School Counsellor/Play Therapist

Job Title: School Counsellor/Play Therapist

Location: Central Office with travel between schools

Pay scale: NJC Grade 6, Point 21: £30,825 to Point 26: £34,834 gross per annum pro rata

Actual Annual Salary: £5,787.80 to £6,540.54 (under 5 Years of Service)

Contract: Permanent, part-time, 7.5 hours per week (1 day) x 42 working weeks

Start date: As soon as possible

Minerva Learning Trust is an expanding Sheffield based Multi Academy Trust with a vision of providing outstanding education for all the students within our schools. The Trust is passionate that all students should see their time at school as happy and fulfilling with their potential developed to the utmost. The Trust employs just under 800 staff across our schools and central services, and we are committed to providing career opportunities and professional development which allows people to make a positive contribution to the delivery of our vision.

We are looking to recruit a School Counsellor/Play Therapist as a member of the Trust’s Central Team who will work closely with the Director of School Improvement-Inclusion and school leaders to help us to achieve our mission of delivering the best possible pastoral care for all our 6,000 children and young people. This post will involve supporting students, including primary aged students.

We are looking for a motivated and engaging individual who will work as part of a team to deliver a high-quality counselling service, across all our Trust schools, to children experiencing a wide range of emotional, social and mental health challenges.

The ideal candidate will be an ambitious, forward thinking, caring, experienced and appropriately qualified professional with a track record of successfully supporting vulnerable young people and families.

We are looking for someone who:

·        Is committed to our core values of Inclusion, Independence, Respect, and Success.

·        Is a knowledgeable and experienced Counsellor/Play Therapist who holds a post-graduate Diploma or Master’s level qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy, as well as accreditation or registration with one of the recognised awarding bodies (BACP, UKCP etc).

·        Has proven experience of providing targeted counselling support for vulnerable young people and their families within a one-to-one and small group setting (including primary aged students).

·        Is empathetic, patient and understanding with a non-judgemental and warm approach.

·        Is an effective communicator, team player and has experience of delivering training and support to other colleagues.

In return the successful candidate will:

·        Be a member of the Trust’s Central Team and join a strong and dynamic team of professionals across our organisation.

·        Be supported through a comprehensive professional development programme.

·        Be provided with excellent career opportunities.

·        Be offered Supervision.

·        Be supported by our Trust Wellbeing and Workload Charters.

·        Have access to teacher or local government pension and salary sacrifice schemes.

·        Access to a free flu vaccine on an annual basis.

Candidates can find out more about the Trust and our schools via the Trust website www.minervalearningtrust.co.uk Further information is available by contacting Katherine Chadbourne- Deputy Director of School Improvement- Inclusion via e-mail: kchadbourne@central-mlt.co.uk.

The closing date is at 9am on Friday 27 September 2024 and interviews will take place during week commencing 07 October 2024.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment, further information can be found in our child protection and safeguarding policy on our statutory information page on our website Minerva Learning Trust. The successful candidate will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In line with KCSIE, the trust will be carrying out online searches on shortlisted candidates as part of their due diligence.  

The application form and information pack is available on the Trust website www.minervalearningtrust.co.uk   Please ensure that you do not fill in a Sheffield City Council application form in respect of this vacancy as your application will not be considered.