Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands Cayman Prep and High School is a private, co-educational Christian school with over 1,000 students ranging from Kindergarten to Year 13 and offers a British-based international curriculum leading to (I)GCSE and A-level qualifications. The school is renowned for providing a stimulating learning environment in which our students become critical, creative thinkers, responsible citizens, and lifelong learners. This is evident in our consistent record of outstanding academic achievements, pastoral care, and wide range of extra-curricular activities. The Primary School invites applications from fully qualified, enthusiastic, and experienced Caymanians, Caymanian Status Holders, and Permanent Residents with the Right to Work to join our high-performing team in the following position: COUNSELLOR (Job Ref# A162-26-27) The successful candidate will be responsible for providing an independent and confidential counselling service to the Primary School Community, responding to their Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH) and/or educational concerns. They will deliver CPD to staff, equipping them with effective strategies to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with the PSHE Lead and Head of Pastoral, they will contribute to the development of positive approaches that strengthen the school’s ethos, enhance the PSHE curriculum, and promote strong Christian values across the community. The successful candidate will also support the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with staff training as required, and will ensure that appropriate Safeguarding and Child Protection measures are delivered and fulfilled. Duties for the Counsellor position will also include, but will not be limited to:
Implement a suitable and structured referral system to identify, collect and collate information on students who may require support.
Set up systems for assessing the needs of students who may have long or short term emotional, personal, social and/or educational needs.
Provide specialist help, support and advice to students, in individual or group settings
Co-ordinate and lead meetings or case conferences which include all relevant stakeholders and maintain confidential communication, involvement and support of all parties concerned.
Advise and assist staff members on appropriate classroom and playground strategies, in order to give students, support and guidance for their emotional, personal, social and/or educational development.
Provide written reports on the activities and services provided during the school year.
Implement a proactive approach to educating students, staff and parents on PSHE issues, such as Safety, Friendship and Healthy Living.
Liaise with other professionals within and outside of the school to utilize their expertise and resources.
Qualifications, experience and skills required for the Counsellor position
Be professionally trained, holding a University Degree in Counselling or the equivalent qualifications.
Must be a registered Counsellor or eligible to register with the Cayman Islands Health Practice Commission.
Have a minimum of five years’ Counselling experience working within the Primary School / Children’s sector.
Demonstrate excellent communication skills at all levels, with children, staff, parents and external agencies.
Have a calm and approachable manner, able to exercise qualities of tolerance, patience and sensitivity.
Demonstrate up to date professional knowledge and judgement on Safeguarding, Child Protection Policy and related issues.
Demonstrate up to date, professional knowledge and judgement on Counselling techniques and strategy.
Salary range for this position is CI$55,000.00 to CI$75,500.00 per annum commensurate with experience based on the school’s point salary scale. Benefits include:
Discounted school fees: first child 100% and 50% for up to 2 additional dependent children
Annual travel allowance
Generous medical insurance plan – medical premium cost paid for employee at 100%
Contribution to a pension plan
Generous school holidays
Continued Professional Development Opportunities throughout the School Year
Cayman Prep and High School is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of our children and young people and expects the same commitment from all our employees. All successful candidates will be subject to enhanced pre-employment clearance including prohibition from teaching checks, identity checks, criminal background checks, qualification checks and employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment and three satisfactory employment checks. APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF SUBMITTED ON THE RELEVANT SCHOOL APPLICATION FORM and submitted along with a cover letter and CV. Applicants must apply using this link - https://wkf.ms/4w24J7K
The cover letter should be addressed to
Mrs. Sacha Strand, Primary School Principal P.O. Box 10013 Grand Cayman KY1-1001 Cayman Islands For further information about all job vacancies and how to apply please use this link - www.cayprep.edu.ky/about-cphs/vacancies/
JOB DESCRIPTION
Purpose
Provide an independent and confidential counselling service to the students, responding to their Social, Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) and/or educational concerns
Provide CPD for the staffing team in supporting children’s needs in good mental health and wellbeing
Working with the PSHE lead and Head of Pastoral, to develop positive approaches and strategies to enhance the positive ethos of the school, the PSHE curriculum and the continued development of strong Christian Principles across the School Community
Ensure appropriate Safeguarding and Child Protection measures are delivered and fulfilled
Support Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with staff training as required
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Implement an effective, structured and transparent referral system to identify, collect and collate information on students who may require support
Implement a timetable for counselling students, as required and identified by individualised plans.
Set up systems such as SDQs (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires) for assessing the needs of students who may have long or short term SEMH and/or educational needs
Provide specialist help, support and advice to students in individual and/or group settings
Provide advice to parents and outside agencies, where appropriate
Provide referral counsellor advice to staff, as appropriate, upon request by staff members
Provide service as Child Protection Officer as directed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Co-ordinate and lead meetings or case conferences which include all relevant stakeholders and maintain the confidential communication, involvement and support of all parties concerned, as required
Advise and assist staff members on appropriate classroom and playground strategies, in order to give students support and guidance for their SEMH and/or educational development
Working with the subject leads, review, identify and acquire appropriate resources and instructional materials to strengthen and support the counselling services and PSHE curriculum offered across the school e.g. MBIMO.
Support a proactive approach to educating students, staff and parents on PSHE issues, such as Safety, Friendship and Healthy Living and My Body Is My Own (MBIMO)
Liaise with other professionals within and outside of the school to utilise their expertise and resources, in order to carry out the work of support effectively
Monitor, review and report upon (where appropriate) student progress and development, in order to make informed decisions on next steps required in the area of support
Provide regular reports to the Primary Leadership Team on the relevant actions, activities and services provided, including timetabled students
Through clear timetabling, provide a drop in counselling support for children at break and lunchtimes
Working with the DSL, implement School Safeguarding and CP policies, procedures and practice
Working with the Primary leadership team to implement the School Behaviour policies, procedures and practice
Monitor CPOMS and respond as appropriate, taking next steps in tandem with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Other Responsibilities
Positively support the implementation of school peer mediation strategies (including Power of 5) to develop a restorative culture within the school ethos, through assemblies and training
Work with the School Assistant Supervisor to develop effective playtime strategies and plans
Carry out gate duties as required
Lead CPD sessions for staff team to ensure staff are up to date with latest advice and training
Be responsible for maintaining and updating personal professional development, CPD records and professional registration
Maintain an effective Primary School Counselling room as a space to support children as required
Attend PS meetings as required
Monitor and induct all staff in the area of safeguarding training, including new staff at the start of the new school year and as required ongoing training throughout the year as new staff are on-boarded. (N.B Where new staff training commences prior to the start of the school year, time off in lieu will be agreed.)
Undertake other duties as may be required or designated as relevant to your role to by the Principal.
All Staff Are Expected To
Maintain confidentiality at all times with regard to student information and related school matters
Support the Christian Principles as well as the aims and ethos of the school, for example, setting good examples in terms of dress, punctuality and demeanour
Uphold the school’s behaviour code, uniform requirements and other regulations
Attend and participate in staff CPD sessions, school-based meetings, student performances and extra-curricular activities, where appropriate
Assist with various duties as assigned by the Principal, according to the needs of the school
Safeguarding In accordance with the school's commitment to follow and adhere to the School’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures and all other relevant guidance and legislation in respect of safeguarding children, you are required to demonstrate your commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people in the school. All staff are required to maintain appropriate professional boundaries in relationships with children and with all members of the school community and outside agencies, and exercise sound professional judgment, which always focuses upon the best interests of the students and the school. You must understand and carry out your duties in accordance with the responsibilities of being in a position of trust and dispatch your duty of care appropriately at all times. You will always be expected to present a consistently positive image of the school and uphold public trust and confidence. This Job Description forms part of the contract of employment of the person appointed to this post. It reflects the position at the present time only and may be reviewed in negotiation with the employee in the future.
