School Counsellor - Student Wellbeing
Posted date [2026-07-01]
(ID: 47268)
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GEMS Education is one of the largest and most respected private K-12 education providers in the world, with deep roots in the UAE since 1959. A trusted name in international education, GEMS operates over 47 schools across the Middle East and North Africa, offering a diverse range of British, American, IB, and Indian curricula to more than 115,000 students. Known for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation in teaching, and world-class learning environments, GEMS Education empowers students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential. Its inclusive and purpose-driven culture supports passionate educators in delivering impactful, future-focused education. Whether you’re an experienced teacher, school leader, or education professional, GEMS Education offers dynamic career growth, continuous professional development, and the chance to be part of a legacy that’s transforming lives through learning.... |
Job Description and Requirements
School Counsellor - Student WellbeingJob Snapshot
Role: School Counsellor - Student Wellbeing
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Primary-Secondary Education
Function: Social Service
Experience: Minimum 4 years counselling experience in an international school
Job Type: Full-time
Position Overview
School Counsellor - Student Wellbeing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is an important Primary-Secondary Education opportunity for an experienced counselling professional who can support the emotional, social, academic, and personal development of students from FS1 to Year 13. This role is suited to a student-centred counsellor who can provide confidential guidance, strengthen school-wide wellbeing practices, contribute to safeguarding, and work closely with families, teachers, pastoral teams, inclusion specialists, and external professionals within an innovative school environment.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Primary-Secondary Education
Function: Social Service
Salary: 12000-19000
Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final
offer with the employer.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Role Context
The School Counsellor - Student Wellbeing will be part of the Student Services team at GEMS School of Research and Innovation, supporting learners across all phases of the school. The role focuses on helping students manage emotional pressure, social concerns, academic challenges, transitions, digital wellbeing, resilience, and personal growth. By embedding counselling support into the wider school experience, the counsellor will help create a safe, inclusive, future-ready learning community where students feel heard, supported, and able to thrive.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide confidential counselling and targeted emotional support to students across FS1 to Year 13.
* Support students facing academic, social, emotional, behavioural, or adjustment-related challenges through individual and group interventions.
* Design and contribute to wellbeing workshops, awareness campaigns, resilience programmes, and whole-school student support initiatives.
* Work with teachers to embed wellbeing, emotional intelligence, positive mental health, and resilience into the wider learning experience.
* Identify students who may require additional support and coordinate appropriate interventions with pastoral, inclusion, and safeguarding teams.
* Promote healthy coping strategies, digital wellbeing, peer relationship skills, self-confidence, and responsible decision-making across the school community.
* Engage professionally with parents to support student wellbeing through clear communication, guidance, and collaborative action planning.
* Liaise with external professionals where required to ensure students receive appropriate and joined-up support.
* Maintain accurate, confidential counselling records in line with school expectations, safeguarding requirements, and KHDA-related policies.
* Contribute to safeguarding processes by reporting concerns, following child protection procedures, and supporting student safety.
* Provide guidance to staff on student wellbeing concerns while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
* Support career guidance, university readiness, and student progression planning when required.
* Use reflective practice and evidence-informed approaches to improve counselling provision and student support outcomes.
* Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure every student has access to timely, practical, and compassionate support.
Ideal Profile
* Bachelor’s degree in Counselling, Psychology, or a related field is required.
* Master’s degree in Counselling, Psychology, Student Wellbeing, or a related discipline is preferred.
* Minimum 4 years of counselling experience within an international school setting.
* Experience supporting students aged 3 to 18 years across early years, primary, middle, and senior school phases.
* Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection, student wellbeing frameworks, and school-based counselling practice.
* Ability to provide individual and group counselling support with sensitivity, discretion, and professional judgment.
* Experience working with pastoral teams, inclusion teams, teachers, parents, and external specialists.
* Excellent communication, interpersonal, listening, and relationship-building skills.
* Strong ability to manage confidential information and maintain accurate student support records.
* Proactive and reflective approach to student wellbeing, emotional support, and holistic development.
* Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary school environment.
* Genuine commitment to supporting young people and helping students become confident, resilient learners.
* UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check will be required before appointment.
Skills Set
* School counselling
* Student wellbeing
* Emotional support
* Child protection
* Safeguarding
* Mental health awareness
* Individual counselling
* Group intervention
* Pastoral support
* Inclusion collaboration
* Parent communication
* Student services
* Digital wellbeing
* Resilience programmes
* Emotional intelligence
* Wellbeing workshops
* Confidential record keeping
* KHDA policy awareness
* Crisis support
* Behaviour support
* Social development
* Academic guidance
* Career guidance
* University guidance support
* Multidisciplinary collaboration
Why Join Us
This opportunity is ideal for a School Counsellor who wants to make a meaningful impact in a forward-thinking Dubai school where wellbeing, innovation, and future readiness are central to student development. The role offers access to world-class facilities, collaborative colleagues, strong professional development, and the chance to help shape a whole-school wellbeing culture. It is a valuable career step for a counsellor who wants to support students across all age groups while contributing to a pioneering education environment.
About the Company
GEMS Education is a leading school education provider in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a strong focus on student wellbeing, academic quality, safeguarding, and future-ready learning. GEMS School of Research and Innovation is part of the group’s flagship education offering, designed to combine innovation, holistic development, and high-quality student support. The school provides professionals with the opportunity to work in a progressive learning community where every student is encouraged to grow with confidence, resilience, and purpose.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Role Context
The School Counsellor - Student Wellbeing will be part of the Student Services team at GEMS School of Research and Innovation, supporting learners across all phases of the school. The role focuses on helping students manage emotional pressure, social concerns, academic challenges, transitions, digital wellbeing, resilience, and personal growth. By embedding counselling support into the wider school experience, the counsellor will help create a safe, inclusive, future-ready learning community where students feel heard, supported, and able to thrive.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide confidential counselling and targeted emotional support to students across FS1 to Year 13.
* Support students facing academic, social, emotional, behavioural, or adjustment-related challenges through individual and group interventions.
* Design and contribute to wellbeing workshops, awareness campaigns, resilience programmes, and whole-school student support initiatives.
* Work with teachers to embed wellbeing, emotional intelligence, positive mental health, and resilience into the wider learning experience.
* Identify students who may require additional support and coordinate appropriate interventions with pastoral, inclusion, and safeguarding teams.
* Promote healthy coping strategies, digital wellbeing, peer relationship skills, self-confidence, and responsible decision-making across the school community.
* Engage professionally with parents to support student wellbeing through clear communication, guidance, and collaborative action planning.
* Liaise with external professionals where required to ensure students receive appropriate and joined-up support.
* Maintain accurate, confidential counselling records in line with school expectations, safeguarding requirements, and KHDA-related policies.
* Contribute to safeguarding processes by reporting concerns, following child protection procedures, and supporting student safety.
* Provide guidance to staff on student wellbeing concerns while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
* Support career guidance, university readiness, and student progression planning when required.
* Use reflective practice and evidence-informed approaches to improve counselling provision and student support outcomes.
* Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure every student has access to timely, practical, and compassionate support.
Ideal Profile
* Bachelor’s degree in Counselling, Psychology, or a related field is required.
* Master’s degree in Counselling, Psychology, Student Wellbeing, or a related discipline is preferred.
* Minimum 4 years of counselling experience within an international school setting.
* Experience supporting students aged 3 to 18 years across early years, primary, middle, and senior school phases.
* Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection, student wellbeing frameworks, and school-based counselling practice.
* Ability to provide individual and group counselling support with sensitivity, discretion, and professional judgment.
* Experience working with pastoral teams, inclusion teams, teachers, parents, and external specialists.
* Excellent communication, interpersonal, listening, and relationship-building skills.
* Strong ability to manage confidential information and maintain accurate student support records.
* Proactive and reflective approach to student wellbeing, emotional support, and holistic development.
* Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary school environment.
* Genuine commitment to supporting young people and helping students become confident, resilient learners.
* UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check will be required before appointment.
Skills Set
* School counselling
* Student wellbeing
* Emotional support
* Child protection
* Safeguarding
* Mental health awareness
* Individual counselling
* Group intervention
* Pastoral support
* Inclusion collaboration
* Parent communication
* Student services
* Digital wellbeing
* Resilience programmes
* Emotional intelligence
* Wellbeing workshops
* Confidential record keeping
* KHDA policy awareness
* Crisis support
* Behaviour support
* Social development
* Academic guidance
* Career guidance
* University guidance support
* Multidisciplinary collaboration
Why Join Us
This opportunity is ideal for a School Counsellor who wants to make a meaningful impact in a forward-thinking Dubai school where wellbeing, innovation, and future readiness are central to student development. The role offers access to world-class facilities, collaborative colleagues, strong professional development, and the chance to help shape a whole-school wellbeing culture. It is a valuable career step for a counsellor who wants to support students across all age groups while contributing to a pioneering education environment.
About the Company
GEMS Education is a leading school education provider in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a strong focus on student wellbeing, academic quality, safeguarding, and future-ready learning. GEMS School of Research and Innovation is part of the group’s flagship education offering, designed to combine innovation, holistic development, and high-quality student support. The school provides professionals with the opportunity to work in a progressive learning community where every student is encouraged to grow with confidence, resilience, and purpose.
