Secondary Counsellor
SINGAPORE
Start Date: April 2024
Region: Far East and South East Asia
School Curriculum: IB from 2-18yrs (option for IGCSE)
Minimum Experience: 5 years
THE SCHOOL
This is a family-orientated international school in Singapore for students aged 2 to 18, offering a rigorous and well-rounded education comprising all four International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes that stretches beyond traditional academic subjects to embrace the arts, music, drama, design, innovative technologies and sport. In addition to the MYP, middle school students can opt to sit IGCSE exams.
The school has the capacity for 1,600 students and is a truly international school with a cohort representing over 60 nationalities. The state-of-the-art campus has a 750 seat auditorium, visual art and music rooms, contemporary design centre, an innovations suite, Olympic-sized swimming pool, separate Early Years swimming pool, all-weather sports field, 2 basketball courts and 2 libraries containing over 27,000 books.
A career at this school offers all the opportunities associated with a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation, including international prospects, professional development, career progression and the chance to work with some of the foremost educational professionals from around the world.
LIVING AND WORKING IN SINGAPORE
The campus is located just 20 minutes away from downtown Singapore, in a residential neighbourhood surrounded by lush greenery and nature. Mixing together a mass of different cultures, cuisines and architectural styles, Singapore is studded with vast showpiece constructions to complement its colonial-era hotels and buildings. Cutting-edge tourist developments continue to spring up. Shopping avenues and underground malls throb with life, as do the food courts, the riverside bars and the temple-dotted outlying neighbourhoods. Singapore is a very safe, clean, friendly place and ideal for a first time expat and being so close to other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia means it's cheap and easy to travel overseas.
SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS
The Secondary Years Counsellor works with students individually, in small groups, and within the classroom setting to support and assist them in their academic, social, emotional, and personal development.
Identifying students' academic and social/emotional needs, as well as providing any necessary interventions, is essential in removing barriers to learning and helping students develop skills and behaviours critical for academic achievement. The knowledge, attitudes and skills students acquire during these years build the foundation for future success. Together with the Learning Support Coordinator(s) and other learning support teachers and Administrators, they provide direct instruction for students with learning needs using a strong differentiation model.
Main Responsibilities
-Advocate, provide counselling, psychoeducational assessment and individual student support, recommendations and advice to students, teachers and parents concerning educational, behavioural, mental health and family issues.
-Work as part of a multidisciplinary team and facilitate effective working relationships and partnerships with parents, school personnel and external support agencies in order to provide a comprehensive support, case management and referral service that optimises students' access and engagement in educational programs.
-Provide a counselling and referral service to assist students in decision making about critical educational, personal, social, and emotional development, and provide ongoing support during the implementation phase of their decision.
-Assist schools in the implementation of student protection, gifted and talented education, behaviour support policies and risk management processes that may involve the development of individualised student plans
-Balance the ethical issues of privacy and confidentiality for each student with the appropriateness of sharing information with others, and maintain a comprehensive and professional record keeping system that complies with policy and legal requirements of parental and legal access to official records.
-Participate in relevant professional development, and prepare and implement professional and personal skill development programs and in-service activities for administrators, teachers and parents.
-Provide leadership and specialised support in response to student protection issues; critical incidents and emergencies; and the transition of students into alternative education programs, and their reintegration back into mainstream schooling.
-The School Counsellor will work collaboratively with other school based support personnel to assess and address the needs of students requiring the most intensive behaviour support
-Monitors attendance (using provided monthly reports) and provides interventions or escalations.
-Provide regular formal updates to the Principals (in regards to student wellbeing and academic progress)
REQUIREMENTS
-Master's degree/Bachelor's Degree in education with a specialisation in the field of counselling or Psychology or other related field.
-Minimum 2 years Counsellor experience in an international school setting.
-Demonstrates positive influence and highly effective communication skills
-Demonstrates care for and genuine interest in our students and their challenges
-Understands and adapts to the diverse cultural backgrounds of our staff, students and parents
-Advocates and supports local and school-based child protection policies
-Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of our growing school, comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations.
-Contributes positively to team building
-Models appropriate dress, demeanour, and actively contributes positive work ethics as defined by school standards
-Models and encourages a culture of kindness in support of the the schools core values
-Demonstrated track record of being a successful Counsellor or similar role
-Demonstrated understanding of the needs of third culture/international students and students in transition.
-Goes beyond expectations in supporting student ambitions and goals.
-Is available for students, parents/guardians and is an advocate for students.
-Organised, proactive and solution focused and has demonstrated the ability to work well in teams. Has demonstrated a positive relationship with all members of the school community.
-Individual's must be comfortable to share their vaccination reports and should meet the vaccination requirement in Singapore. Refer to the latest requirements. https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination-requirements-as-a-condition-for-mom-passes for the latest requirements.
SALARY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE
- Competitive Salary: teaching salaries are between SGD $6,000 to $7,606 per month before tax, plus stipend for any leadership roles
- Housing Allowance: Between SGD $2,400 to $3,200 per month before tax (based on family status)
- Global Health Insurance for Teacher and up to 2 eligible Dependents (spouse/children)
- Flight Allowance (relocation flight before contract starts and repatriation flight after contract complete, subject to claimable limit as per school policy)
- Shipping allowance -between SGD $ 2,400 to $4,800 (based on family status)
- 100% tuition fee discount for 1st child, 50% for 2nd child; 100% for 2 children for teaching couples.
- 2 year Contract