School Counsellor Rockhampton Girls Grammar School

JOB DESCRIPTION

SCHOOL COUNSELLOR                                                                                  

Rockhampton Girls Grammar School is one of the original eight Grammar Schools of Queensland. Opening in 1892, Girls Grammar has served and supported the education of girls and young women for over 130 years. 

Rockhampton Girls Grammar School is a learning community founded on a commitment to ‘Learning for Life’. Each member of our School family contributes to sustaining an environment in which individuals actively engage in their learning; where School values are embraced; where mutual and self-respect is paramount; where community and global citizenship is fostered and where excellence in every endeavour is sought and celebrated. 

OUR VISION

Rockhampton Girls Grammar School prides itself on being an outstanding school in Regional Queensland that works in active partnership with students, staff, families and community so that girls: 

  • are inspired, challenged and supported to be strong in mind, body and voice; 
  • have the self-belief to pursue excellence in all endeavours; 
  • develop a lifelong aspiration for learning- ‘Non Scholae, Sed Vitae’; and 
  • embrace the School’s values and ethical principles to live as empowered individuals who confidently approach an ever-changing world with intellectual curiosity. 

OUR MISSION

At Rockhampton Girls Grammar School, we strive to be an independent day and boarding school of choice in Regional Queensland where girls build an enduring sense of connection, are nurtured to be their best and develop the skills, self-belief and resilience to confidently embrace their futures. 

OUR VALUES

Staff and students are expected to display the following behaviours that are at the core of our School:

  • Courage and integrity 
  • Respect 
  • Pursuit of excellence
  • Innovation and tradition 
  • Connection and inclusivity 
  • Intellectual curiosity 

OUR MOTTO

Clever, Confident and Connected.

THE ROLE

Position Title:                School Counsellor

Commencement date: 16 January 2024

Employment Type:       Permanent Part Time – Term Time Only

                                         Some school holiday hours required for Professional Development

Expectations:                4 days per week – 7.6 hours per day (Monday’s compulsory) 

Salary:                             Subject to experience and qualifications 

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Rockhampton Girls Grammar School Counsellor is a vital part of a multi-layered network of support for students in prep through to year 12. 

Led by the Deputy Principal- Students, the School Counsellor will support the pastoral care and wellbeing needs of primary and secondary students in collaboration with: 

  • Head of Boarding
  • Director of Primary 
  • Director of Secondary 
  • Learning Enhancement Coordinator 
  • Secondary Pastoral Care Mentors and Primary Teachers 

They are responsible for providing professional expertise, leadership, and support to the school community (including students, staff and parents/ caregivers) in the development and implementation of plans, programs, and strategies to assist students in achieving positive personal, social-emotional and educational development.

The Counsellor is responsive to identified personal, social, and educational needs of students and aims to foster resilience and personal development.

This role is a permanent part-time position working 4 days per week with Mondays compulsory. Occasional weekend and evening work may be required from time to time to support students and their families on an ‘as needs’ basis. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The School Counsellor:

  • Collaborates with teachers, non-teaching staff including boarding supervisors, the Executive Team and parents/caregivers to provide appropriate counselling services and wellbeing programs for both day students and boarders.
  • Facilitates proactive and preventative practices and initiatives that promote positive social emotional and educational development, and the mental health and wellbeing of all students.
  • Intentionally collaborates with relevant staff regarding Girls Grammar’s Pastoral Care Program.
  • Selects and uses a wide range of appropriate, counselling and support strategies to suit the emotional and psychological needs of a diverse range of students with a focus on prevention, intervention and student learning.
  • Is a Child Protection Officer in the school and addresses Child Protection concerns in a timely, professional and confidential manner. 
  • Builds relationships with families, school staff and external service providers, to support identified and changing student counselling needs.
  • Understands the ethos, policies and procedures associated with being an Independent all-girls Grammar School. 
  • Provides leadership and support in response to student protection issues, critical incidents, and risk management.
  • Provides psycho-educational and other assessments as requested by Principal or PD – Students.
  • Effectively manages a case load of counselling.
  • Accurately records conversations and updates student confidential notes in a timely fashion and communicates these with relevant members of staff. 
  • Maintains standards of practice that are consistent with registration boards and membership of professional associations.
  • Maintains confidential and professional boundaries within the scope of counselling practices in a school environment.
  • Values contributions to the life of the school. 
  • Delivers relevant Professional Development to staff and families where required and follows up where necessary in response to school and student needs. 
  • Embraces opportunities to reflect upon personal and professional practice and further develop relevant skills and knowledge.
  • Collects, analyses and retains data on groups, trends and outcomes for students who are at risk. Reports emerging trends to Deputy Principal – Students at fortnightly meetings. 
  • Works effectively with parents and caregivers to support their daughter and the School in relation to mental health and wellbeing needs. Make appropriate referrals of students and or their families to external services or providers where applicable.
  • Responds to critical incidents impacting students as per policies, under the direction of Deput Principal- Students and Principal as required. 
  • Effectively and efficiently completes administrative tasks, maintaining accurate records and meeting deadlines.
  • Noth maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive or private information about students, families, colleagues and the School, and also communicate information appropriately to the Deputy Principal – Students and Principal. 
  • Attends Monday morning staff briefings, after school professional learning sessions where required and other professional learning sessions as requested. 
  • Attend weekly Pastoral Care meetings and other meetings where required or requested in relation to student wellbeing.
  • Models’ high standards of punctuality, dress, communication and professionalism. 
  • Engages in annual staff training, including but not limited to Child Protection. 
  • Poses excellent communication skills, self- awareness and emotional intelligence. 
  • Undertakes professional development as relevant to the specific professional requirements.

Any other duties as relevant to the role and as directed by the Deputy Principal – Students or Principal.

COMMUNICATION, REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION

  • Provides regular reporting to the Deputy Principal-Students and where necessary the Principal and the Board on counselling usage, external referrals, wellbeing programs and initiatives.
  • Develops processes and a system for tracking and reporting on student wellbeing data.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Student Guidance and Counselling and/or Psychology qualifications with appropriate memberships/ registrations.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and confidentially with students, parents/ caregivers, and staff.
  • Successful experience as a School Counsellor or Guidance Counsellor in an educational setting with a focus on prevention, intervention and student learning.
  • Understanding of the social, emotional and behavioral dynamics of students across a broad age range (Prep to Year 12).
  • Demonstrated experience building positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues in an educational setting.
  • Experience in report administration, interpretation and writing.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Demonstrated high level of organizational and time management skills. 
  • Collaborative professional who builds positive relationships with others. 
  • Demonstrated high degree of flexibility in approach to working with children, adolescents, their families and in an educational setting. 

WHAT WE OFFER

  • Professional Development opportunities
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Superannuation benefits
  • Salary Sacrifice/Novated Lease options available

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

Promote Rockhampton Girls Grammar School inside and outside the school community.

The successful application is required to:

  • possess a current Blue Card from the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian.

All applicants will be subject to Rockhampton Girls Grammar School legislative screening procedures and will be required to authorise such checks and provide identification. These checks are consistent with Rockhampton Girls Grammar’s commitment to child protection policies and procedures. 

APPLICATION INFORMATION

To be considered for the School Counsellor role please submit a copy of:

  • Cover Letter and Resume via Seek in PDF format
  • Blue Card attached to resume
  • 2 x Professional References
  • Qualifications

Applications close: 5.00 pm (AEST), Tuesday 12 December 2023

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible as Rockhampton Girls Grammar School reserves the right to reduce the application period and/or remove the job advertisement early should a suitable applicant be found.

For further information contact the Human Resource Officer on (07) 49 300 967

The position description is available on the school website – please see the link below to copy into your web browser.

https://www.rggs.qld.edu.au/employment

JOB SUMMARY

Organisation

Rockhampton Girls Grammar School

Job Salary

Part time

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