School Counsellor

Do you want to be part of a new and developing team where you will help make a lasting impact on our students and unlock their life chances? We currently have an opportunity for an exceptional School Counsellor.

About our school: Ark Blake Academy is a growing and successful academy based in East Croydon that opened in September 2020. We are consistently oversubscribed in every year group and currently have students in Years 7–10. We will continue to grow and look forward to our first cohort of students completing their GCSE studies in the summer of 2025. We have recently welcomed a new Principal and a number of senior and middle leaders to the Academy and are now wishing to recruit for further key roles to drive forward our ambitious plans. At Ark Blake Academy, our mission for the school is to embed a powerful knowledge-rich curriculum and provide fantastic opportunities for character development, all underpinned by an environment where exemplary behaviour is the norm. In terms of our school culture, it is based around the simple but powerful belief of ‘working hard, being kind and taking responsibility’. We aim to become a leading school in London as quickly as possible by living out this day to day belief.

What we offer our staff:

• Collaborative planning, centralised or shared resources
• Clear and consistent behaviour systems
• Knowledge rich curriculum & traditional T&L approach
• Highly visible supportive leaders who have your back
• Centralised daily detentions
• Realistic and manageable feedback policy
• Excellent CPD opportunities – internal & within network
• Thoughtful and impactful meeting schedule with time for co-planning
• Friday afternoon co-planning following earlier student dismissal
• Free breakfast daily

The role: We are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified School Counsellor to work alongside the Safeguarding and Pastoral Team at Ark Blake Academy. This key role will involve counselling students (short term and long term) from Years 7–11 and may also involve providing similar services for staff members. The role will primarily provide one to one counselling to students, although the post holder will also be expected to be proactive in supporting the school's Mental Health Lead through, for example, co-ordinating in school support from specialist mental health services; delivering group sessions or workshops and supporting with other related whole school initiatives. The Counselling role will include making initial assessments and communicating with parents/carers; maintaining appropriate records and liaising regularly with the Designated Safeguarding Lead, SLT, Heads of Year and with other professionals as necessary.

The ideal candidate will have gained a post-graduate Diploma or Masters level in Counselling or Psychotherapy, preferably this would specialise in working with children and adolescents. Accreditation with the BACP, UKCP, BPC or an equivalent recognised awarding body is essential. The successful candidate will have excellent communication, organisational and time-management skills and be competent in using ICT. You will be a true team player and be able to work with the flexibility this post requires. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to grow with the Academy. We will provide one-to-one support, coaching and access to extensive network training to support career development and leadership opportunities.

In addition to professional support all employees are eligible for Ark Rewards, a scheme that offers discounts at many retailers and other benefits such as Cycle to Work and the Employee Assistance Programme.

You will demonstrate:

• A genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every student
• An unwavering determination and commitment to Ark's mission of providing excellence for students from all starting points and backgrounds
• The ability to manage behaviour effectively to create a positive, calm and purposeful climate for learning
• Excellent team working skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken
• Empathy, patience, reliability and consistency
• Flexibility, proactivity and a willingness to change approaches when necessary
• A high level of self-awareness and self-management in stressful situations
• Resilience, motivation and commitment to achieving excellence
• Ability to be reflective and proactive in seeking feedback to constantly improve practice
• Commitment to regular and ongoing professional development and training
• A commitment to Ark's ethos of high expectations for every student in both academic achievement and personal development
• Have the drive, skills and resilient character required to help grow a new Academy
• Be reflective about the Academy and committed to securing its continued development
• Value and support practices driving continued progress across the network of Ark schools

Ark Blake Academy is part of Ark, one of the UK's most successful school groups, with a network of 39 schools in 4 locations across the country. As a proud member of the network, we offer:

• Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale
• Twice as many training days as standard
• Generous pension scheme
• Access to Ark Rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
• Interest free loans – up to £5,000 available for season tickets or to buy a bicycle
• Gym discounts offering up to 40% off membership
• Access to our Employee Assistance programme providing free confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of support
• Access to high-quality, regular professional development
• Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the network

How to apply: Please click ‘apply’ on the website you are visiting to complete an online application form. For more information about our school, please visit: www.arkblake.org. To arrange a confidential conversation about this role, or if you have any further questions please contact: v.rouse@arkblake.org.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process which will include questions about safeguarding. This process is outlined here, but can be provided in more detail if requested. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English is an essential requirement for the role. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective.