Redmaids' High School GDST: A company limited by guarantee, companynumber 6400. Registered address: 10 Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DH.Registered charity number: 306983One day per week, 8.30am - 5.15pm, term-time onlySelf-Employed School Counsellor(Maternity Cover)Closing date: Monday 2 February 2026 (9am)Hours:     One day per week, Tuesday or Friday. 8.30am to 5.15pm for 35 weeks a year, term time only.Counselling provision may also be required if there is an unforeseen community event that occurs during aschool holiday. Any additional hours worked in such circumstances will be paid.  Contract: Self-employed; the School Counsellor will invoice the SchoolJob Details and RemunerationAbout the RoleWe are seeking a School Counsellor to join our pastoral team at Redmaids' High School on a self-employedbasis for 1 year maternity cover. Student well-being is at the heart of all we do, and this role is an excitingopportunity for the right professional to support this. We are looking for someone with strongcommunication skills together with the ability to maintain professional confidentiality and boundaries. This is a self-employed position, starting from 20th April 2026, working term-time only for 1 day per week.The School Counsellor will be responsible for providing a professional and confidential counselling service forstudents, working in coordination with our two School Counsellors and in conjunction with the Deputy HeadPastoral.Candidates must be trained in counselling and listening skills, and registered, or in the process of registering,with the BACP or BAAT/HCPC.About Redmaids’ High School GDSTOccupying a spacious, green and open site near to Bristol city centre, Redmaids’ High School is the oldestgirls’ school in Britain with a history that dates back to 1634. Formed out of a merger between the Red Maids’School and Redland High School in 2016, we are proud to be one of the leading independent day schools inthe UK. We offer an exceptional educational experience for girls and young women from 7 to 18 years,focused on aspiration, inclusivity, happiness and support for others. This has earned us year on yearplacement in the top schools’ rankings for our GCSE and A level results. A true all-through school, there is anincredibly close link between Junior and Senior Schools, with the vast majority of junior students (90%+)moving into Year 7 each year.A proud member of the Girls' Day School Trust, the leading family of girls’ schools in the UK, we share acommon ethos and commitment to fearless, girls’-first education, supporting staff and students alike throughcollaboration and empowerment across the network.We are fortunate to have superb facilities across our interlinked Junior and Senior School sites. Our dedicatedSixth Form Centre provides first-rate quiet study and recreation space, while the main hall provides anoutstanding venue for productions and concerts. We are equally proud of our sporting facilities including ‘TheLawns’, our specialist sports site for hockey, netball, cricket, tennis and athletics, which underpins our teams’regular sporting successes at regional and national level.Redmaids’ High is an inclusive environment, and we continue to take steps to enhance and improve ourdiversity and equality of opportunities. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.Mission StatementRedmaids’ High is an inclusive community, based on happiness, aspiration, and support for others.Our statement is supported by our Values, which outline the core aspects that will help us fulfil our mission.These are:· To know and understand each individual student.· To help students to understand themselves and their strengths.· To inspire students to forge a future of lifelong learning, in all its guises.Our mission and values are simple, and deliberately so. We are proud of the achievements and destinationsfor all our students, and this is the result of the hard work of all members of the community to ensure thatstudents feel known and valued for who they are, as well as inspired about what they can be. We want allstudents to leave with the strong sense that they can go on and make a difference in their world, whateverthey go on to do. A student’s definition of success is their own, but what we instil in them is a feeling thattheir sights should never be lowered by external forces.At Redmaids’ High School, the counselling team is integral to our delivery of an exceptional level of pastoralcare. We currently have three School Counsellors and are looking for maternity cover for 1 year so the servicecan support both students and potentially staff when needed. Given the dynamic nature of our vibrantschool, flexibility is key for all staff, including our Counsellors.Senior School students can self-refer without the need for disclosure to anyone else. At other times, thePastoral Team may refer students. Counselling sessions are currently limited to 6 per student and are basedon individual needs. Students may return for more counselling as and when needed. Our School Counsellorsplay a crucial role in the pastoral team, providing guidance and assistance to staf,f addressing various mentalhealth concerns among the students.The Pastoral Team comprises the Deputy Head Pastoral, Heads of Year, Assistant Heads of Year, three SchoolNurses and the Counsellors. The Counsellor will actively participate in pastoral team meetings when neededand in case conferences, liaise with parents when required and collaborate with staff to educate thecommunity and raise awareness about different aspects of mental health. This includes contributing toMental Health Awareness weeks or other such campaigns.  Applicants with experience in delivering groupcounselling interventions are particularly welcomed as this represents a growing area needed within theSchool.The Pastoral TeamThe School Counsellor will be responsible for providing a professional and confidential counselling service forstudents and possibly staff.Job PurposeKey ResponsibilitiesUnder the direction of Deputy Head Pastoral:Deliver 6 sessions per day of confidential counselling for students across the Junior and Senior Schools,and for staff depending on need and other counselling department priorities.Maintain the booking system and Counselling Service according to guidelines stipulated by GDPR andthe BACP/HCPC guidelines.Provide a formal and ethical staff counselling service at the end of each workday as required.Maintain confidential notes on all counselling sessions.Engage in regular counselling supervision according to BACP/HCPC guidelines.Liaise confidentially with the Deputy Head Pastoral regarding matters that might need reporting toSocial Services or other such bodies.Liaise appropriately with members of the teaching staff informally and as part of pupil case conferenceswhen required.Provide a link between school and home where appropriate and in conjunction with the Deputy HeadPastoral.Use professional judgement on information sharing and referrals to other agencies.Help to maintain the Quiet Room and Wellbeing Room as an environment conducive for students toengage in listening therapy.Ensure that the whole school community is aware of the School Counsellor provision via participation inassemblies and by other means.Together with the other two Counsellors and members of the School's wider pastoral team, organiseawareness campaigns within school.In collaboration with the other School Counsellors, develop the counselling service links and provisionbetween the Junior and Senior School.Any other task or activity as reasonably requested by the leadership team, including unforeseen eventsthat affect the School community during the holiday periods, requiring the offer of counsellingprovision.Adherence to the School's safeguarding procedures; safeguard and promote the welfare of all students inand visiting the School.To be successful  in this position, you should be able to demonstrate the following:Trained in counselling and listening skills, and registered, or in the process or registering, with the BACPor BAAT/HCPC essential.Experience of working with children and young people is preferred.Understanding of GDQP and confidentiality requirements in a school setting required.Kind, personable approach with the ability to put others at ease.Experience of delivering group work sessions is preferred.Demonstrates clear empathy combined with the ability to empower young peopleExperience of delivering group counselling sessions is preferred.Person SpecificationApply to join usPlease download and complete the School Visiting Teacher application form and send to Mrs Jane McKimm,PA to the DFO at recruitment@redmaidshigh.gdst.net.  Please include a covering letter of no more than oneA4 page and include “Application for School Counsellor” in the subject line of your email.The closing date for applications is 9am Monday 02 February 2026.The GDST are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must bewilling to undergo child protection checks appropriate to the post, including online searches, and checkswith past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified individuals. To beeligible for employment, candidates must provide proof of their right to work in the UK.