College Counsellor

Supportive team environment
- Bayside location

**GENERAL INFORMATION**

**Relationship with Moreton Bay College**

We work together to harness our expertise, resources, knowledge, facilities and business functions to best effect. MBBC places a strong emphasis on moral education, with its core values of Care, Character, Engagement and Team work. Accordingly, all employees are expected to model the same core values in their dealings with each other and the College.

**College Vision**

Our vision is Two Colleges, One Community, preparing our students for tomorrow’s world.

Purpose must have passion and the Moreton Bay Colleges’ passion is to develop and nurture students in an inclusive and diverse Christian learning environment. We will deliver an outstanding student experience that allows students to graduate with the attitudes, attributes and skills that will provide the keys to becoming a global citizen.

**THE POSITION**

This position is responsible to the Principal. All staff are employed by the CEO and Executive Principal.

The Counsellor at MBBC will deal with a broad range of counselling issues and in that regard, the Counsellor will demonstrate an ability to appreciate and support the needs of young men at the College. Counsellors provide a unique source of expertise and experience and therefore, will require a background that includes high levels of teaching ability, individual and group counselling skills and competent interpersonal and personal abilities. This position requires a background which includes skills and knowledge in the area of psycho-educational assessment and intervention and/or advanced knowledge and skills in counselling.

MBBC has a P-12 Personal Development programme which seeks to address student personal development needs and aims to develop the attributes identified as desirable for all MBBC graduates along with other College programmes.

All staff are appointed by the CEO and Executive Principal of MBC and MBBC and they are responsible to him for the over-all performance of their duties. The CEO and Executive Principal delegates his authority to senior staff members for the effective management of the College. This role will report directly to the Principal.

All staff need to be supportive of the values, Christian ethos and Ethical Statement of this Uniting Church day school for boys from P-12.

Please note that this Position Description:

- Can alter with changes in the role and responsibilities of this position
- Will be used as a framework for appraisal

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- The Counsellor will:_
- Plan, negotiate and provide a comprehensive guidance and counselling programme that is specific to the socio-cultural context of the College community.
- Provide timely and authoritative assessment recommendations and advice to clients and stakeholders concerning complex educational and personal issues.
- Investigate and assess a wide range of learning and adjustment issues referred by administrators, teachers, parents, clients and other agencies.
- Be familiar with and adhere to detailed procedures for efficient and professional processes of referral, implementation of services, and reporting mechanisms that account for the sensitivity and complexity of presenting concerns, the judgement to balance the ethical issues of confidentiality of each client with the need to inform others, and the significance of legal implications associated with the provision of incorrect or inappropriate information, advice or action.
- Maintain a comprehensive and professional record keeping system that complies with policy and legal requirements of parental and legal access to official records.
- Be responsible for the oversight, conduct and review of the College’s Years 8-12 Personal Development Programme.
- Maintain effective communication with the assistance of Heads of House and an administrative assistant to ensure the programme is faithfully implemented.
- Support teachers and the Personal Development Programme through the provision and co-ordination of resources at all year levels; and co-ordination of professional development in consultation with the
- Maintain a close working relationship with the Pastoral Coordinators to ensure continuity and relevance of P-12 programme.
- Maintain a close working relationship with the Chaplain and Head of Sub Schools to ensure an approach to ethics and values education, consistent with principles of the Uniting Church.
- Prepare a Budget for the Personal Development Programme.
- Attend relevant seminars/professional development sessions to maintain an awareness of emerging and contemporary issues.
- Assist the College Leadership Team in research and development and any other areas commonly agreed upon.

**SKILLS AND ABILITIES**
- Well developed organisational and administrative skills
- Strong, effective communication skills
- The capacity to work as a team member
- Excellent time management skills
- Student counselling experience