School Counsellor

What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking an experienced Counsellor to support the mental health and wellbeing of pupils through counselling to further contribute to the welfare and pastoral care offered within Benfield School.
The mental health needs of pupils are central to our common purpose and our trust values of being aspirational and responsible. This new role will focus on supporting pupils identified as having highest need using a range of therapeutic skills.
We are looking for a someone who can inspire and influence and who:
• Has a successful track record of providing counselling to young people in an educational setting.
• Can work collaboratively with multi-agency professionals and community support groups to improve outcomes for our young people.
• Can work within a CYP Counselling competence framework, acting as a champion for the mental wellbeing across our school.
What the school offers its staff
In return we offer:
• Great opportunities for continuing professional development and a career pathway across the trust.
• A team of hardworking, dedicated and friendly staff where everyone is valued.
• The benefit of working in a highly collaborative multi academy trust.
• Membership of Local Government Pensions Scheme which the trust also contributes to on your behalf.
• Recognition of previous service with other schools, academies, local government etc.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), delivered by Health Assured – the UK and Irelands leading wellbeing provider.
• Good public transport links via Tyne and Wear Metro and road links from the A19 and A1058 Coast Road.
Further details about the role
This post is full time 37 hours per week, permanent and term time only plus 10 additional days.
Benfield School is a fully inclusive 11-16 school. It has a distinct ethos with strong sense of support and loyalty. Excellent relationships between students and staff and a purposeful learning environment is evident in lessons and around the modernised site. With this foundation, students have a strong platform to be confident, happy and are able to achieve their aspiration.
Our school is one of seven primary and secondary schools within the NEAT Academy Trust family of schools. At the heart of our trust is the aim to nurture, educate, achieve and transform the lives of all young people within the communities we serve across the North East.
Interested? If you would like to join us and feel you could thrive here, then please read the accompanying job description and person specification and complete an application form by clicking ‘apply now’ no later than midnight on Thursday 4th July 2024.
NEAT is committed to safer recruitment practice and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS from the Disclosure and Barring Service is required as part of pre-employment checks. For shortlisted candidates, we will conduct an online search as part of our screening.
Commitment to safeguarding
As this vacancy involves working with children and young people, you must declare relevant criminal convictions when you apply for the job. A criminal record will not automatically stop you from getting the job but we will consider the nature of the offence when assessing how suitable you are for the job and discuss this with you at interview. If this job is in regulated activity we will also check if you are barred from working with children. If you are barred from working with children it is an offence for you to apply for a job.