School Counsellor

Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd; Plump Hill; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

INSET days

Flexible working

Annual leave

Job summary

Dene Magna School is seeking a School Counsellor to provide confidential, professional counselling to students, supporting emotional wellbeing and resilience. You will work with families, staff and external agencies to ensure access to appropriate support and successful engagement with education.

The role emphasizes neurodiversity understanding and neuro-affirming support for autistic students and those with ADHD, dyslexia, and other differences.

Qualifications

• Qualified school counsellor with relevant accreditation.
• Experience providing confidential counselling to students.
• Strong understanding of neurodiversity and neuro-affirming practice.
• Ability to collaborate with SEND staff, families and external professionals.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one counselling for students with emotional or mental health needs.
• Develop and monitor individual support plans for students.
• Maintain confidential counselling records per GDPR and school policies.
• Deliver short-term, solution-focused interventions when appropriate.
• Identify safeguarding concerns and refer to Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Support neurodivergent students and adapt approaches as needed.
• Collaborate with multi-agency teams to coordinate wellbeing support.
• Deliver mental health promotion activities and wellbeing workshops.

Skills

Counselling skills

Emotional support

Collaboration

Communication with families

GDPR knowledge

Job description

Pay:

Meets national minimum wage

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

25/09/2026

About this job

What skills and experience we're looking for School Counsellor Full time, term time only Salary points 26 - 30 (£38,510 - £42,123) FTE 0.87, equating to a gross annual salary of £33,504 - £36,647 Reporting to Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) / Student Development Lead Job Purpose The School Counsellor will provide a confidential, professional counselling service to students, supporting their emotional wellbeing, mental health, personal development, and resilience.

The postholder will work collaboratively with students, families, staff, and external agencies to ensure that young people receive appropriate support and are able to engage successfully with their education.

The School Counsellor will demonstrate a strong understanding of neurodiversity and provide neuro-affirming support to students with additional needs, including those with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Tourette Syndrome and other neurodevelopmental differences.

The postholder will work collaboratively with SEND staff, families and external professionals to ensure emotional wellbeing support is accessible, inclusive and responsive to individual needs.

The School Counsellor will contribute to Dene Magna School's commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, student wellbeing, and the promotion of positive mental health across the school community.

Key Responsibilities Counselling and Student Support

Provide one-to-one counselling for students experiencing emotional, social, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

Assess student needs and develop appropriate support plans.

Maintain professional counselling records in accordance with school policies, GDPR requirements, and professional standards.

Support students experiencing anxiety, bereavement, self-esteem issues, family difficulties, friendship concerns, stress, trauma, or other emotional challenges.

Help students develop coping strategies, resilience, emotional regulation skills, and positive wellbeing practices.

Deliver short-term, solution-focused interventions where appropriate.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Adhere to all safeguarding and child protection procedures.

Identify concerns relating to student welfare and make referrals in accordance with school safeguarding policies.

Work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and pastoral team to ensure students receive appropriate support.

Maintain professional boundaries and communicate confidentiality limits clearly to students.

Neurodiversity and SEND Support

Provide neuro-affirming counselling and therapeutic support for students with identified or emerging neurodivergent needs.

Adapt counselling approaches, communication methods and interventions to meet the needs of autistic students and those with ADHD, dyslexia and other neurodevelopmental differences.

Work closely with the SENDCo, Learning Support Team and pastoral staff to support students whose emotional wellbeing may be impacted by neurodivergence.

Support students with emotional regulation, sensory needs, anxiety linked to neurodiversity, social communication difficulties, executive functioning challenges and school engagement.

Contribute to support plans, risk assessments, EHCP reviews and pastoral support plans where appropriate.

Liaise with families and external professionals to ensure a joined-up approach to student wellbeing.

Promote neurodiversity-affirming practices throughout the school and advocate for reasonable adjustments that support student wellbeing and participation.

Collaboration and Multi-Agency Working

Liaise effectively with pastoral staff, SEND staff, attendance teams, senior leaders, and external agencies.

Attend relevant pastoral, safeguarding, and student support meetings.

Signpost students and families to specialist mental health and support services where appropriate.

Contribute to Early Help assessments and multi-agency meetings when required.

Mental Health Promotion

Support the development of a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Deliver workshops, assemblies, or small group sessions on wellbeing and emotional health.

Contribute to staff awareness and understanding of student mental health needs.

Support initiatives that promote resilience, inclusion, positive relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Record Keeping and Reporting

Maintain accurate, secure, and confidential records.

Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of counselling interventions.

Provide anonymised reports and impact information to senior leaders as required.

Ensure compliance with professional, legal, and ethical requirements.

Professional Development

Maintain professional registration and accreditation as appropriate.

Undertake continuing professional development to maintain current knowledge and best practice.

Participate fully in school training, including safeguarding and health and safety training.

General Responsibilities All staff at Dene Magna School are expected to:

Support the school's vision, values, and ethos.

Promote safeguarding and the welfare of children and young people.

Contribute positively to the wider life of the school.

Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Follow all school policies and procedures.

Act as a positive role model for students.

What the school offers its staff Pension Scheme At the trust, we value your future.

That’s why we offer membership to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to all staff.

The LGPS is one of the UK’s largest and most generous public sector pension schemes, providing you with a secure and reliable income in retirement, employer contributions, and a range of valuable benefits for you and your family.

Other staff benefits

• At least 6 INSET days a year
• Protected CPL time
• Supported professional development pathways for all staff
• Excellent leave entitlement for central services trust staff, 25 days a year, increasing to 30 days after 3 years of service.
• Annual leave trading for eligible staff allowing the purchase or sale of up to 5 days leave a year.
• Family-friendly policies
• Flexible working for appropriate roles
• Membership to industry benefit scheme
• Free access to the Gym out of hours at Dene Magna School

Qualified Level 5 or 7 coaching for employees Commitment to safeguarding Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Jobs are provided by the Find a Job Service from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).