School Counsellor

Department: Student Well-being and Counselling

Designation: School Counsellor / Student Counsellor

Reports To: Principal / Vice Principal / School Management

Location: [School Name and Location]

Employment Type: Full-time

Working Days: As per school calendar and working schedule

1. Job Purpose

The School Counsellor is responsible for promoting students' emotional, social, behavioural, academic, and psychological well-being. The counsellor will provide age-appropriate counselling, identify students requiring additional support, collaborate with parents and teachers, and develop programmes that foster a safe, inclusive, positive, and supportive learning environment. The role also includes career guidance, life-skills education, preventive mental health initiatives, student protection, and support for students facing personal, academic, social, or behavioural challenges.
1. Key Roles and ResponsibilitiesA. Individual Student Counselling

- Conduct individual counselling sessions for students experiencing emotional, behavioural, social, academic, or personal difficulties.
- Help students manage stress, anxiety, examination pressure, peer conflicts, low self-esteem, adjustment issues, and relationship difficulties.
- Support students in developing emotional regulation, resilience, confidence, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Assist students facing difficulties related to school transitions, family changes, bullying, friendship issues, or academic performance.
- Maintain appropriate counselling records, session notes, and follow-up plans while protecting student confidentiality.
- Refer students to qualified external mental health professionals or specialised services whenever necessary.

B. Group Counselling and Student Development
- Conduct group counselling sessions on communication, empathy, teamwork, conflict resolution, self-awareness, and interpersonal relationships.
- Organise age-appropriate workshops on emotional intelligence, mindfulness, self-discipline, digital safety, healthy relationships, and responsible behaviour.
- Help students develop positive attitudes, respect for diversity, and appropriate social skills.
- Support students in building healthy peer relationships and managing peer pressure.

C. Behavioural Support and Classroom Intervention
- Work with teachers to identify students displaying persistent behavioural, emotional, attendance, or adjustment concerns.
- Develop appropriate intervention plans in consultation with teachers, parents, and school leadership.
- Assist in addressing disruptive behaviour, aggression, withdrawal, lack of motivation, and difficulties following school expectations.
- Recommend positive behaviour support strategies and restorative approaches.
- Observe classroom or playground behaviour when appropriate and authorised.
- Monitor progress and review the effectiveness of interventions.

D. Academic Counselling and Examination Support
- Help students develop effective study habits, time-management skills, goal-setting techniques, and organisational abilities.
- Support students experiencing academic stress, fear of failure, examination anxiety, or a decline in motivation.
- Conduct sessions on examination preparation, concentration, confidence-building, and managing academic expectations.
- Collaborate with teachers to understand academic difficulties and identify suitable support strategies.
- Help students set realistic academic and personal development goals.

E. Career Guidance and Counselling
- Provide age-appropriate career awareness and educational guidance, particularly for middle and senior school students.
- Help students identify their interests, strengths, aptitudes, values, and future aspirations.
- Guide students regarding subject selection, academic streams, higher education pathways, entrance examinations, and career options.
- Organise career guidance sessions, aptitude and interest assessments where appropriately qualified, career fairs, and expert interactions.
- Support students in making informed decisions about further education and career planning.
- Coordinate with parents, teachers, alumni, and career guidance professionals where appropriate.

F. Parent Counselling and Engagement
- Conduct parent meetings to discuss students' emotional, behavioural, social, and academic concerns.
- Guide parents on age-appropriate expectations, communication, positive discipline, motivation, and emotional support.
- Help parents understand adolescent development, peer pressure, digital habits, and common adjustment challenges.
- Develop collaborative action plans for students requiring additional support.
- Maintain professionalism, sensitivity, and confidentiality during all parent interactions.
- Escalate serious concerns to the Principal or designated safeguarding lead in accordance with school policy and applicable law.

G. Teacher Consultation and Capacity Building
- Work closely with class teachers, coordinators, special educators, and school leadership to support students' well-being.
- Help teachers recognise early indicators of emotional distress, bullying, social isolation, and behavioural difficulties.
- Conduct teacher workshops on classroom behaviour management, emotional well-being, inclusive practices, and student support.




- Recommend practical classroom strategies for students experiencing learning, emotional, or behavioural difficulties.
- Assist teachers in developing a supportive and non-discriminatory classroom environment.

H. Child Protection, Safeguarding, and Student Safety
- Remain alert to signs of bullying, abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-harm risk, or other threats to student safety.
- Follow the school's child protection, anti-bullying, anti-harassment, and safeguarding policies.
- Respond promptly and appropriately to disclosures or concerns involving student safety.
- Report suspected abuse or other reportable concerns to the designated authority and fulfil applicable legal reporting obligations.
- Coordinate with school leadership, parents where appropriate, and authorised external professionals to ensure student safety.
- Handle sensitive disclosures carefully, without promising absolute confidentiality.
- Support awareness programmes on personal safety, consent, boundaries, safe and unsafe touch, cyberbullying, and seeking help, using age-appropriate methods.

I. Mental Health Awareness and Preventive Programmes
- Plan and implement a school-wide student well-being calendar.
- Organise awareness campaigns on mental health, stress management, emotional resilience, and help-seeking.
- Conduct age-appropriate sessions on puberty, adolescent development, self-esteem, healthy friendships, and responsible digital behaviour.
- Identify students who may benefit from early intervention and appropriate professional support.
- Promote a culture in which students can seek help without fear of stigma or discrimination.
- Participate in the development and review of the school's student well-being policies.

J. Support for Students with Additional Needs
- Collaborate with special educators, learning support teams, teachers, and parents to support students with diverse learning and developmental needs.
- Help identify concerns requiring further professional assessment without independently diagnosing conditions outside the counsellor's qualifications.
- Contribute to individual student support plans and reasonable classroom accommodations where appropriate.
- Promote inclusion, accessibility, dignity, and equal participation for all students.
- Coordinate referrals to qualified psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, or other specialists when required.

K. Records, Documentation, and Reporting
- Maintain confidential counselling records, referral notes, follow-up documentation, and intervention plans.
- Prepare periodic reports on counselling activities, student support initiatives, and programme outcomes.
- Maintain appropriate records of parent meetings, teacher consultations, workshops, and career guidance activities.
- Track student progress and review intervention effectiveness.
- Share information only with authorised individuals and on a need-to-know basis, subject to safeguarding and legal obligations.
- Ensure secure storage and appropriate handling of sensitive student information.

L. School Events and Administrative Responsibilities
- Participate in staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings, orientation programmes, and school events as required.
- Conduct student orientation and transition-support programmes for new admissions and students moving between school stages.
- Assist in organising workshops, seminars, career events, and student development activities.
- Submit reports and action plans within timelines prescribed by the school.
- Perform other reasonable, role-related responsibilities assigned by the Principal or school management.

1. Educational Qualifications

Essential qualifications:

- Master's degree in Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Applied Psychology, or a relevant counselling discipline from a recognised university.
- Formal training or supervised experience in counselling, child and adolescent development, or school counselling.
- Strong understanding of student well-being, adolescent development, counselling ethics, and safeguarding.

Desirable qualifications:

- Diploma or certificate in school counselling, child psychology, guidance and counselling, or a related field.
- Training in psychological first aid, crisis response, child protection, suicide prevention, or inclusive education.
- Relevant experience working with children and adolescents in a school or educational setting.

The school should verify the candidate's qualifications and any professional registration required for the specific services they will provide. Where psychological assessment, diagnosis, or regulated clinical services are involved, the candidate must hold the qualifications and registration required under applicable law.
1. Required Experience

- Preferred experience of 1–3 years in school counselling, child and adolescent counselling, educational counselling, or a related setting.




- Freshers with strong relevant academic qualifications, supervised practical training, and suitable counselling skills may also be considered.
- Experience in parent counselling, student behaviour support, career guidance, and school-based interventions will be an advantage.

1. Essential Skills and Competencies

The candidate should demonstrate:
- Excellent communication and active listening skills.
- Empathy, patience, emotional maturity, and a non-judgmental attitude.
- Ability to build trust and rapport with students of different age groups.
- Strong counselling, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Sound professional judgement and ethical decision-making.
- Ability to identify concerns and recognise when specialist referral is required.
- Effective collaboration with parents, teachers, and school leadership.
- Good documentation, reporting, planning, and organisational skills.
- Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- Ability to manage sensitive situations calmly and professionally.
- Working knowledge of digital tools for documentation, presentations, and reporting.
- Fluency in English and proficiency in the local language; Hindi or Gujarati may be desirable depending on the school's location and student population.

1. Professional Ethics and Confidentiality

- Maintain professional boundaries with students, parents, and staff.
- Protect student information and counselling records in accordance with applicable law and school policy.
- Explain the limits of confidentiality to students in an age-appropriate manner.
- Disclose sensitive information only when authorised or required to protect a student or fulfil legal obligations.
- Avoid discrimination, labelling, shaming, or inappropriate treatment of students.
- Work within professional competence and seek supervision or specialist support when needed.
- Avoid making diagnoses, prescribing medication, or providing services beyond the candidate's qualifications and legal scope of practice.
- Maintain appropriate professional conduct in person and through digital communication.

1. Performance Indicators / Key Result Areas (KRAs)

Performance will be assessed through a combination of quality, timeliness, professional standards, and student support outcomes, including:
- Timely response to student counselling requests and referrals.
- Completion and follow-up of agreed counselling and intervention plans.
- Quality and accuracy of confidential documentation.
- Regular delivery of individual and group counselling sessions.
- Implementation of the annual student well-being and awareness calendar.
- Completion of career guidance activities for relevant grade levels.
- Timely coordination with parents, teachers, and school leadership.
- Appropriate handling and escalation of safeguarding concerns.
- Positive feedback from students, parents, and staff, where appropriate and collected confidentially.
- Evidence of improved student coping skills, engagement, or progress against individual support goals.
- Completion of planned workshops, reports, and professional development activities.

Student counselling should be evaluated on the quality and appropriateness of support rather than on unrealistic guarantees of improved grades, a fixed number of successful cases, or the absence of all behavioural incidents.
1. Reporting and Coordination

The School Counsellor will report to the Principal or designated school leader and work in coordination with:
- Vice Principal and academic coordinators.
- Class teachers and subject teachers.
- Special educators and learning support staff.
- Parents and guardians.
- School safeguarding or child protection personnel.
- Qualified external mental health and allied professionals, as required.

1. Expected Professional Conduct

The counsellor is expected to:
- Maintain punctuality, discipline, and professional integrity.
- Treat every student with dignity, fairness, and respect.
- Maintain a safe, accessible, and confidential counselling environment.
- Demonstrate initiative in identifying emerging student support needs.
- Follow school rules, policies, procedures, and reporting timelines.
- Participate in relevant training and continuous career development.
- Contribute actively to the school's mission of providing holistic education.

1. Working Conditions

- The role is primarily school-based.
- Working hours and leave will be governed by school policy and the academic calendar.
- The counsellor may be required to attend parent meetings, workshops, school events, and urgent student support meetings.
- The role may involve sensitive situations requiring discretion, emotional resilience, and timely coordination with school leadership.
- Counselling space and appropriate arrangements for private student conversations should be provided by the school.

1. Selection Process

The selection process may include:
- Screening of educational qualifications and relevant experience.
- Personal interview with the Principal or recruitment panel.
- Assessment of counselling knowledge, ethics, and safeguarding awareness.
- A practical case discussion or role-play based on a hypothetical student concern.
- Verification of qualifications, references, identity, and suitability to work with children, in accordance with school policy and applicable law.

Benefits:
- Food provided

Work Location: In person

📌 COUNSELLOR. (Surat)
🏢 P.P. Savani Chaitanya vidya sankul
📍 Surat