Oakhill College is an Independent Catholic Secondary School conducted in the Lasallian tradition, with an enrolment of 2,000 students, boys Years 7 to 10, co-educational in Years 11 and 12. The College is located in Castle Hill, NSW, and offers a wide range of subject choices and extra-curricular activities.

We value our people, so along with access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and paid parental leave, we offer a range of benefits to our employees. These include generous long service leave entitlements, flu vaccinations, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

The College is committed to innovative high-quality teaching and learning and offers excellent facilities and resources. Offering staff a dynamic, collaborative, and supportive team environment with an emphasis on community, academic excellence, pastoral care, and development. 

Applications are invited from suitably experienced applicants for the following position.

Head of Counselling 

Commencing as soon as possible

Oakhill College seeks a skilled Head of Counselling to work within the Pastoral Care Framework of the College to lead and provide mental health and counselling services to students.

Key duties and responsibilities: 

• Leadership and Team Management: Responsible for leading and supervising a team of psychologists, social worker/s, and/or counsellor/s to ensure high-quality counselling services and support is provided to students and stakeholders. The Head of Counselling provides guidance, support, and training to enhance staff effectiveness.
• Referral: Whenever possible, students will be referred to and/or liaised with external counseling professionals for additional support.
• Individual and Group Counselling: Engages in individual counselling sessions with students, addressing their emotional, social, and behavioural concerns. They may also lead or coordinate group counselling sessions to address common issues affecting students.
• Crisis Intervention and Management: In times of crises or emergencies, the Head of Counselling takes a lead role in providing support and counselling to students, staff, and parents to help them cope with challenging situations.
• Referral and Collaboration: Collaborates with the Assistant Principals, Directors, pastorale care staff, subject teachers, parents, and external agencies to refer students for specialised support when required, ensuring a comprehensive approach to students’ mental health needs. The Head of Counselling ensures the counselling team is working collegially and effectively with other staff to inform and shape academic, pastoral care, co-curricular, spiritual, social, and emotional programmes to meet the needs of students.
• Programme Development: Supports the Assistant Principal Pastoral Care and the Director of Student Wellbeing and Management in the development, enhancement, and delivery of research-based solutions focussed mental health and wellbeing programs within the College, focusing on preventative measures and promoting positive mental health. Regular community presentations inside and outside of school hours is an expectation. 
• Policy, Procedure Development, and Implementation: This role plays a pivotal role in the creation, refinement, and enforcement of policies and procedures. This encompasses aligning these protocols with College guidelines and industry best practices. Collaboratively working with the Senior Leadership Team ensures the integration of these policies into the College environment, fostering mental health and wellbeing endeavours throughout the College community.
• Compliance: Ensures the counselling team’s adherence with all legal, risk, compliance and ethical requirements in line with Oakhill College policies and protocols, the AIS Guidance for School Counselling in Independent Schools, the AIS Privacy Compliance Manual and the CSNSW Managing Suicidality Guidelines. The Head of Counselling is also responsible for NCCD documentation and reporting in line with College guidelines and in collaboration with the Head of Student Learning and First Aid.         
• Confidentiality: This position will come across confidential information and providing records of personal information collected will become records of the College. It is vital in this role that the Head of Counselling work in conjunction with school employees so that all can meet their obligations in relation to their duty of care. 
• Professional Development: Actively participates in professional development opportunities to continuously improve their knowledge and skills to lead ongoing training and development opportunities to all College staff. 
• Advocacy and Education: Advocates for mental health awareness and education within the College community, promoting open discussions and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

The successful applicant will possess/demonstrate:

• A qualified registered counsellor / psychologist. 
• Minimum 5 years’ experience working with children and their families in an educational setting. 
• Experience leading a counselling team.
• Experience with referring to and awareness of other agencies and professionals.
• A proven track record of handling sensitive issues with evidence-based, professionally informed judgment.
• Proven ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion.
• Excellent interpersonal and EQ skills.
• Highly effective written and oral communication skills.
• Managing a critical incident and planning and intervention for the post-intervention.
• Assessing and facilitating interventions for children and adolescents for cognitive, emotional and social needs.
• Proven experience in administering, scoring, and interpreting Experience working with children and their families in a mental health or clinical setting is required.
• Strategies and interventions to address and manage mental health crisis.
• The role involves legal, financial, ethical and organisational needs of a clinical, counselling position.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of mandatory child protection reporting procedures and uphold the values of a child-safe organization.
• Exhibit the capacity to effectively engage students, parents, and teachers in the counselling process.
• Show significant experience working in an educational context or counselling young people.
• Communicate effectively with students, staff, parents, and other health professionals.
• Exhibit a clear understanding and commitment to the Mission of the Catholic School and support the Lasallian ethos of the College.
• Demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional growth, striving for excellence.

Please refer to the position description for further information. 

How to Apply:

APPLICATION MUST BE MADE ON-LINE VIA THE COLLEGE WEBSITE

https://www.oakhill.nsw.edu.au/about/employment-1

To apply for the role, candidates need to submit a covering letter (2 pages maximum) and an up-to-date curriculum vitae that clearly details their relevant skills and experience. 

Oakhill College is committed to child safety and Safeguarding Standards and the health, safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, and school community. Rigorous checks will be conducted prior to confirmation of employment including; NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC), National Police Check, references, background, identity, work rights, Covid-19 vaccination, and statutory checks. 

Vaccination against COVID-19 or a valid medical contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of any offer of employment by Oakhill College. Vaccination means two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. A valid medical contraindication must be in accordance with ATAGI guidelines. Applicants are required to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status as part of their application for employment. Any offer of employment will be conditional on the applicant providing evidence of their vaccination status, which may be an immunisation history statement, COVID-19 digital certificate or approved medical contraindication certificate. 

Applications close at 9:00am on Monday 28 August 2023

Please note: We will consider candidates as they apply and encourage early application. Interviews may commence prior to the closure date.

No recruitment agencies please.