Student Counsellor

GEMS Education; Ras Al Khaimah; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

GEMS Education is seeking a School Counsellor to provide confidential, age-appropriate wellbeing support to students across the school. You will contribute to a safe, inclusive environment where students can develop emotionally, socially and academically.

You will deliver individual counselling, develop support plans, and collaborate with Heads of Year, SENCO/Inclusion and pastoral staff. You will maintain records and follow safeguarding policies while communicating with parents as needed.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong listening and counselling skills.
• Empathy and emotional intelligence.
• Professional judgement and safeguarding awareness.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and build trust.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual counselling and emotional support to students.
• Conduct age-appropriate counselling sessions using evidence-informed approaches.
• Develop support plans based on identified needs.
• Support students experiencing anxiety, stress and wellbeing concerns.
• Provide short-term targeted interventions and refer to specialists when needed.
• Promote resilience and coping strategies.
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality per policies.
• Follow safeguarding procedures and information-sharing guidelines.
• Report safeguarding concerns to the designated lead.
• Collaborate with Heads of Year and pastoral staff.
• Communicate with parents regarding student wellbeing.
• Identify when needs exceed school-based counselling.
• Maintain confidential counselling records.

Skills

Communication

Listening

Empathy

Professional judgement

Safeguarding awareness

Confidentiality

Record-keeping

Relationship building

Cultural sensitivity

Calmness under pressure

Job description

Job Description

The School Counsellor is responsible for providing professional, confidential and age-appropriate counselling and wellbeing support to students across the school. The postholder will contribute to a safe, inclusive and supportive school environment where students are able to develop emotionally, socially and academically.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individual counselling and emotional support to students experiencing personal, social, emotional or school-related difficulties.
• Conduct age-appropriate counselling sessions using evidence-informed approaches.
• Develop appropriate support plans based on students' identified needs.
• Support students experiencing anxiety, stress, friendship difficulties, family changes, bereavement, low self-esteem, emotional regulation difficulties and other wellbeing concerns.
• Provide short-term targeted interventions and refer students for specialist support where required.
• Promote students' resilience, self-awareness, emotional regulation and positive coping strategies.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality in accordance with school policies and safeguarding requirements.
• Follow the school's safeguarding, child-protection, confidentiality and information-sharing policies.
• Work as part of the school's safeguarding and child-protection framework.
• Report safeguarding concerns promptly to the designated safeguarding lead in accordance with school procedures.
• Participate in safeguarding meetings and case discussions where appropriate.
• Work closely with Heads of Year, Form Tutors, Heads of Department, SENCO/Inclusion staff and pastoral leaders.
• Communicate professionally with parents and carers regarding appropriate aspects of student wellbeing and support.
• Identify when a student's needs exceed the scope of school-based counselling.
• Maintain accurate and confidential counselling records.

Skills Description

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong listening and counselling skills
• Empathy and emotional intelligence
• Professional judgement
• Strong safeguarding awareness
• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Excellent organisational and record-keeping skills
• Ability to build trusting professional relationships with students
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness
• Calmness and resilience when managing sensitive situations

GEMS Safeguarding

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are dedicated to creating safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments where students can thrive, and we expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share this commitment.

As part of our safer recruitment practices, all successful applicants will be subject to comprehensive pre-employment checks, including verification of identity, qualifications, employment history, professional references, and criminal record checks from all countries of residence and employment, in line with local and international safeguarding requirements. These checks may include enhanced disclosure, prohibition, barring, and overseas police clearance checks where applicable. We are committed to recruiting individuals who uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and child protection.