Job Description

Aspire. Achieve. Be the Change The Akanksha Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide children from low-income communities with a high-quality education, enabling them to maximize their potential and transform their lives. Akanksha works primarily in the field of education, addressing formal education by initiating school reform through its School Project. Akanksha currently serves 10,000 children and 4000 alumni, through its 26 schools in Pune, Mumbai & Nagpur Metropolitan Regions in partnership with the municipalities. Position: School Counselor Function/Team: Counseling Location: Mumbai/Pune/Nagpur Compensation: Based on skill sets, experience and sector standards. Reporting Manager: School Leader Supporting Manager: City Lead Counselor Position Summary: As an Akanksha Counselor, while you will work to meet the needs of students with specific social/ emotional challenges and/or disabilities, you will also work with schools and key stakeholders to build spaces where different learners thrive in an inclusive classroom setting, where learning is holistic. A key unique factor of the role is to support the schools from the lens of a \xe2\x80\x9cwhole school approach\xe2\x80\x9d. Student Voice and Wellbeing form the foundation of this approach. This will involve addressing the needs of learners, staff and the wider community and building the capacity of key stakeholders to ensure the overall wellbeing of children. As a part of the counseling team, you will also be designing and facilitating modules and professional development sessions across the network. A counselor will visit the allocated schools within the city What your role will entail: With Children
\xe2\x97\x8f Doing Classroom Observations (for whole class and/or individual) \xe2\x97\x8f Identifying children with socio-emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties \xe2\x97\x8f Supporting children who require critical therapeutic intervention due to a traumatic event/reported abuse. Conducting One-on-one sessions with children and parents referred for counseling \xe2\x97\x8f Facilitating Small group sessions (focussed groups) for children/parents with similar needs/concerns \xe2\x97\x8f Conducting workshops/sessions with children in classrooms on relevant topics like Personal Safety Education, socio-emotional skills or sessions addressing the developmental needs (e.g. sessions on self awareness, communication, compassion) \xe2\x97\x8f Documentation of cases and initiatives With Teachers, Social Workers and School Leaders \xe2\x97\x8f Capacity building of teachers to support children in the classroom. \xe2\x97\x8f Regularly briefing the teachers, social workers and School Leaders about the status and progress of the children who are undergoing counseling. \xe2\x97\x8f Collaborating with the school social worker to ensure necessary follow ups are done for individual counseling cases and for child safety cases \xe2\x97\x8f Facilitating sessions in every school with the aim of building teacher, social worker and school leader awareness on child development (socio-emotional development) and child safety \xe2\x97\x8f Co-planning and Leading Youth Development Spaces within school (like CT, Empowerment, Advisory, Student Council etc) alongwith the School Leadership Outside the Schools and With the Community \xe2\x97\x8f Conducting home visits and meeting parents to work in collaboration to support the child \xe2\x97\x8f Visiting homes in the community with the aim of understanding the family, its dynamics and other aspects which affect the children \xe2\x97\x8f Capacity building of parents to help them address their concerns and build their parenting skills \xe2\x97\x8f Working with the Social worker and collaborating with parents as partners in the child\'s development. Network level Support \xe2\x97\x8f Advocating Student Voice and Wellbeing \xe2\x97\x8f Contributing by leading or volunteering for project by planning, designing modules, facilitating, supporting research work etc \xe2\x97\x8f Facilitating workshops for external agencies as a part of the outreach multiplier programmes Collaborations With External Agencies \xe2\x97\x8f Coordinating with government hospitals for psychoeducational testing, Speech therapy, Occupational therapy \xe2\x97\x8f Collaborating with external experts for counseling of cases of severe distress or abuse. \xe2\x97\x8f Collaborating with external experts for conducting capacity building sessions for the teachers and parents With the team \xe2\x97\x8f Working with a team of counselors and participating actively in opportunities for training and collaboration. \xe2\x97\x8f Supporting team members and being open to sharing and learning skills Expectation of Role Commitment: at least 2 years Experience required:
\xe2\x97\x8f Experience of working directly with children/youth \xe2\x97\x8f Experience in documenting case-work and planning workshops \xe2\x97\x8f Prior experience in building capacity in teachers and parents with respect to child development and allied areas (preferred). \xe2\x97\x8f 2 years or more of relevant experience in the field of education working with children and parents (preferred). Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
\xe2\x97\x8f An empathetic and patient approach towards counselees \xe2\x97\x8f Having knowledge of trauma-informed and systems approaches \xe2\x97\x8f Having group facilitation skills \xe2\x97\x8f Comfortable using technology and working on online platforms \xe2\x97\x8f Positive and solution-oriented attitude with the demonstration of strong work ethics and professionalism \xe2\x97\x8f Highly motivated and persevering \xe2\x97\x8f Openness to learning and willingness to actively participate in personal and professional development for self. \xe2\x97\x8f Flexibility, adaptability and ability to function in an unstructured environment \xe2\x97\x8f Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with different stakeholders. Education: \xe2\x97\x8f A Bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree with specialization in psychology (Required) \xe2\x97\x8f A Master\xe2\x80\x99s degree with specialization in clinical or counseling psychology OR post-grad diploma in psychology or counseling \xe2\x97\x8f Any other additional relevant trainings preferred Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: \xe2\x82\xb930,000.00 - \xe2\x82\xb933,000.00 per month Benefits:

• Health insurance

• Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

• total work: 2 years (Preferred)

• English (Required)