School Counsellor - Toronto, Canada - Upper Canada College

Upper Canada College

Verified Company

Toronto, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Employment Terms:
F/T, Permanent

Start Date:
March 2023

With a commitment to equity and fairness, students learn that what makes us different as individuals makes us stronger as a community.

A rigorous academic program is supported by accomplished faculty, exceptional co-curricular programming, and state-of-the-art facilities.

The UCC experience is underpinned by five core values:
learning, pluralism, service, community, and wellbeing. Among its strategic goals is UCC's ambition to become more diverse and inclusive.

This is supported by a recognition that no learning community is whole without the inclusion and amplification of multiple voices; UCC is committed to fostering belonging, striving for justice and peace among all people, and addressing systemic and structural forms of oppression.

Position Overview:

School counsellors work to meet the social and emotional needs of students. They collaborate with students, teachers, parents and administrators to support student learning and wellbeing.

Our school counselling program is developmental in nature and comprehensive, focusing on academic, social and personal growth for all students.

Specifically, this position will assist Preparatory students, teachers, parents and staff in understanding, preventing and addressing learning, behavioural, developmental and emotional challenges.

In addition to providing responsive services and individual student planning, all Preparatory school counsellors collaborate with teachers to deliver a Health & Life Skills curriculum that includes exploration of topics such as wellbeing skills, character strengths, and content from the Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculum.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Counselling, Student Wellbeing & Crisis Response

Provide direct counselling to students and related support to families addressing social, emotional, behavioural, developmental and learning challenges;
Provide a comprehensive counselling program for students, including individual and/or small group counselling/social skills training;
Work with the school-wide counselling team to ensure an articulated counselling program and a safe, healthy school environment;
Develop, plan, deliver & assess Health & Life Skills classes in the Preparatory School;
Make recommendations to support academic, behavioral, social & emotional needs based on data;
Coordinate with other counsellors and administration on student transition/orientation and transition between grades;
Crisis intervention services that support students following natural disasters, violence, abuse, death or suicide by a student; both at divisional and whole school level;
Adapt counselling techniques to meet the needs of a diverse school population.

Collaboration

Collaborate closely with other school counsellors, the Prep Leadership Team, Centre for Learning, Student Health Services & other relevant personnel to ensure the academic and wellbeing programming meets the needs of students;
Work closely with Centre for Learning, teachers and school psychologist to develop appropriate social emotional interventions for students; collaboratively support & implement OPRs, support plans & Behavioural Plans for identified students;
Participate and/or facilitate Student Support Team meetings, IST meetings and referral processes to ensure students' needs are understood and met;
Build capacity by providing consultation & coaching to faculty & staff;
Act as a liaison with community agencies and allied professionals.

Professional Learning

Engage in professional development to ensure current research-supported practices are in place;
Conduct family workshop sessions around pertinent issues relating to the social emotional wellbeing of students, parenting & positive communication;
Lead and design professional development for teachers around pertinent issues relating to social emotional learning, wellbeing & behavioural management techniques;
Provide support and guidance to teachers of Health & Life Skills (HLS).

School Culture

Actively support and contribute to a positive school culture & climate;
Contribute to the development of systems and practices that enhance learning and maintain a positive school atmosphere.

Other

Contribute to UCC's co-curricular program;
Consult with Children's Aid if required.

Knowledge, Competencies and Experience:

Completion of university, college or other registered counsellor program.

Current registration and membership in good standing with the appropriate accredited association (ie:
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care);
A Bachelor or Master Degree in Social Work is an asset or advanced mental health degree such as a Masters or PhD in Psychology, Counselling, Child and Youth Studies or Social Work;
Five years of general experience of counselling children, youth and families. Strong preference for e