School Counsellor

Contract Type: Self-employed (up to 16 hours per week)

Salary: A competitive salary will be offered, in line with the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Closing Date: The closing date for applications is 12.00pm 27 August 2026

This is a role for a BACP-registered (or equivalent) practitioner who can deliver time-limited, ethical counselling to children and young people within a small, friendly preparatory school. You will provide one-to-one and occasional group work, manage a flexible appointment system across the school day, and connect pupils to wider mental health and safeguarding pathways while working up to 16 hours a week as a self-employed clinician.

What you'll be doing

• Provide high-quality, accessible counselling to children and young people in a school setting, working within BACP (or equivalent) ethical guidelines.

• Carry out clinical and risk assessments, manage waiting lists, and establish referral pathways to external services where needed.

• Run an appointment system that fits the school day and liaise with staff about referrals, timetabling and student movement to sessions.

• Keep secure, legally compliant case records for both yourself and the School and carry out related administrative tasks.

• Work alongside pastoral and safeguarding staff, SENCO/ELSA colleagues, external agencies and parents/carers where appropriate.

• Attend and report to the Deputy Head Pastoral at least monthly on referrals and service provision.

• Attend mandatory Edgeborough training and monthly external clinical supervision (school will fund supervision up to an agreed cost of £60 per session).

What we're looking for

Essential:

• Qualified to minimum Level 4 with significant post-qualification experience counselling children and young people.

• BACP registration/accreditation or equivalent professional body membership.

• Experience of individual counselling with children/young people, including work with risk and complex safeguarding issues.

• Experience of working within a school or multi-agency setting and liaising with statutory and voluntary services.

• Good written and verbal communication, competent IT skills and ability to keep confidential records.

• Ability to work independently within clearly defined time-limited boundaries and to manage a varied workload.

Desirable:

• Experience delivering group work or activity-based therapies for pupils.

• Previous experience providing supervision, training or workshops for school staff, parents or learning mentors.

About the team

You will report to the Deputy Head Pastoral and be part of the pastoral network that includes the Head of Pastoral, SENCO, ELSA staff and learning mentors. The role is expected to be collaborative: you will promote the service across staff teams, attend meetings as required and co-ordinate with other professionals working in the school.

What we offer

• A self-employed post for up to 16 hours a week with a competitive salary reflective of experience.

• Funded monthly external clinical supervision (up to an agreed cost of £60 per session).

• The opportunity to shape and develop a visible counselling service within a small, values-driven Prep school in Surrey.

About us

Edgeborough is a co-educational independent preparatory school in Frensham, Farnham, Surrey, educating children aged 2–13 with boarding from Year 4. The school is part of the Charterhouse family of schools and places the ARK values (Adventure, Responsibility, Kindness) at the centre of school life.

Edgeborough School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, qualifications, experience checks, medical clearance, enhanced DBS checks, social media checks, and documentary evidence showing your entitlement to work in the UK.

Applications should be made in accordance with the School’s application and safer recruitment procedures, via the School’s website, selecting the relevant vacancy. The selected vacancy link will take you to our online recruitment system and give you the opportunity to register and complete an application form. You will also have the opportunity to upload your latest CV.

The link to our vacancies is

We are creating an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity are seen and valued – for our pupils, for our staff. A culture that supports the enduring Edgeborough education provided to pupils in our global and multi-cultural environment.