Counsellor (Middle and High School - 1 Year Local Contract)

UWCSEA East campus has a one-year vacancy starting August 2027 for a Middle and High School Counsellor (1-Year Local Contract). The appointee will focus primarily on supporting the mental health needs of students aged 11 to 18.

They will join a thriving team of professionals serving the K–12 population, including our boarding house students. Our counselling team offers a school-based, confidential, and compassionate empowerment service that enhances student well-being and access to learning opportunities. Through both preventative and responsive approaches, counsellors support students' social-emotional development and work collaboratively with parents and colleagues in times of individual or collective need.

Our counsellors aim to provide a developmentally appropriate service tailored to student needs. Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering confidential individual or group counselling
• Hosting parent information sessions and workshops
• Creating and sharing resources across the school community
• Building capacity and maintaining effective liaisons with parents, teachers, and external therapists
• Dedication to the UWCSEA’s Strategic Commitments

Requirements: To apply for this role, candidates must hold an internationally recognised counselling (or equivalent) qualification and currently reside in Singapore.

Main Responsibilities

Students

• Provide a flexible, evidence-based approach using a range of therapeutic practices to meet students' social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Counsel students referred by Principals, Vice Principals, or Heads of Grade, in close consultation with relevant teachers and the Student Support Team.
• Offer client-centred counselling for self-referred students.
• Counsel students referred by parents or guardians.
• Deliver both individual and group counselling sessions tailored to student needs.
• Engage and coordinate with external counselling and psychological agencies when appropriate.
• Participate regularly in internal peer supervision and external clinical supervision.

Staff

• Collaborate and consult with colleagues to foster students' social-emotional development.
• Facilitate targeted professional development workshops for staff as needed.
• Work as an active member of the multidisciplinary Student Support Team.
• Support staff well-being by providing initial consultation and referring colleagues to external support agencies for ongoing care.
• Liaise with the Senior Safeguarding Lead to ensure staff remain informed on child protection laws, policies, and procedures.

Parents & Community

• Partner with parents and families to address social-emotional factors impacting student learning.
• Facilitate parent education sessions and share resources for families.
• Provide recommendations and referrals to trusted external specialists and community agencies.
• Perform other reasonable duties aligned with the role's scope and responsibility as requested by leadership.

Expectations and Standards

• Follow the UWCSEA Professional Code of Conduct https://drive.google.com/file/d/13bs54xzI8EKebZ0_FpHsk3LndGd8AO3x/view?usp=sharing and Safeguarding Code of Conduct.
• Teach in line with the UWCSEA Teacher Standards

Person Specifications

• Required:

  • Master’s degree in Counselling or a closely related field.
  • Internationally recognised counselling (or equivalent) qualification, with professional membership in an accredited organisation.
  • Proven knowledge and experience in Child Protection and Safeguarding protocols.

• Desirable:

  • Formal teaching qualification.
  • Additional training and experience in expressive arts therapies.
  • Experience working within a diverse community
  • Experience supporting K–12 students, with a primary focus on adolescent care and development.
• Demonstrated ability to apply a client-centred, adaptable approach using varied therapeutic modalities to meet diverse needs.
• Collaborative working style to build strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, external agencies, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong conflict resolution, problem-solving, and crisis intervention skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusting, positive relationships in a diverse, multicultural community.
• Ability to engage students, foster a positive learning environment, and actively promote social-emotional well-being.
• Eagerness to contribute across the five key elements of a UWCSEA education: Academics, Personal and Social Education, Service, Activities, and Outdoor Education.
• Commitment to ongoing professional learning, including College-mandated training and self-directed clinical development.
• Dedication to the UWCSEA’s Strategic Commitments

Applications

The UWC Mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. We are committed to creating a community in which all members feel safe and secure, and know that their authentic selves and individual differences are accepted with respect and care. At UWCSEA, we acknowledge that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) is an ongoing and evolving process and strive to create and sustain a sense of belonging for all members of our community, past, present and future. All qualified applicants, including those who identify as a part of marginalized group(s) and individuals with (dis)abilities are all encouraged to apply. Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and all appointments are subject to interview, satisfactory references, identity and criminal record checks.