School Counsellor

New Rush Hall School, Ilford, Essex, IG6 2LB

29 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  4 September 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 August 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £32,594.00 - £34,117.00 Annually (Actual) LBR 8 Scale point 26 - 28

School Counsellor job summary

New Rush Hall is a special school for children experiencing social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties (SEMH), many of which present challenging behaviour.

We are looking for a school counsellor to provide high quality, ethical and compassionate therapeutic support to pupils aged 5 - 16 years within a specialist educational setting.

You will be joining NRHS at a very exciting time as it prepares for a potential expansion and after receiving a pleasing Ofsted report under the new framework. All staff across the school have an important contribution to make in shaping the schools’ future direction.

We are looking for an exceptional school counsellor with:

• Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
• BACP Membership or similar accrediting body
• An interest in, and understanding of, Special Educational Needs and the factors which affect behaviour
• Resilience, stamina, flexibility and excellent interpersonal skills
• A positive attitude to hard work and challenging situations

We can offer you:

• The opportunity to be part of a supportive, child focused team of staff with a community feel.
• A highly rewarding job with no risk of boredom
• A present SLT with an open-door policy
• A well-structured staff wellbeing offer
• Career progression and extensive CPD Programme
• Opportunities for additional responsibility and promotion

The closing date for this post is midnight on Friday 4th September 2026

Shortlisting will take place 7th September 2026

Interviews will take place 8th and 9th September 2026

If you have natural enthusiasm for working with young people and are committed to working to improve their life chances, then Redbridge Alternative Provision (RAP) would like you to join our welcoming and passionate team.

RAP provides an education for a range of KS3 & 4 students who have been, or are at risk of permanent exclusion from their mainstream school.

Applications are welcomed from dynamic and inspirational teachers, who wish to make a difference by safeguarding, raising standards and improving the life chances, behaviour and levels of attainment for some of the most vulnerable students whose previous educational experience, for whatever reason, has not been wholly positive.

We are interested in candidates that are good and outstanding teachers, who are fully-inclusive in their practice, with positive classroom management skills and a growth mind-set attitude. They need to be resilient and flexible enough to work in a pressured school environment. The successful applicants will demonstrate a strong commitment to the aims, values and ethos of the school and be a positive team player.

We are looking for an exceptional HLTA with:

Very good numeracy/literacy skills

NVQ 3 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent qualification or experience

An interest in, and understanding of, Special Educational Needs and the factors which affect behaviour

Resilience, stamina, flexibility and excellent interpersonal skills

A positive attitude to hard work and challenging situations

We can offer you:

The opportunity to be part of a supportive, child focused team of staff with a community feel.

A highly rewarding job with no risk of boredom

A well structured staff wellbeing offer

Career progression and extensive CPD Programme

Opportunities for additional responsibility and promotion

Visits to RAP and informal discussions are welcomed by contacting:

Rubert Jonker - Headteacher - 0208 501 6080

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks, therefore, all posts within the Trust are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

All adults employed by the school have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations.

Redbridge Alternative Provision welcomes applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, age or sexual orientation.

All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this position.

Deadline - midday 11th May 2026

Shortlisting - 12th May 2026

Interviews - 13th and 14th May 2026

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About New Rush Hall School

• Organisation type: Special school, ages 5 to 16
• Size: 94 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: New Rush Hall School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/new-rush-hall-school

New Rush Hall is a special school for children experiencing social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties (SEMH), many of which present challenging behaviour.
As a result of looking to expand our current offer and an increase to pupils numbers, we have a vacancy in the Secondary department for a qualified and experienced Maths Teacher. Responsibility for leading a curriculum area may be available to a candidate with the right skills and experience.
You will be joining NRHS at a very exciting time as it prepares for a potential expansion and after receiving a pleasing Ofsted report under the new framework. Teachers across the school will have an important contribution to make in shaping the schools’ future direction.

School location

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