School Counsellor

GESS; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international school in Singapore is looking for an experienced School Counsellor to support student wellbeing and provide counselling services. The role involves collaborating with teachers, parents, and external agencies to ensure comprehensive support for all students. Candidates should possess an advanced degree in counselling or social work and have a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience. The School Counsellor will also facilitate workshops and drive initiatives that promote social-emotional health across the school community.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 3 years experience as a school counsellor or social worker.
• Experience working with children in an educational setting.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with school departments to create student support systems.
• Provide individual and group counselling for students.
• Lead and facilitate workshops on social-emotional learning.
• Ensure student welfare and safeguard policies are implemented.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Professional collaboration

Flexibility

Positive attitude

Computer proficiency

Education

Advanced degree in School Counselling, Social Work, Psychology

Job description

About GESS

As one of the leading international schools in Singapore, GESS is home to students from over 70 nations worldwide. We are for many families the home away from home and we are very happy that they are part of our school community which is based on mutual support and solidarity. With our language programme, we support our students to nurture this part of their identity and want to preserve the opportunity that they can grow up with multiple languages to be best prepared for an international environment. With the German International Abitur or the IB Programme they are perfectly prepared for their career after school. Our students enjoy lifelong learning and we take pride in our GESS values of respect, openness and diversity which our students will nurture in their life after school.

We were awarded with the “Deutsche Schulpreis” (German school prize) 2022, which was given to us for our extraordinary concept according to their motto “Make teaching better”. We stand out as the only German school abroad nominated for this award.

School Counsellor

The German European School Singapore (GESS) is looking for an experienced School Counsellor, for our European Section, commencing as soon as possible.

Job Purpose

The School Counsellor plays a pivotal role within their designated section, whilst being available to provide support across the whole school when necessary. The main priority of the School Counsellor are the students, with assistance for families and staff also part of the role. The School Counselor acts in a planning, preventive, flexible, and situational manner, keeping prevention and individual case work in balanced proportions.

The School Counsellor collaborates closely with the various departments of the school, to create a support team around the student. The School Counsellor works closely with the school academic managers to implement preventative safeguarding measures and proactive initiatives that support the social health and emotional wellbeing of the GESS community.

It is the responsibility of the School Counsellor, along with all staff at GESS, to promote and safeguard the welfare of all children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Closely collaborate on support for students with the department Director/s and middle managers as appropriate.
• Support Directors in the development of student wellbeing initiatives.
• Support leadership on crisis management across a range of scenarios from individual to whole school.
• Provides individual and small group counselling services using evidence-based approaches for students with social-emotional, behavioural and/or academic concerns.
• To offer consultations ensuring confidentiality and discretion, within the boundaries of confidentiality in relation to mandatory reporting guidelines.
• Lead and facilitate student support meetings regularly to problem solve and to develop personalised interventions to support student progress.
• Coordinate services with other professionals and/or agencies to address students behaviour, academic, and social/emotional needs.
• Lead prevention and awareness lessons, classes and workshops etc. in collaboration with the wellbeing team to support social-emotional learning and wellbeing.
• Offers consultation to teachers, parents, and other service providers, to promote social emotional wellbeing for all students.
• Whenever necessary, provide information sessions for parents related to current student needs via in-person and/or online workshops and other media.
• Whenever necessary, provide workshops/training for teachers to be able to provide Tier 1 and 2 support.
• Participates in and organisesschool-wide, sectional, group and individual program development to promote social-emotional wellbeing (to develop, facilitate, review, enhance where necessary, document and execute programs) for students, staff and parents.
• Ensure that programs are in line with the school’s strategic plan.
• Incorporate innovative counselling approaches to support students, as deemed appropriate by the Director, Head of Student Wellbeing and Lead Counsellor while aligning to evidence-based best practices.
• Promote data-driven procedures and evidence-based practices to evaluate effectiveness of programs and services.
• Support teachers in creating and implementing behavior management and positive self-regulation strategies and monitoring tools to assist students’ engagement in class.
• Provide brief consultations for staff members who seek individual counselling support and referrals to the EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) Coordinator and/or external support.
• Maintain confidential records of all individual and family sessions.
• Maintain a databank and case management lists which adhere to high levels of confidentiality.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and revision of policies related to student wellbeing and counselling.
• Assist in the writing and revision of forms related to student wellbeing.
• Maintain registration/credentials with a professional body where relevant.
• Adhere to professional standards of practice in the delivery of services.
• Adhere to GESS’ policy and procedures and staff code of conduct.
• Model the core values of GESS of “Respect, Openness and Diversity.”
• Uphold ethical standards and adhere to relevant laws and policies.
• Collaborate with agencies within Singapore.
• Collaborate with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead as well as other support team members, to develop, implement and review Student Wellbeing Support plans.
• Coordinate and implement the CP curriculum for Primary, and Secondary through collaboration with respective heads and management teams (KS:CPC).
• Continually seek to improve professional knowledge and skills and remain current in best practice procedures in the field of School Counselling.
• Engage in continuing education and training to develop and maintain competence in counselling strategies, tools and processes to improve services to the school community.
• Engage in continuing education training specifically for safeguarding & child protection to ensure strategies are in accordance with the most relevant laws in Singapore.
• Attend where possible network meetings of the Counsellors from other international schools in Singapore.
• To maintain and widen GESS’ network with child-protection organizations and external support (e.g. Counsellors, Schools, Therapists).
• Participate in individual and peer supervision sessions.
• All other responsibilities and tasks as deemed appropriate by the line manager and functional line managers.

Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced degree in School Counselling, Social Work, Psychology and/or related field.
• A minimum of 3 years successful professional experience working with children and/or young people in an educational, social work, clinical or counselling environment as a (school) counsellor, social worker or (school) psychologist.
• Interpersonal communication and professional collaboration skills.
• Demonstrate flexibility, a strong work ethic and a positive attitude.
• Proficiency in using computers and other forms of technology.

Preferred

• An awareness or experience in the area of child protection/safeguarding.
• Previous and current training in child protection and/or safeguarding issues.
• Ability to work collaboratively, professionally, and effectively with a team.
• Adept in using a range of therapeutic models including CBT, ACT, DBT, Play Based Therapy and Solutions Focused Brief Therapy.

Technical and Soft Skills

• With a demonstrable ability to communicate professionally, to work collaboratively and build relationships at all levels and across diverse cultures and generations, will also be:
• Positive and enthusiastic personality.
• Patient, resourceful and observant.
• Someone of high personal standing and integrity.
• An excellent communicator, both verbal and written.
• Results driven, able to evaluate performance, provide necessary support, take tough decisions, and hold people to account.
• A team player paired with leadership skills and intellectual capacity to improve whole-school standards and student achievement/outcomes.
• Someone who drives excellence through valuing and developing others.
• An innovative thinker with an informed and critical awareness of the prevailing and evolving global trends in education.
• Able to work under pressure, with excellent organisational and time-management skills and high attention to detail with a willingness to take on multiple tasks.
• Proactive and able to prompt others to ensure deadlines are achieved.
• Adaptable with a flexible mind-set and openness to innovative ideas.

Fair Recruitment and Safeguarding

We are committed to fair recruitment practices and safeguarding the welfare of all students. We ensure that our hiring processes are free from discrimination and bias on the basis of age, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, caregiving responsibilities, race, religion, language or disability. As part of our commitment to safeguarding, we conduct thorough background checks on all candidates which include criminal background checks in all countries lived and worked in for the last ten years, as well as reference checks. Any offer is subject to the satisfactory completion of such checks. Our school prioritises the safety and well-being of our students, and we expect all staff members to uphold these values.