Temporary School Counsellor (Maternity cover)
Kent College Dubai has a temporary vacancy for a School Counsellor to cover maternity leave across the Junior School and Senior School. The vacancy is for 17 October 2022 till 20 January 2023
About Kent College Dubai:
Kent College Dubai is fast becoming one of the leading British schools in Dubai.
With its close ties with its sister school, Kent College Canterbury, the school is steeped in over 135 years of tradition, history and legacy.
Kent College Dubai was established in 2016 through a partnership with Mir Hashem Khoory LLC (MHK) and Kent College Canterbury to offer exceptional co-educational education to children aged from 12 months to 18 years, with the objective of providing the same high-quality experience to families in Dubai as that offered by the founding school, while reflecting the local context and expectations of the UAE. Both schools promote tolerance and respect for others and aim to provide each pupil with an individual educational pathway that will fully prepare them for adult life.
Recognised now as a top British and IB school in Dubai, Kent College Dubai is conveniently located in the heart of the Meydan Precinct – off the Dubai Al Ain Road.
Senior school students that attend this premium school can graduate through an unrivalled choice of pathways, including British Curriculum A-levels, IB Diploma, IB CP and BTEC in Sport, Business or Performing Arts.
Kent College Dubai is well known for its academic and co-curricular activities and has a reputation for excellence.
Safeguarding:
Kent College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils and expect all employees to share this commitment. All applications should read the College’s child protection policy, which is available on our website, and are required to declare any information as requested on the application form. Enhanced disclosure with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in the UK or an ICPC Check and a local police certificate will be requested for the successful candidate. Job Purpose:
To provide on-site support for all members of the school community (students, parents and staff within Kent College Dubai) to enhance wellbeing and mental health. The counsellor also works to support the development and provision of the pastoral programme within the school.
Key Relationships (Internal and External):
Principal, Heads of School, Safeguarding Officer, Assistant Heads of School, Inclusion Team, Kent College Dubai staff, Parents and Students.
Key Accountabilities:
To students

• To provide 1:1 support to students.
• To provide and maintain a client-centered approach.
• To assess the suitability of support within the counselling environment.
• To ensure an approachable, informal open-door policy for all within the school.
• To complete and maintain appropriate confidential records and ensure confidentiality is maintained in all aspects of work.
• To inform students of the confidentiality limitations within the counselling environment.
• To work with the school students, offering support guidance and advice to parents, students and staff as required.
• If a collective concern is identified, assessed and appropriate, offer students group work to help deal with associated issues.
• To communicate and liaise with teachers, nurses, grade leaders and senior staff with regards to the welfare of students within the remits of the student/Counsellor confidentiality process.
• To ensure that equal opportunities are given to all students, to enable them to access the counselling service.
• To be aware of issues within the school environment that may impact on the emotional health of students, both on individual basis, on a year specific basis or as a school community.

To the Wider Community

• To communicate and liaise with parents regarding their child’s welfare, within the remits of the student/counsellor confidentiality process.
• To provide support and guidance to school staff enabling them to better identify and support students with emotional health and well-being difficulties.
• To provide counselling service outside of the school setting, where appropriate.
• To refer to outside agencies as appropriate.

Professional Development

• To have knowledge of the most recent child protection policies and liaise with the child protection lead as required.
• To raise awareness and promote the counselling service within the school to students, staff and parents using a range of strategies.
• To research workshops, seminars, CPD training opportunities for self and others to promote better understanding of issues that affect young people.
• To research and liaise with outside agencies to enhance the counselling service offered.
• To keep up to date on current literature with regards to young people issues and counselling developments.
• To attend regular outside supervision sessions.
• To provide reports on request relating to the counselling service.

Person Specification

• 
  Bachelor or Master’s degree in Counselling, Psychology or similar
• A minimum of 2 years school-based experience or previous experience working with schools and students in a counselling capacity
• Experience of coordinating provision and support for wellbeing.
• Knowledge of and experience of varied mental health concerns, how to identify them, and appropriate interventions referral processes to follow (specifically within a UAE context).
• Experience in collaborating working within a team.
• Experience of working within a multi-cultural environment.

Personal Qualities

• Ability to work on own initiative and be proactive.
• Commitment to excellence and to significantly raise provision of support for students and their wellbeing.
• Flexibility, drive, energy and enthusiasm.
• Be a good, approachable team player with a clear understanding of how teamwork contributes to school improvement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including high standards of professionalism in written and spoken English
• Ability to work under pressure and manage time effectively in order to meet deadlines.
• Excellent record-keeping abilities

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