Counsellor

About Misk Schools

Misk Schools is seeking a dedicated Counsellor to join its team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role focuses on providing essential mental health support to students, particularly those with additional needs, to foster their social and emotional development.

Role Overview

The Counsellor will deliver continuous mental health support, working within a multidisciplinary framework to address students' needs comprehensively. The role involves close collaboration with students, parents, academic staff, and external support agencies to ensure a supportive and safe environment for all students.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support the assessment and treatment of students with mental health needs, liaising with students, parents, the academic team, and external agencies such as educational psychologists.
• Address student challenges including self-esteem, anger management, time management, academic coping strategies, friendship issues, communication skills, grieving, and depression.
• Provide regular counselling sessions to identified or referred students.
• Communicate closely with the Head Counsellor and Designated Safeguarding Lead regarding students of concern.
• Conduct specialist psychotherapeutic assessments and develop tailored programmes of care, offering individual or group psychotherapeutic treatment.
• Observe students and respond to their verbal and behavioural communications, creating a safe and belonging environment.
• Attend core group meetings and collaborate with other professionals in planning support for children and their families across various settings.
• Regularly review and monitor the outcomes of assessments and the effectiveness of treatment.
• Offer psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic advice, training, consultation, and supervision to other professionals involved in a child's treatment plan.
• Liaise with the Assistant Principal’s Wellbeing to promote broader wellbeing initiatives, including student talks, staff INSET, and parent workshops.
• Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to cultural perspectives on mental health and wellbeing within the Saudi Arabian context.
• Undertake risk assessments and risk management from a child psychotherapy perspective.
• Receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior child psychotherapist.
• Support the wellbeing and mental health of Misk employees within the schools.
• Stay current with developments in theory and research, undertaking continuous professional development (CPD).

Safeguarding Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, adhering to the school’s safeguarding policies and staff code of conduct. This role directly supports the Designated Safeguarding Lead to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students.

Qualifications and Experience

• 2-5 years of relevant experience in counselling or psychotherapy.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, parents, and other professionals.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

Application Process

Misk Schools offers a professional environment for dedicated individuals. Salary details for this full-time position will be discussed during the interview process.