School Counsellor
Team: Jigsaw Service
Job Family: CBG9 – Supporting
Salary: £34,811 – £37,562 per annum pro rata
Hours: 37 hours per week – term time only
Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.
Contract Type: Hybrid – Fixed Term until 31st August 2026
Closing Date: 22nd March 2026
Interview Date: w/c 23rd March 2026
About the role
We are seeking a highly motivated School Counsellor to be part of our pilot project. It is an exciting opportunity to join our established Jigsaw Service as we expand the offer to reduce suspensions and permanent exclusions which have a detrimental effect on future outcomes for children.
The Jigsaw Service is Central Bedfordshire Council’s specialist Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) support service for schools, children and families. The service provides educational support for children who have been permanently excluded or are at high risk of permanent exclusion. This includes fulfilling the Local Authority’s statutory obligation and offering in-reach services at two designated Jigsaw Centres. Through Outreach Support, the Jigsaw team aims to reduce school suspensions by providing direct assistance to school staff, students, and their families within the school environment. This preventative approach benefits the entire school community and mitigates the negative impact of exclusion on a child’s well-being and future outcomes.
Key Responsibilities of the role:
Client Assessment:
- Conduct comprehensive intake interviews to assess clients’ presenting problems, needs, and goals.
Counselling Sessions:
- Facilitate therapeutic sessions using evidence-based counselling techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, or Person-Centered Therapy.
- Create a safe and supportive environment for clients to express their thoughts and feelings.
- Employ active listening, empathy, and other therapeutic skills to build rapport and trust with clients.
- Help clients explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and develop coping strategies.
- Connect clients with appropriate resources, such as emergency services or crisis hotlines, as needed.
Case Management:
- Maintain accurate and confidential client records, including session notes, progress reports, and treatment plans.
- Coordinate with other professionals from Education, Health and Social Care.
- Adhere to ethical guidelines and legal requirements related to counselling practice.
Professional Development:
- Stay current with the latest research and best practices in the field of counselling.
- Participate in ongoing professional development activities, such as workshops, conferences, and continuing education courses.
- Seek supervision and consultation to enhance clinical skills and address complex cases.
Qualifications and Skills:
- Qualification in Psychotherapeutic Counselling or a related field.
- Licensed or certified to practice.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Empathy, compassion, and a non-judgmental attitude.
- Ability to establish rapport and build trust with clients.
- Excellent active listening and problem-solving skills.
- Knowledge of various counselling theories and techniques.
- Strong ethical and professional boundaries.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong organisational and time management skills.
Our Offer
We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page
Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.
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You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack.
Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.
For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Justine McQuillan at justine.mcquillan@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 4111
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Safeguarding:
Central Bedfordshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees, volunteers and contractors to share this commitment. This post is subject to the disclosure of criminal records.
To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council’s policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.
Our National Careers Service team offer a free monthly workshop covering CV writing and how to complete the statement sections of the Central Bedfordshire Council online application form. This MS Teams workshop is open to anyone from the UK and lasts around 1.5 hours. Please book your place here.
More information about this service can be found here: Support getting into work or learning | Central Bedfordshire Council
