Website Akanksha Foundation
Position: School Counselor
Function/Team: Counseling
Location: Mumbai/Pune
Compensation: Based on skill sets, experience and sector standards.
Reports to: City Lead Counsellor
Position Summary: As an Akanksha Counsellor, you will support the schools from the lens of a “whole school approach”. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Development form the foundation of this approach. This will involve addressing the needs of learners, staff and the wider community not only within the curriculum but also across the wholeschool and learning environment. You will work with schools and key stakeholders to build spaces where different learners thrive in an inclusive classroom setting, where learning is holistic. You will also work to meet the needs of students with specific social/ emotional challenges and/or disabilities.
What your role will entail:
In Schools
● Visiting different schools across the city (as allocated. you will be allocated either one/two schools)
● Classroom Observations (whole class and/or individual)
● Identifying children with socio-emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties
● One-on-one sessions with children referred for individual counseling
● Small group sessions with children to address similar needs/concerns
● Documenting cases as per the format
● Conducting sessions with children in classrooms on various socio-emotional or life skills as per the developmental need of the class (e.g. sessions on selfawareness, communication, compassion)
● Supporting children who require critical therapeutic intervention due to a traumatic event/reported abuse
With Teachers, Social Workers and School Leaders
● Facilitating sessions in every school with the aim of building teacher, social worker and school leader awareness on child development and child safety
● Capacity building of teachers to support children in the classroom.
● Regularly briefing the teachers, social workers and School Leaders about the status and progress of the children who are undergoing counselling.
● Collaborating with the school social worker to ensure necessary follow ups are done for individual counseling cases and for child safety cases
● Conducting home visits and meeting parents to work in collaboration to support the child
Outside the Schools and With the Community
● Visiting homes in the community with the aim of understanding the family, its dynamics and other aspects which affect the children
● Conducting one-on-one sessions with the parents of children being counseled.
● Capacity building of parents to help them address their concerns and build their parenting skills
● Working with the Social worker and collaborating with parents as partners in the child’s development.
With External Agencies
● Coordinating with government hospitals for psychoeducational testing, Speech therapy, Occupational therapy
● Collaborating with external experts for counselling of cases of severe distress or abuse.
● Collaborating with external experts for conducting capacity building sessions for the teachers and parents
With the team
● Working with a team of Counsellors and participating actively in opportunities for training and collaboration.
● Supporting team members and being open to sharing and learning skills What you need for this Position:
Experience:
● Experience of working directly with children/youth.
● Experience in documenting case-work and planning workshops.
● Prior experience in building capacity in teachers and parents with respect to child development and allied areas (preferred).
● 2 years or more of relevant experience in the field of education working with children and parents (preferred).
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
● An empathetic and patient approach towards counselees
● Having knowledge of trauma-informed and systems approaches
● Having group facilitation skills
● Comfortable using technology and working on online platforms
● Positive and solution-oriented with demonstrated strong work ethics and professionalism
● Highly motivated and perseverant
● Demonstrated openness to learning and willingness to actively participate in personal and professional development for self.
● Flexibility, adaptability and ability to function in an unstructured environment
● Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with different stakeholders.
Education:
● A Bachelor’s degree with specialization in psychology and/or counselling (Required)
● A Master’s degree with specialization in psychology and/or counselling (Preferred) or post-grad training or diploma in psychology and/or counselling
To apply for this job please visit docs.google.com.
