Habs has been awarded Independent School of the Year 2025, with Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools receiving both the award for Outstanding Educational Partnerships and the overall top accolade of Independent School of the Year 2025. This recognition reflects our long-term commitment to social impact and the deep, sustained collaborations we continue to build with our state sector partners. It is an exciting time to join our community.
Term-time plus one week | 37.5 hours per week
Haberdashers’ Boys’ School is seeking a compassionate, skilled and reflective School Counsellor to play a central role in the pastoral life of our school.
This is a rewarding opportunity to join a values-driven community where wellbeing, relationships and care sit at the heart of school life. Working closely with the Deputy Head Pastoral and a highly experienced pastoral team, the successful candidate will provide a professional, confidential counselling service that supports pupils to thrive.
Haberdashers’ Boys’ School is a 4–18 through school, and while the Counselling Service supports pupils across all age groups, the majority of this role will focus on pupils in the Senior School.
About the role
As School Counsellor, you will deliver high-quality therapeutic support to pupils, contribute to whole-school wellbeing initiatives, and help foster a positive, caring and inclusive culture. You will manage a varied caseload, work collaboratively with safeguarding and pastoral colleagues, and liaise with external professionals where appropriate to ensure coordinated and effective care.
Beyond individual counselling, you will play an active role in shaping the school’s approach to mental health and wellbeing — contributing to policies, staff training, assemblies, workshops and strategic pastoral planning.
What you will bring
You will be a reflective practitioner with strong professional judgement, emotional resilience and a genuine commitment to supporting young people. You will be confident working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary pastoral team, with a clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and professional boundaries.
Essential requirements include:
* A recognised counselling or psychotherapy qualification and registration/membership with a professional body (e.g. BACP, UKCP)
* Experience of therapeutic work with children or young people
* Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage sensitive and complex situations
* A strong understanding of safeguarding and ethical practice
What we are offering:
* An actual salary of between £36,000 and £44,000 per year, based on the successful candidates experience
* Private Pension Scheme through Aegon with generous employer contributions
* Additional life assurance cover
* Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing confidential support and advice
* Financial assistance for obtaining further qualifications
* Extensive professional development training opportunities
* Free lunch and refreshments
* Free onsite parking and access to travel on the schools extensive coach network
* Free access to state-of-the-art sports facilities including the gym, swimming pool, and fitness classes
* Wellbeing initiatives and programmes, such as yoga, mindfulness sessions, and health checks
* Access to an online GP service, providing quick and convenient healthcare advice
* Access to Vivup, the staff benefits platform, featuring discounts, financial advice, and wellbeing resources
* Cycle-to-Work Scheme and other green travel incentives including Octopus Electric Vehicles
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.