School Counsellor (Trained Applicants)

Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE); Singapore; On-site; SGD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE) is seeking a School Counsellor to support students' mental health and social-emotional development. You will collaborate with staff, students, parents and external agencies to implement evidence-based counselling programmes.

Your responsibilities include system support, preventive programmes and responsive services such as individual and group counselling, crisis intervention and reporting to school management.

Qualifications

• Applicants should possess a relevant counselling qualification, such as SAC.
• Strong empathy, listening, and communication skills are essential.
• Experience working with students, parents, and schools is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Developing a school counselling programme with needs analysis and referral pathways.
• Advise school management on counselling matters and provide staff training on mental health issues.
• Provide individual and group counselling, crisis intervention, and documentation of cases.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Multicultural awareness

Resilience

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 You Will Be Working On

System Support

• 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

What We Are Looking For

REQUIREMENTS

• 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.