Job Description: Assistant School Counsellor
Profile: Assistant School Counsellor
Contract Period: 1 January 2026 to 30 November 2026
Working Hours
Personnel Will Be Deployed As Follows
- Four (4) days per week: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (inclusive of a 30-minute lunch break)
- Working days to be mutually agreed upon by the Personnel and the Authority.
Service is
not required on Saturdays, Sundays, gazetted public holidays, and during the
June school holidays.
Scope Of ServicesKey Responsibilities
- Provide individual and group counselling to students under the supervision of the Senior School Counsellor.
- Work closely with the Senior School Counsellor to consult with staff, parents, and external professionals/agencies regarding students under care, including conducting home visits when required.
- Refer students and their families to appropriate community resources or external professionals, with coordination and oversight from the Senior School Counsellor.
- Support the Senior School Counsellor in providing crisis intervention and follow-up support for critical incidents (e.g. trauma, significant behavioural or mental health issues).
- Maintain accurate case consultation records, proper documentation, and provide regular updates to school management on students progress.
- Assist the Senior School Counsellor in developing and implementing school-wide counselling programmes, including needs analysis, planning, evaluation, and staff training/consultation related to student wellness.
- Collaborate regularly with teachers, parents, school leaders, and external agencies (e.g. FSCs, MSF, ComLink, VWOs) to foster a supportive social-emotional well-being environment in the school.
- Collaborate with school personnel on content creation and teaching resources where required.
Operational Scope
The Assistant School Counsellor works within the school as part of the student support ecosystem and will:
- Conduct one-to-one counselling, small-group interventions (e.g. social skills, peer support, targeted issues), and support larger group or school-wide programmes/workshops for Tier 2 and Tier 3 students, under the guidance of the Senior School Counsellor.
- Facilitate small-group activities such as circle time, journaling, or goal setting to promote self-awareness, resilience, and social-emotional development.
- Liaise with parents and teachers, together with the Senior School Counsellor, to discuss student issues and recommend support strategies.
- Participate in home visits and liaise with external social and health agencies (e.g. FSCs, MSF, ComLink, VWOs) for students with complex needs.
- Maintain student records, monitor progress, and contribute to school policy or programme reviews related to student wellness.
- Provide intervention, follow-up, and coordinated support during crises or significant incidents (e.g. self-harm, traumatic events, major behavioural incidents), in close collaboration with the Senior School Counsellor.
Qualifications And SkillsQualifications
- Minimum Diploma or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, or counselling qualifications recognised by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC), or a related field.
- Familiarity with counselling approaches relevant to children aged 7 to 12, such as Choice Theory, Narrative Therapy, Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centred Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Adlerian Play Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Counselling.
Skills
- Strong interpersonal skills with empathy for students facing social-emotional or mental health challenges.
- Cultural sensitivity, resilience, and professionalism.
- Team player with a strong commitment to contributing to the school community.
- Competence in basic IT systems (e.g. Microsoft Office, student management systems) for documentation and reporting.
Experience
- Preferably at least 2 years of relevant experience in school-based or community-based social work, youth work, or related educational settings (primary and/or secondary schools).
- Experience working with students in preventive, developmental, or intervention programmes.
- Familiarity with collaboration among schools, parents, and community agencies to support student well-being.
- Experience facilitating after-school programmes or group work sessions is an added advantage.
