School Guidance Counselor Primary

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• working with the students, their teachers, and other professionals to ensure that the support given is fully aligned with their needs and those teachers are given full advice on how to manage student needs in and out of the classroom
• necessary communication with parents and colleagues to keep them informed of individual progress is an important part of this role
• liaison and referral to appropriate outside agencies and professionals as necessary.

• by counseling them in the ways of being effective students and, in taking responsibility for their behavior
• by identifying social and academic barriers to setting personal / academic goals and achieving them
• by working in close collaboration with principals, assistant principals, the Learning Support Team, teachers and parents, Boarding House tutors to achieve these goals
• by providing socio-emotional support individually and in the classrooms during and after crisis interventions
• collaborating with teachers in the school-wide integration of the guidance curriculum
• assisting teachers with how to use the guidance curriculum lesson plans in their classrooms
• providing applicable materials and resources to teachers for guidance activities in their classrooms
• implementing developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented group activities to meet student needs and school goals.

• by providing individual and group counseling to students with identified social-emotional concerns and needs
• by working with classroom teachers to support individual students and to address whole class issues. At both levels work includes close communication among several team members: Learning Support staff, Discipline Advisors, assistant principals, career counselor, etc.
• by consulting and collaborating with parents and/or guardians (including Boarding House tutors), teachers, administrators regarding students with identified social-emotional concerns and needs, followed by consulting with staff members to accommodate individual differences and needs of students

• by discussing and implementing preventive actions for students with high-risk behaviours. This includes weekly meetings.
• by facilitating open communication with other students, faculty and staff, family and community members
• by assisting students individually or in groups, in developing decision-making, problem-solving, and positive human relations skills
• by managing and communicating a clear referral process for counseling (internal and external referrals for further assessment, intervention and follow-up)
• knowledge of school behavioural code, consequences and procedures.

• accepting student referrals from students themselves and from concerned teachers, parents or other staff members
• making referrals to outside agencies and providers when specific needs of student and parents exceed service limit.

• encouraging and developing activities and interactions that respect socio-emotional development of the whole person by creating, structuring and implementing programs with the wider school system:
  • Mentoring Program
  • Stress Management Program
  • Bullying and Cyber bullying

• providing classroom and assembly presentations and small group activities around social and emotional skill development, for example:
  • Problem solving and decision making
  • Anti-bullying skills
  • Study skills
  • Playground interactions
  • Coping skills (divorce, family death, abuse etc.).

• classroom observations and evaluations
• consulting with classroom teachers regarding specific students when requested.
• consulting with parents when appropriate.
• providing classroom management suggestions regarding referred students.

• assisting boarding students in integration and daily life, including homework assistance
• attending meetings with boarding house representatives (elected student representative) in order to address any issues and update boarding tutors
• assisting new students, on an individual basis with transition
• consulting with boarding house tutors about how to effectively approach issues with boarders.

• performing workshops with teachers and staff for professional development
• developing the counselling department database.

Reporting Responsibility

• regular supervision with appropriate external personnel.
• end of month summary reports.
• maintaining reliable records and reports.

• organising oversight of intern and practicum students who are earning degree in counselling
• liaising with affected graduate schools in this organisation
• arranging for or provide regular supervision to each intern and practicum student.

CRUCIAL INFORMATION