Student Counsellor

Direct Reporting Line:
Head: Student Experience

Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). The IIE enjoys the reputation of being at the forefront of private higher education in South Africa and is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to provide higher education qualifications accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

The IIE’s Varsity College, Pretoria Campus has a vacancy for a Student Counsellor.

Job Purpose:
The Student Counsellor is primarily responsible to provide primary psychological intervention / counselling to students in need. The are also responsible to design, develop and curate holistic awareness campaigns aligned to the common themes and needs of the students. The Student Counsellor provides support and assistance to the Student Wellness Specialist with community engagement, citizenship and volunteerism projects and initiatives, and to ensure sustainable relationships are developed across a diverse range of community engagement challenges and organisations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provision of Student Emotional and Mental Counselling Services: 

• Provides individual primary counselling to students and explores/determines if the student should be referred for secondary counselling and unpacks their referral options if appropriate.
• Provides students with coping techniques and skills to deal with life challenges.
• Receives the signed consent form from the student prior to the commencement of the first counselling session.
• Establishes trustworthy relationships with students that opens channels for communication between the campus and students.
• Establishes a referral network for secondary counselling as the primary counsellor on campus. Refers students to the secondary counsellor on campus in the event of an emergency / conflict of interest / dual relationships.
• Creates awareness campaigns surrounding universal social and emotional issues and sources relevant guest speakers to add value to the campaign and address students on relevant topics.

Creation, Rollout and Monitoring of Awareness Campaigns

• In collaboration with the academic, academic operations and student experience teams, sets a bi-annual calendar for the following semester of awareness campaigns to promote and enhance awareness of mental health challenges.
• Identifies key NGO’s / stakeholders, suggests possible campaigns and plans awareness campaigns accordingly.
• Designs, develops, implements and manages awareness programmes and campaigns and includes the Cares committee in assisting with marketing and creating awareness for these campaigns.

Planning, Rollout and Monitoring of Community Engagement Programmes

• Assists the Student Wellness Specialist with the facilitation of engagements between the students, staff and Non Government Organisation (NGO’s) and identifies opportunities for Community Engagements, citizenship and volunteerism programmes.
• In collaboration with the academic, academic operations and student experience teams and the Student Wellness Specialist, establish and plans a bi-annual community engagement / Wellness calendar of events.
• Markets sustainable community engagement, citizenship and volunteerism programmes and encourages student participation in these programmes.
• Creates awareness amongst students regarding social and environmental issues.
• Manages logistics and implementation plans for the successful rollout of community engagement, citizenship and volunteerism programmes.
• Assist with empowering students with a sense of citizenship and encourages students to get involved in activities for community engagement, citizenship and volunteerism programmes in their area (e.g. by donating blood, donation drives and outreach projects).
• Provide volunteer opportunities for students to give back, impart knowledge and skills, to participate in community engagement, citizenship and volunteerism programmes.
• Co-ordinates communication and visibility of campaigns (including sharing posters on the WhatsApp community groups).
• Assists the Student Wellness Specialist with Identifying beneficiary organisations with students for community engagement, citizenship and volunteerism programmes.
• Facilitates, drives and organises the National CSI – KHUMO project on campus. Ensure collaboration with Academics, Academic Operations / Student Experience team and students.
• Assist the Student Wellness Specialist by identifying a KHUMO school in need and determine the school’s needs analysis before the commencement of various projects at a school.
• Establish sustainable and strong relationships with identified school and ensure projects are maintained over a 3 year period.
• Manages the KHUMO budget and keeps track / records of the events / involvement with the KHUMO school and tracks spend allocated and utilised for various projects.

Bursary and Budget Management

• In close communication with the Student Wellness Specialist, ensures cares involvement in the rollout of awareness campaigns and community engagement, citizenship and volunteerism programmes on and off campus.
• Assist where necessary with the mid year reviews with the Cares committee to monitor academic performance and provide feedback on roles and responsibilities. Ensuring Cares committee training and development programmes are curated to ensure upskilling of committee.
• Manages the Student Counsellors budget and augments budgets through fund raising initiatives for community engagement, citizenship and volunteerism programmes and Awareness Campaigns.

Student Wellness Administration and Reporting

• Provides annual registration process support specifically relating to the marketing of the Student Counsellor services.
• Communicates and liaises with students specifically in relation to Student Wellness services available.
• Compiles and submits weekly Student Wellness status and progress reports as well as the weekly Student Activity Report to the Manager: Student Wellness Specialist including statistics and details of counselling sessions and referrals. (SAR Report and the Monthly Wellness Update).
• Markets, uploads and maintains a monthly register of workshops and videos regarding awareness campaigns available and in the designated wellness weeks.
• Ensure all marketing material / posters / infographics / videos are approved and available to students prior to the commencement of the initiatives.
• Compiles and submits the necessary reports to the national office and ADvTECH head office as and when required.
• Ensure effective and efficient service delivery to students by monitoring and communicating with students via the various platforms (Online Booking form, IIE Assist, Email)
• Keeps records of each counselling session and any interventions implemented or recommended and captures notes on the relevant business system (SIS) to track these sessions for reporting purposes and ensure that the maximum number of sessions (6 per student issue) is not exceeded.
• Compiles and reports on monthly Corporate Social Investment (CSI) activities and all community engagement, citizenship and volunteer programmes on the CSI Tertiary Hub.

Competencies Required:

• Advanced Communication and Interpersonal skills
• Organisational and Planning skills
• Analytical skills
• Counselling
• Computer skills

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

• Postgraduate Diploma / Bachelor Honours Degree (NQF Level 8) in Counselling Psychology or Social Work.

• Ideal: Social Worker / Psychologist (NQF Level 9)

• Legal Requirements – Must be registered with Social Work Council or Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Counsellor.

Minimum Work Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 2 years Trauma Counselling and 2 years Community Engagement experience.

Special Requirements:

• A valid SA Drivers License and own vehicle. 
  

Working Hours:

• Monday to Friday: 08:00 -17:00

Salary:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience. 

Benefits:

• Lifelong learning opportunities through LinkedIn Learning subscriptions.
• Staff and family discounts on educational programs within our brand portfolio.
• Incentive bonus structure based on performance and achievement of goals.
• Provident fund contributions, including Death & Funeral Cover, to support your financial well-being and future planning.
• Birthday vouchers to celebrate your special day.
• Competitive annual leave allowance for well-deserved time off and rejuvenation.

Application Response:

• Due to the high volume of CVs received, please note that personal contact with all applicants may not be feasible. Only candidates whose qualifications and skills closely align with the position requirements will be contacted for interviews.

Technical Support:

• Should you experience technical difficulties applying for the position, kindly use the following URL for further assistance: https://hire.simplify.hr/ContactUs
  

The IIE’s Varsity College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. However, preference will be given to previously underrepresented groups in accordance with the South African Employment Equity Act.