School Counselor NGO Job SHOFCO

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Role Overview

The School Counselor at Sankoré is responsible for advancing student well-being, belonging, and holistic development across a diverse and complex school community. This role operates at the intersection of academic success, social-emotional health, and community context.

Working under the Head of Support and Belonging, the counselor plays a central role in ensuring that every student is known, supported, and equipped to navigate both school and life. The position requires a practitioner who can operate across individual counseling, systems-building, and community engagement—while remaining grounded in Sankoré’s values of dignity, equity, and student agency.

Key Responsibilities

1. Student Counseling and Direct Support

• Provide individual and small-group counseling to students across grade levels, addressing:
  • Social-emotional development
  • Mental health challenges (e.g., anxiety, trauma, stress, identity)
  • Behavioral concerns
  • Peer relationships and conflict
• Develop and implement individualized student support plans where needed
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of all counseling interactions
• Identify early warning signs and intervene proactively

2. Safeguarding and Student Protection

• Serve as a key point of contact for student safeguarding concerns
• Identify, document, and escalate cases of abuse, neglect, or risk in line with school policies
• Work closely with leadership and external partners where necessary
• Ensure all safeguarding practices are trauma-informed and culturally responsive

3. Whole-School Social-Emotional Programming

• Design and deliver structured social-emotional learning (SEL) programming
• Integrate well-being practices into the broader school culture
• Support the development of life skills including resilience, emotional regulation, and decision-making
• Collaborate with teaching staff to embed SEL into classroom practice

4. Student Belonging and Inclusion

• Actively contribute to a school culture where all students feel safe, respected, and included
• Support students navigating identity, marginalization, and exclusion
• Work with the Head of Support and Belonging to implement inclusion strategies across the school
• Facilitate student voice initiatives related to well-being and belonging

5. Family and Community Engagement

• Engage families as partners in student well-being, particularly in complex or sensitive cases
• Provide guidance to caregivers on supporting children’s emotional and behavioral needs
• Navigate diverse family contexts with cultural sensitivity and respect
• Connect families to relevant external resources when needed

6. Multi-Tiered Support Systems (MTSS)

• Contribute to the design and implementation of tiered student support systems:
  • Tier 1: Universal well-being and SEL programming
  • Tier 2: Targeted small-group interventions
  • Tier 3: Intensive individualized support
• Use data and observation to inform interventions and track progress
• Participate in regular student support reviews with school leadership

7. Collaboration with Staff

• Serve as a resource to teachers on student behavior, well-being, and classroom dynamics
• Provide training or guidance on trauma-informed and inclusive practices
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings to coordinate student support
• Support staff in responding appropriately to student needs

8. External Partnerships and Referrals

• Build and maintain relationships with external service providers (mental health, social services, health systems)
• Refer students and families to specialized support where appropriate
• Coordinate follow-up and continuity of care

Qualifications

• Degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field
• Professional certification or licensure in counseling
• Minimum 3–5 years of explicit counseling experience working with children or adolescents in schools. International Schools preferred.[1] [2]
• Experience in school-based and/or community-based settings strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse or underserved populations

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• CV
• Cover letter highlighting the experience in the area of the specialization

Application Deadline: 9th June 2026

Send applications to: recruitment@shofco.org

Subject Line: School Counselor