School Counsellor from September 2026

Welcome to OSH

Old Swinford Hospital is one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. A large number of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now fully co-education.

OSH is calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home. Parents, pupils and staff are all on the same side and our pupils want to learn before going out into the wider world and making their own contribution to it. 

We have had two very favourable Ofsted visits, one for boarding and one for curriculum. You can see these via our website www.oshsch.com  We enjoy a very good academic reputation and regularly feature in the lists of the most academically successful maintained schools. We’re not about league tables, however. We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience and we’ve been doing this now for nearly 360 years.

Our extensive extra-curricular programme contributes to our pupils becoming happy, healthy and interested young people, for whom sport, music, art, drama, outdoor pursuits feature in their everyday lives. 

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• A recognised qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy (minimum Level 4), with specific training in children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
• Membership of, or accreditation with, a relevant professional body (e.g. BACP, NCS, UKCP, CPCAB)
• Experience of working with young and vulnerable children, ideally in a school environment.
• Strong and listening and interpersonal skills
• Resilience, patience, and a non-judgmental, empathetic attitude
• An excellent communicator, able to build positive and professional relationships with staff, students, and parents alike.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and professional boundaries

Job Specification

1.     To provide confidential, professional counselling and support sessions to students, in line with ethical guidelines and safeguarding requirements;

2.     To offer a drop-in clinic for pupils;

3.     To offer supportive advice to any staff at the school who wish to discuss pupils who may be having difficulties;

4.     Promoting a safe, supportive and inclusive environment in which pupils feel able to explore and express their concerns;

5.     To liaise with the school medical centre staff and implement any actions required that have gathered over the week;

6.     Managing a caseload of pupils and prioritising referrals appropriately;

7.     Any matters that may arise as part of the counselling process which are concerned to be safeguarding issues which require investigating needs to go on MyConcern and if urgent then directly to Director of Safeguarding;

8.     To provide an opportunity for any parents/carers to talk with the school counsellor about their child who is having difficulties as necessary;

9.     Maintaining accurate, secure and confidential records in accordance with professional standards, GDPR and school policies;

10.  To perform duties within the codes of practice and ethics recommended by the BACP;

11.  To undertake any training which is required by the School;

12. To undertake other such duties as may be reasonably required commensurate with the post as requested by the Headmaster or a member of SLT. 

Hours & Remuneration of Work

The hours of work are 16 hours per week, term time (37 weeks). The work pattern to be discussed at interview. 

The rate of pay is £20.66 per hour plus statutory holiday pay.

In line with current regulation you will, if you are eligible, be offered a workplace pension through NEST.

Equal Opportunity

Old Swinford Services Ltd welcomes applications for employment from all sectors of the community.

Suitability to work with Children

Old Swinford Services Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised date if a large number of applications have been received.