Full-Time School Counsellor

Join Words First and support children and young people to develop resilience, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.

Words First is looking for a dedicated and compassionate Full-Time Counsellor to join our multidisciplinary team, delivering therapeutic support within an independent specialist school in Chaldon, Surrey.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a highly collaborative environment where therapeutic practice is embedded throughout the school. You'll work closely with education staff and other specialists to support children and young people with a range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

About the Role

As the school's Counsellor, you will provide high-quality therapeutic support to pupils experiencing emotional, behavioural, and mental health challenges. You will help children and young people develop emotional regulation, healthy relationships, resilience, and strategies to engage successfully in school life.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will collaborate with teachers, families, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Educational Psychologists, and other professionals to deliver holistic, child-centred support.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver individual and group counselling sessions using evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
• Complete assessments and develop individual intervention plans.
• Monitor and evaluate therapeutic progress, adapting interventions where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate, confidential clinical records and produce professional reports.
• Contribute to Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) reviews and multidisciplinary meetings.
• Work collaboratively with school staff, parents, carers, and external professionals.
• Support trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice across the school.
• Promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing through whole-school initiatives, staff consultation, and therapeutic advice.

About You

We're looking for someone who has:

• A recognised counselling qualification at diploma or degree level.
• Accreditation or registration with a recognised professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), or National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
• Experience working with children and young people, ideally within education or specialist settings.
• A strong understanding of child development, attachment, trauma-informed practice, and neurodiversity.
• Excellent communication, report writing, and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• A commitment to safeguarding, professional development, and evidence-based practice.

Why Join Words First?

At Words First, you'll become part of a supportive, values-led multidisciplinary team committed to improving outcomes for children and young people.

We offer:

• Regular clinical supervision.
• Access to specialist CPD and career development opportunities.
• Opportunities to develop specialist clinical interests and contribute to service development.
• A collaborative team including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Educational Psychologists, Art Therapists, Play Therapists, and other specialists.
• A supportive culture where collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning are encouraged.

Join Us

If you're passionate about supporting children's emotional wellbeing and want to work within a collaborative multidisciplinary team where your expertise can make a genuine difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.

Join Words First and help children and young people build the confidence, resilience, and emotional skills they need to flourish in school and beyond.