School Counsellor and Mental Health Lead

Are you an experienced and passionate counselling professional committed to improving the mental health, wellbeing and outcomes of children and young people? Join Ellis Guilford School and become part of our dedicated Safeguarding Team. In this rewarding role, you will provide professional counselling support to children while leading the development of mental health and wellbeing provision across the school. Working collaboratively with staff, families and external partners, you will help ensure that children receive the right support at the right time, promoting resilience, emotional wellbeing and positive outcomes for all. Visits to the school before interview are strongly encouraged. Job Title: School Counsellor and Mental Health Lead Location: Nottingham Salary: Actual salary £28,963 to £31,464 per annum (NJC 20 - 24) Start Date: As soon as possible Contract Type: Permanent Working Pattern: Full Time, 37 hours a week, 39 weeks per year (term time plus inset days) About Our School: The Ellis Guilford School is a growing and thriving, larger than average, Secondary School with a clear mission 'to ensure that the children attending our school have a better chance of success than if they attended any other school'. We deliver a broad curriculum, including emphasis on the creative subjects, to support our children to become confident, independent and balanced individuals, allowing them to excel. Under the guidance of the Principal, Miss Gemma Johnson, we are fortunate to have a highly dedicated staff of over 180 adults that care for our children and work relentlessly to provide an excellent standard of education. Graded 'Good' by Ofsted in 2023, Ellis Guilford School is at an extremely exciting point in its development journey. We strive for 'EGScellence' in all that we do! About the Safeguarding Team: Join a dedicated and experienced Safeguarding Team that is at the heart of children's wellbeing at Ellis Guilford School. The team works closely with children, families, staff and external professionals to provide effective safeguarding, pastoral and wellbeing support. Through a collaborative and proactive approach, the team helps children overcome challenges, promotes positive mental health and ensures every young person feels safe, valued and supported throughout their school journey. About You: We are looking for a compassionate and motivated professional who has:

• Experience of counselling or supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• A sound understanding of safeguarding and child-centred practice.
• The ability to work effectively with children, families, staff and external professionals.
• A commitment to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing across the school.
This role is ideal for someone who is enthusiastic about helping young people overcome challenges, build resilience and thrive both personally and academically. Ready to Join Us? Submit your application directly through our website: https://www.ellisguilfordschool.org.uk/vacancies. We warmly welcome visits to our school, and if you'd like to arrange a visit or confidential conversation with the Line Manager, If you'd like to arrange this, or a confidential conversation with our Principal, please contact the Principal's PA on principal@ellisguilfordschool.org.uk Application closing date: Monday 28th September 2026 We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. We will hold interviews as soon as we have received enough applications from suitably qualified applicants. If a successful appointment is not made, then we will repeat the process. Please do not hesitate to contact the Principal's PA on principal@ellisguilfordschool.org.uk if you would like an update on your application and details of a potential interview date. Discover More About Our Trust: We encourage you to learn more about our trust's culture, the continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities we offer, and the benefits available to our colleagues. Visit our Trust website to explore these aspects in detail and see how we support our staff in their professional journey. Essential Information: Creative Education Trust (CET) is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people by keeping them safe, we expect all our colleagues to share in this responsibility. All shortlisted candidates are subject to online checks prior to interview. The CET Recruitment Policy follows the guidance set out by Keeping Children Safe in Education, where all offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS Check, References and where appropriate a Prohibition from teaching search. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. CET is committed to developing, maintaining, and supporting an inclusive culture and environment for the benefit of its employees and the communities it serves.

We are looking for a compassionate and motivated professional who has:
• Experience of counselling or supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• A sound understanding of safeguarding and child-centred practice.
• The ability to work effectively with children, families, staff and external professionals.
• A commitment to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing across the school.
This role is ideal for someone who is enthusiastic about helping young people overcome challenges, build resilience and thrive both personally and academically.

The Ellis Guilford School is a growing and thriving, larger than average, Secondary School with a clear mission 'to ensure that the children attending our school have a better chance of success than if they attended any other school'. We deliver a broad curriculum, including emphasis on the creative subjects, to support our children to become confident, independent and balanced individuals, allowing them to excel. Under the guidance of the Principal, Miss Gemma Johnson, we are fortunate to have a highly dedicated staff of over 180 adults that care for our children and work relentlessly to provide an excellent standard of education. Graded 'Good' by Ofsted in 2023, Ellis Guilford School is at an extremely exciting point in its development journey. We strive for 'EGScellence' in all that we do! About the Safeguarding Team: Join a dedicated and experienced Safeguarding Team that is at the heart of children's wellbeing at Ellis Guilford School. The team works closely with children, families, staff and external professionals to provide effective safeguarding, pastoral and wellbeing support. Through a collaborative and proactive approach, the team helps children overcome challenges, promotes positive mental health and ensures every young person feels safe, valued and supported throughout their school journey.