School Counsellor

Overview

School Counsellor

Salary: £34,000–£38,000 gross per annum, depending on qualifications and experience. This is the actual annual salary for the advertised term-time working pattern and will not be reduced further for term-time working.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:15am–4:30pm, term time only
Contract: Permanent
Start: January 2027, or sooner if available

Courtlands is a specialist secondary school seeking an experienced, fully qualified and professionally registered School Counsellor to join our multidisciplinary SEND and therapeutic team.

Our students are lovely young people: individual, funny and full of character. Many are autistic and experience high anxiety, social communication difficulties and barriers to school attendance. Building trusting relationships and helping young people feel safe, understood and able to engage in school is central to our approach.

We are seeking an established practitioner with substantial post-qualification experience of counselling children and young people.

The role

You will provide individual counselling and therapeutic support, adapting your approach to each young person’s communication preferences, developmental needs and readiness to engage.

Your responsibilities will include:

Assessing referrals and agreeing appropriate therapeutic goals with young people.
Delivering counselling within your professional competence and maintaining clear therapeutic boundaries.
Contributing to pupil support planning and reviewing the impact of therapeutic work.
Maintaining accurate, secure and appropriately confidential counselling records.
Recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns, working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Working collaboratively with families, school staff and external professionals, respecting consent, confidentiality and safeguarding responsibilities.
Supporting colleagues to understand pupils’ emotional needs and develop approaches that help them access school life.

You will work closely with our SENCo, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, ELSAs, pastoral staff and teachers.

The working day includes protected time each day for case recording, professional liaison, preparation and counselling-related administration, so that these responsibilities can normally be completed within working hours.

We are looking for someone who has

A recognised practitioner qualification in counselling or psychotherapy at Level 4 or above.
Appropriate specialist training and demonstrated competence in counselling children and young people.
Current registered membership of BACP, or equivalent registration with a recognised counselling or psychotherapy professional body.
Substantial post-qualification experience of providing counselling to children and young people.
Experience of supporting autistic young people and those experiencing anxiety, SEND and barriers to school attendance.
A strong understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality, therapeutic boundaries and neurodiversity-affirming practice.
The ability to assess and respond appropriately to risk within their professional role.
Sound professional judgement, warmth and the ability to build trusting relationships.
The ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team.

Individual professional accreditation, such as BACP accreditation or equivalent, is desirable.

For a practitioner with appropriate supervision qualifications and experience, clinical supervision of trainee counsellors may be considered by separate agreement, with responsibilities, protected time and any associated remuneration agreed in advance.

What we offer

An actual annual salary of £34,000–£38,000, paid in equal monthly instalments.
Term-time working.
A supportive school community and established multidisciplinary team.
A manageable counselling caseload.
Daily protected administration, preparation and recording time.
Funded external clinical supervision.
Opportunities for relevant continuing professional development.

Informal visits are welcome and offer an opportunity to meet the team and learn more about our pupils and approach.

How to apply

Please contact admin@courtlands-school.co.uk for an application form, job description and further information, or to arrange an informal visit.

Courtlands is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment will be subject to satisfactory safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information, references, and verification of qualifications and professional registration.

Salary & Benefits

Location

Courtlands Independent Special School
37 Parklands Avenue
Worthing
West Sussex
BN12 4NG

Supporting documents

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Deadline and how to apply

We would love to hear from you if you wish to be part of our team!

admin@courtlands-school.co.uk

Equal opportunities

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