Social and Emotional Counsellor Tempo Inteiro NOVO

The Aga Khan Academy Maputo is seeking a Social and Emotional Counsellor.

Reporting Line: Senior School principal

Position Location: Maputo, Mozambique

Status: Full-time

Purpose

The Social and Emotional Counsellor is responsible for supporting the social, emotional, and psychological well-being of students. The role involves providing individual and group counselling, promoting a positive and inclusive school environment, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and school leadership to ensure students receive appropriate support to thrive academically and personally.

Context

The Aga Khan Academies are an integrated network of residential schools dedicated to expanding access to education of an international standard of excellence to exceptional young men and women regardless of their ability to pay. Envisaged in Africa, South and Central Asia and the Middle East, the Aga Khan Academies’ foundational values include pluralism, meritocracy, and civil society. Housed in spacious and attractive campuses with outstanding facilities the Academies offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Curriculum from Primary Years to the Diploma and provide a rich opportunity for both teachers and students alike to grow both professionally and personally. The first Aga Khan Academy opened in Mombasa, Kenya in 2003, the second in Hyderabad, India in 2011, the third in Maputo, Mozambique in 2013, and the fourth Academy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, opened in August 2022.

The Academies aim to develop meritorious young men and women into homegrown ethical leaders through education of the highest international standard in purpose-built campuses. The vision and ethos of the Aga Khan Academy Maputo is encapsulated in its mission statement that calls for a commitment to promote excellence in teaching.

Main Responsibilities

Individual Counselling:

• Provide one-on-one counselling sessions to address students’ social and emotional concerns.
• Help students navigate personal challenges, build resilience, and develop coping strategies.

Group Counselling:

• Conduct group counselling sessions to address shared concerns, such as stress, peer relationships, or emotional regulation.
• Facilitate support groups or workshops on topics relevant to social and emotional well-being.

Behavioural Intervention:

• Collaborate with teachers and the Senior School Administration to address behavioural issues and implement intervention strategies.
• Work with students exhibiting challenging behaviours to develop positive alternatives.

Crisis Intervention:

• Respond to and manage crises affecting students, such as emotional distress, grief, or trauma.
• Provide immediate support and coordinate with other professionals as needed.

Collaboration with Families:

• Work closely with parents or guardians to address concerns and provide support.
• Conduct family counseling sessions to enhance communication and understanding.

Data Collection and Evaluation:

• Collect and analyse data related to students’ social and emotional well-being.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling interventions and programs.

Classroom Presentations – Well-being classes:

• Deliver classroom presentations on topics related to social and emotional development.
• Provide educators with resources and strategies for promoting a positive classroom environment.
• Support students in developing social skills, communication, and conflict resolution abilities.
• Conduct social skills training sessions for individuals or Homeroom groups in the Senior School.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, Education, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in Counselling, Educational Psychology, or Child Development will be considered an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience working with children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents in counselling, psychological support, or student welfare roles.
• Experience working in a school environment will be considered an added advantage.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English and Portuguese is mandatory, both written and spoken.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build trust and rapport with students of different age groups.
• Strong empathy, patience, and emotional intelligence.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information responsibly.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers, parents, and school leadership.
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Personal Attributes

• Compassionate and approachable.
• Professional integrity and discretion.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to remain calm and supportive in challenging situations.
• Commitment to student well-being and safeguarding.

Key Relations

Internal relations:

• Students.
• Principal.
• Head of Academy.
• Faculty.
• Administrative staff.

External relations:

• Parents.
• Local Community.
• Educational leaders in the Academies network.
• The Academies Unit.

Application Procedure

Please submit a full application package to email.

The application package must include:

• CV.
• Concise covering letter (no longer than two pages), specifically linking how your qualifications, experiences and attributes will position you to be successful in the role.
• List of 3 references.

We are only able to contact shortlisted applicants. In the event that outstanding applicants are identified early in the search process, we reserve the right to close the process before the published deadline. For this reason, it is important that interested candidates apply as soon as possible.