Student Counsellor at IIE MSA and IIE Varsity College

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.
• Upskilling / training / collaboration with campus staff stakeholders to create awareness on important wellness related matters.
• Designs, develops, implements and manages awareness programmes and campaigns and includes and oversees the assistance from the student committee in marketing and creating awareness for these campaigns.

Planning, Rollout and Monitoring of Community Engagement Programmes

• Facilitates engagements between campus staff, students and Non-Government Organisation (NGO's) and identifies opportunities for Community Engagement projects.
• In collaboration with the academic, academic operations and student experience teams and the student wellness manager, assists in planning a bi-annual community engagement calendar of events.
• Assists with marketing sustainable community engagement outreach programmes and encourages student participation in these programmes.
• Creates awareness amongst students regarding social and environmental issues.
• Assist the Student Wellness Manager with the logistics and implementation plans for the successful rollout of community outreach programmes.
• Empowers students with a sense of citizenship and encourages students to get involved in activities for community engagement projects in their area (e.g. by donating blood, donation drives and outreach projects).
• Provide volunteer opportunities for students to give back, participate in community outreach programmes and create awareness opportunities for students to engage and interact with various stakeholders.
• Co-ordinates communication and visibility of campaigns (including sharing posters on the WhatsApp community groups).
• Assists the student wellness manager with Identifying beneficiary organisations with students for community outreach 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 Manager 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 4 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

• Ensures assistance from the Student committee with the rollout of awareness campaigns and marketing the student counsellor services on campus.
• Manages the Student Counsellors budget and augments budgets through fund raising initiatives for community engagement opportunities / 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 counsellor services available.
• Compiles and submits weekly Student Wellness status and progress reports as well as the weekly Student Activity Report to the National Student Wellness Manager including statistics and details of counselling sessions and referrals.
• 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) and ensures that the maximum number of sessions (6 per student issue) is not exceeded.

Competencies Required:

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

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

• Minimum of Postgraduate Diploma / Bachelor Honours Degree (NQF Level 8) in Counselling Psychology or Social Work.
• Ideal qualification- Social Worker / Psychologist (NQF Level 9).
• Legal Requirements- Registered with Social Work Council or Health Professions Council of South Africa as a counsellor and Driver's License.

Minimum Work Experience Requirements:

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