School Counsellor

Job Summary:

The Counsellor works with students individually, in small groups, and within the classroom setting to support and assist them in their academic, social, emotional, and personal development. Identifying students’ academic and social/emotional needs, as well as providing any necessary interventions, is essential in removing barriers to learning and helping students develop skills and behaviors critical for academic achievement. The knowledge, attitudes and skills students acquire during these years build the foundation for future success. Together with the Learning Support Teachers, other teachers and Academic Leadership, they provide direct instruction for students with learning needs using a strong differentiation model.

Responsibilities:

Performance Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

School Culture

• Advocate, provide counselling, psychoeducational assessment and individual student support, recommendations and advice to students, teachers and parents concerning educational, behavioural, mental health and family issues.

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team and facilitate effective working relationships and partnerships with parents, school personnel and external support agencies in order to provide a comprehensive support, case management and referral service that optimizes students’ access and engagement in educational programs.

• Provide a counselling and referral service to assist students in decision making about critical educational, personal, social, and emotional development, and provide ongoing support during the implementation phase of their decision.

• Contributes positively to team building.

• Models appropriate dress, demeanour, and actively contributes positive work ethics as defined by school standards.

• Models and encourages a culture of kindness in support of the school’s core values.

Curriculum

• Assist schools in the implementation of student protection, gifted and talented education, behaviour support policies and risk management processes that may involve the development of individualized student plans.

• Balance the ethical issues of privacy and confidentiality for each student with the appropriateness of sharing information with others and maintain a comprehensive and professional record keeping system that complies with policy and legal requirements of parental and legal access to official records.

Professional Development

• Participate in relevant professional development and prepare and implement professional and personal skill development programs and in-service activities for leadership, teachers and parents.

Communication

• Provide leadership and specialized support in response to student protection issues; critical incidents and emergencies; and the transition of students into alternative education programs, and their reintegration back into mainstream schooling.

• The School Counsellor will work collaboratively with other school based support personnel to assess and address the needs of students requiring the most intensive behaviour support.

• Demonstrates positive influence and highly effective communication skills

• Has a firm belief in international education.

• Demonstrates care for and genuine interest in our students and their challenges.

• Understands and adapts to the diverse cultural backgrounds of our staff, students and parents.

• Advocates and supports local and school-based child protection policies.

• Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of our growing school; comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations

Child Protection Statement:

Anne Hill International School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of the students in its care. It expects that this commitment is uniform across the school and pre-employment background checks to determine an applicant’s suitability to work with children will be undertaken before any offer of employment is made.