Student Counsellor - Immediate Start

GEMS Education; Dubai; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

GEMS Education in Dubai is seeking a dedicated School Counsellor to support students’ emotional, social, and academic development. You will conduct individual and group counselling, coordinate with teachers and parents, implement wellbeing programs, and help create a safe, inclusive school climate across all grade levels.

The role requires safeguarding awareness, confidentiality, and collaboration with external mental health professionals to provide timely support when needed.

Qualifications

• A degree in education/psychology/counseling.
• At least one year of school-based counselling experience.
• Experience working with diverse student populations.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual counselling sessions to address personal, social, and emotional issues.
• Conduct group counselling sessions to help students develop social skills and peer relationships.
• Offer crisis intervention and support for students facing urgent emotional challenges.
• Develop and implement social and emotional development programmes promoting emotional health and self-awareness.
• Organise and lead school-wide initiatives to foster a supportive and inclusive school climate.
• Establish and maintain anti-bullying programmes and create a safe school environment.
• Develop behavioural intervention plans and monitor their effectiveness.
• Coordinate with external mental health professionals and agencies for additional student support services.
• Work with teachers and staff to identify and support students with social and emotional needs.
• Provide training and resources for teachers on social-emotional learning and student behaviour.
• Engage with parents through workshops and meetings to address their children’s social and emotional development.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of student counselling sessions and interventions.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of social and emotional programmes and make improvements as needed.
• Stay updated on best practices and developments in the field of social and emotional counselling.

Skills

Empathy

Interpersonal skills

Relationship building

Confidentiality

Diversity & inclusion

Counselling knowledge

Education

Degree in education/psychology/counseling

Job description

Job Description:

Key Accountabilities

• Individual and Group Counselling
• Provide individual counselling sessions to address personal, social, and emotional issues.
• Conduct group counselling sessions to help students develop social skills and peer relationships.
• Offer crisis intervention and support for students facing urgent emotional challenges.
• Social and Emotional Development Programmes
• Develop and implement programmes that promote emotional health, self-awareness, and

positive behaviour.

• Organise and lead school-wide initiatives to foster a supportive and inclusive school climate.
• Preventive and Responsive Services
• Establish and maintain anti-bullying programmes and create a safe school environment.
• Develop behavioural intervention plans and monitor their effectiveness.
• Coordinate with external mental health professionals and agencies for additional student

support services.

• Collaboration and Consultation
• Work with teachers and staff to identify and support students with social and emotional needs.
• Provide training and resources for teachers on social-emotional learning and student behaviour.
• Engage with parents through workshops and meetings to address their children’s social and

emotional development.

• Programme Management and Evaluation
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of student counselling sessions and interventions.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of social and emotional programmes and make improvements as

needed.

• Stay updated on best practices and developments in the field of social and emotional

counselling.

Skills Description

Person Specifications

Qualifications /knowledge: A degree in education/psychology/counseling.

Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and empathy.
• Able to build strong relationships with students and gain their trust.
• Understands the importance of confidentiality and discretion.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse student populations and school personnel.
• Knowledge of counselling theories, techniques, and practices related to social and emotional

development.

Experience: At least one year’s school-based experience or previous experience working with schools and students in a counseling capacity.

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.