School Counsellor (Trained Applicants)

Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE); Singapore; On-site; SGD 54,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE) is seeking a School Counsellor to support students’ mental health and social-emotional development. You will work with staff, students, parents and external professionals to deliver quality counselling services.

You will develop counselling programmes, train staff and parents, network with community agencies, and provide direct counselling while maintaining thorough records. SAC qualifications and experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Passion for supporting students at risk in a school setting.
• Empathy for students with social and mental health needs.
• Ability to engage stakeholders across staff, parents and external partners.
• Awareness of multicultural issues in a diverse school community.
• 1 year of relevant counselling experience is preferred.
• Singapore SAC-recognised counselling qualification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a school counselling programme with needs analysis and early identification.
• Advise school management on school counselling matters.
• Plan and deliver training for staff and parents on mental health and first-line intervention.
• Network with external professionals and community agencies.
• Evaluate and report on student mental health and programme effectiveness.
• Provide preventive psycho-educational sessions for students.
• Provide individual and group counselling to students; maintain records and documentation.

Skills

Empathy

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Multicultural sensitivity

Resilience

Counselling experience (1y)

Education

Counselling qualification SAC

Job description

What The Role Is

As a School Counsellor, your primary role is to work with staff, students, parents, external professionals and community agencies to provide quality school counselling support for students’ mental health, and social-emotional development.

What The Role Is

As a School Counsellor, your primary role is to work with staff, students, parents, external professionals and community agencies to provide quality school counselling support for students’ mental health, and social-emotional development.

What You Will Be Working On

Your key roles and responsibilities include:

• Developing suitable school counselling programme including a system for needs analysis, early identification and referral of students with mental health issues and social, emotional and behavioural problems
• Advising school management on school counselling matters
• Providing consultation as well as planning and conducting training for staff and parents on pertinent mental health issues and skills for first-line intervention and support
• Networking with relevant external professionals and community agencies
• Evaluating and reporting to school management on the state of student mental health in the school, and effectiveness of the school counselling programme
• Preventive Programme:
• Developing and conducting small and large group psycho-educational sessions for students on mental health issues and healthy coping strategies
• Developing and/or making available mental health resources for students, parents and staff
• Responsive Services:
• Providing individual and group counselling to students
• Conference with staff, parents and external professionals / agencies on students being counselled, and conduct home visits where necessary
• Looking into the referral of students and their families to community resources or external professionals where needed
• Providing direct crisis intervention and follow-up to students affected by critical incidents
• Maintaining case consultation records and proper documentation
• Providing regular updates to school management on progress of students being seen for counselling

Requirements

What we are looking for

• Passion and disposition to work with students-at-risk.
• Empathy for students with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Aware of and sensitive to multicultural issues.
• Resourceful and resilient.
• Preferably with at least 1 year of working experience. Experience working or volunteering with children and youths would be an advantage.
• Applicants should possess a relevant counselling qualification, such as those recognised by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC).
• Applicants should have the fitness and resilience required to engage students safely and carry out their duties effectively.

As applications are processed in batches, applicants can expect to receive an update before the end of the following month.