The posting
UWCSEA East Campus invites applications for a visionary, dynamic, and collaborative Head of Primary School Counselling (Personal & Social-Emotional Learning) starting August 2027.
Sitting at the heart of both our Primary Student Support Team and the College-wide K–12 Counselling team, this exciting dual-facing role leads our dedicated primary counselling provision across K1 to Grade 6.
As an integral member of the Primary School Support Team and the Primary School Middle Leadership Team, the Head of Primary School Counselling plays a vital role in fostering a positive and inclusive culture across the Primary School. Beyond direct student care, the role actively contributes to whole-school wellbeing through professional learning to upskill staff, and designing and facilitating targeted workshops for parents. Working in close partnership with colleagues, the Head of Primary School Counselling drives primary-wide socio-emotional initiatives while collaborating closely with specialist colleagues across Learning Support, EAL, and Occupational Therapy, ensuring every child is supported holistically to thrive across all five elements of UWCSEA’s Learning Programme.
The appointed Head of Primary School Counselling will join a dynamic K–12 counselling team, supporting students across all school divisions, including the residential boarding community. Our counselling team offers a school-based, confidential, and compassionate empowerment service that enhances student well-being and access to learning opportunities. Through both preventative and responsive approaches, counsellors support students' social-emotional development and work collaboratively with parents and colleagues in times of individual or collective need.
Our counsellors aim to provide a developmentally appropriate service tailored to student needs. Key responsibilities include:
- Delivering confidential individual and group counselling
- Hosting parent information sessions and workshops
- Creating and sharing resources across Primary School community
- Building capacity and maintaining effective liaisons with parents, teachers, and external therapists
- Dedication to our Primary School Strategic Commitments
Main Responsibilities
Leadership
- Work in conjunction with the wider student support and safeguarding team to strategically develop, implement, and coordinate evidence-based services and multidisciplinary case management for student wellbeing and safeguarding across the College.
- Lead and manage staff within the Primary School counselling and SEL team.
- Work collaboratively with Primary School Support Team heads to ensure appropriate, holistic, well-evidenced care for students in need.
- Co-lead the Counselling Internship program in active partnership with the Head of Middle and High School Counselling.
- Prioritise and use data to proactively identify patterns and trends to inform decision-making and strategic direction.
- Work as part of the Primary Critical Incident Support team during times of collective need, delivering effective support in times of crisis, which may be needed on occasion outside of normal working hours.
- Ensure the highest quality service is provided to students and that it is aligned with the College strategic goals, wellbeing principles, mission, and relevant legislation.
- Proactively work to identify opportunities for the development of services and the creative and effective use of resources.
- Liaise with, establish, and maintain links with relevant external agencies and providers related to the mental health and wellbeing of students.
- Embrace, support, and deliver effective change where required.
- Keep up to date with external developments and seek examples of best practice in the management and support of positive mental health in children.
- Represent the College externally through professional networks, conferences, and workshops to enhance expertise and develop relationships with other professionals.
- Adhere to regulations and procedures relating to data protection and information security.
- Ensure the College management information systems are used effectively within the Counselling Department to support students.
- Ensure accurate records of counselling sessions, department meetings, and safeguarding notes are maintained.
Students
- Provide a flexible, evidence-based approach using a range of therapeutic practices to meet students' social, emotional, and psychological needs.
- Counsel students, referred through agreed channels, by Principals, Vice Principals, Heads of Grade, and parents in close consultation with relevant teachers and the Student Support Team.
- Work with students in the classroom and beyond, individually, in small groups, whole class or grades, mainly in the area of social, emotional and behavioural support.
- Engage and coordinate with external counselling and psychological agencies when appropriate.
- Participate regularly in internal peer supervision and external clinical supervision.
Staff
- Provide coaching to colleagues, through modelling and consultations, to reinforce effective classroom practices that support student social emotional development.
- Facilitate targeted professional learning for staff as required.
- Work as an active member of the multidisciplinary Student Support Team.
- Support staff wellbeing by providing initial consultation and referring colleagues to external support agencies for ongoing care.
- Liaise with the Senior Safeguarding Lead and DSLs to ensure staff remain informed on child protection laws, policies, and procedures.
Parents & Community
- Partner with parents and families to address social-emotional factors impacting student learning.
- Facilitate parent education sessions and share resources for families as the need arises.
- Provide recommendations and referrals to trusted external specialists and community agencies.
- Contribute to the upkeep of the Wellness Centre website for staff and parents.
Expectations and Standards
- Follow the UWCSEA Professional Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Code of Conduct.
- Lead in line with the UWCSEA Leadership Standards
- Teach in line with the UWCSEA Teacher Standards
Person Specifications
Qualifications & Experience
Required
- Master’s degree in Counselling or a closely related field.
- Internationally recognised counselling (or equivalent) qualification, with professional membership in an accredited organisation.
- Proven knowledge and experience in Child Protection and Safeguarding protocols.
- Experience working within a diverse community
Desirable:
- Formal teaching qualification and teaching or learning support experience.
- Additional training and experience in expressive arts therapies and play therapy
- Three years of experience in leadership and management in a K–12 school setting, including coaching, developing, training, appraising, and motivating staff.
- Five years of experience supporting children between the ages of 4-12
SKILLS & QUALITIES
- Deep understanding of student wellbeing, mental health, and safeguarding.
- Ability to assess risk of harm to self and others and to refer appropriately in such circumstances.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills
- Exhibit a high degree of calmness and resilience in challenging situations, with an evidence-based approach to counselling and safeguarding cases.
- Commitment to developing positive working relationships and the ability to function effectively and appropriately across cultures and diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to bring people together to foster a culture of trust and efficacy in the "team around the child".
- Ability to respond effectively to crisis situations involving student wellbeing, in a calm and timely manner.
- Honesty, integrity, compassion, and a sense of humor.
- Strong organisational and proven problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills: written, spoken, and in presentations.
- Relevant experience in developing and delivering operational plans, strategies and counselling sessions informed by evidence and data.
- Relevant experience in designing and delivering training, including presentations and workshops, to a range of audiences.
- Relevant experience in developing and working in partnership with external services to provide effective student support.
COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
- Academic expectations include enthusiastic participation in Professional Learning, both that which is mandated by the College and that which is identified by the individual for professional growth
- Teachers are expected to participate in the five key elements of a UWCSEA education: Academics; Activities; Outdoor Education; Personal and Social Education and Service
- Expected yearly contribution of an average of two sessions per week in each season to Activities and/or Service.
- The College expects that teachers will participate enthusiastically in the curricular Outdoor Education experiences which are relevant to their students and will also occasionally volunteer for holiday Outdoor Education trips
- A commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential alongside a willingness to adapt and develop pedagogy to meet the needs of our learners.
Estimated Timeline:
The interview process may include the following stages:
- One-way online interview (Spark Hire): 26 October 2026 onwards
- Online conversation with Primary School leaders: 10 November 2026
- Final interview day (including various engagements and stakeholders): 16 to 23 November 2026
We plan to complete the final interviews during the week commencing from week 23 November 2026.
We aim to communicate with all candidates regarding whether they have been moved to the next stage or not.
Applications
The UWC Mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. We are committed to creating a community in which all members feel safe and secure, and know that their authentic selves and individual differences are accepted with respect and care. At UWCSEA, we acknowledge that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) is an ongoing and evolving process and strive to create and sustain a sense of belonging for all members of our community, past, present and future. All qualified applicants, including those who identify as a part of marginalized group(s) and individuals with (dis)abilities are all encouraged to apply. Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and all appointments are subject to interview, satisfactory references, identity and criminal record checks.
