Job Summary
The Primary School Counsellor provides emotional, social, behavioural, and developmental support to primary-aged students by creating a safe environment for expression and growth. The role involves collaborating with students, teachers, parents, and leadership to promote wellbeing and positive school culture.
Responsibilities
Provide individual and small-group counselling to primary school students to address emotional, social, behavioural, family, friendship, or school-related challenges.
Develop students' emotional awareness, resilience, self-confidence, communication skills, and healthy coping strategies.
Support students through transitions, separation anxiety, grief, bullying, friendship difficulties, and family changes by delivering age-appropriate wellbeing check-ins and interventions.
Maintain professional boundaries ensuring counselling is child-centred and developmentally appropriate.
Design and deliver social-emotional learning and wellbeing programmes tailored to primary students.
Conduct classroom sessions, assembly talks, and workshops for students and parents on topics including emotional regulation, friendship and conflict resolution, self-esteem, respect, bullying prevention, online safety, stress management, and healthy relationships.
Identify and respond to safeguarding and child protection concerns by following school policies and reporting procedures.
Escalate safeguarding concerns promptly to designated leads and maintain accurate, confidential records of interventions and referrals.
Collaborate with teachers to assess students’ emotional, social, and behavioural needs and provide tailored strategies to support individual students.
Participate in student-support meetings and contribute to Individual Support Plans and school-wide wellbeing initiatives.
Communicate sensitively and professionally with parents and guardians about student wellbeing, providing practical strategies and facilitating referrals to external specialists when needed.
Conduct initial assessments and develop case formulations to identify students’ concerns, strengths, and intervention needs.
Implement and monitor intervention plans, adjusting strategies based on student progress and feedback from teachers and parents.
Prepare reports and case summaries for school leadership and MUIS in compliance with policies and best practices.
Support students during significant school events, transitions, or periods of emotional need, promoting an inclusive and safe environment.
Participate in staff training on student wellbeing, safeguarding, behaviour, and mental health.
Perform other duties as assigned by School Leaders.
Preferred competencies and qualifications
University degree in Counselling, Psychology, Child Psychology, Social Work, or related field is preferred.
Professional counselling qualification and/or relevant professional accreditation.
Experience working with primary school children is strongly preferred.
Knowledge of child development and age-appropriate counselling approaches.
Knowledge of safeguarding and child-protection practices.
Experience collaborating with teachers and parents is an advantage.
Experience in international or multicultural school environments is an advantage.