Counsellor will provide staff with advice and support and play a significant role in the pastoral framework of The Banda School. He/she will report directly to the Headmistress, but work closely with the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Main Duties:
To provide an independent and confidential counselling service to pupils and staff at The Banda School, through individual sessions, responding to their personal, social, emotional or educational concerns;
To promote a caring and supportive environment where such concerns may be explored, thereby promoting the mental and emotional health of pupils at The Banda School;
To maintain confidentiality (except in those circumstances, in line with The Banda School practice, where this should be breached);
To make referrals, where appropriate, to other agencies;
To liaise, where appropriate, with members of staff;
To maintain appropriate records and to keep these secure;
To be alert to trends and patterns of problems and to be willing to identify causes and recommend corrective action;
To play an active role in safeguarding children and adhere fully toThe Banda School policies, especially the Safeguarding and Child Protectionpolicy.
To maintain a high level of knowledge and awareness of changes and developments in the fields of counselling and education and their impact on the delivery of counselling;
To work with groups or classes of children where required and in consultation with the relevant members of staff;
To contribute in any other reasonable fashion to promote the safety and wellbeing of the pupils.
Additional duties:
To provide relevant information to the Deputy Head in weekly meetings;
To write an annual report on the use of the service and the types of issues being presented;
To attend meetings or discussion sessions with parents if asked and as appropriate.
