School Guidance Counsellor - Mr. Kevin Clarke

Please find below the role of the guidance counsellor in a school form the Department of Education

Guidance in schools

“refers to a range of learning experiences provided in a developmental sequence, that assist students to develop self-management skills which will lead to effective choices and decisions about their lives. It encompasses the three separate, but interlinked, areas of personal and social development, educational guidance and career guidance”.

(Department of Education and Science; 2005, pg. 4).

Counselling offered within a guidance context

“is a key part of the school guidance programme, offered on an individual or group basis as part of a developmental learning process and at moments of personal crisis. Counselling has as its objective the empowerment of students so that they can make decisions, solve problems, address behavioural issues, develop coping strategies and resolve difficulties they may be experiencing. Counselling in schools may include personal counselling, educational counselling, career counselling or combinations of these”.
(Department of Education and Science, 2005; pg. 4).

The provision of guidance in schools is a whole school activity (DES, 2012b). The guidance counsellor, due to his/her specialist training in guidance counselling, has a key role to play in leading and coordinating the delivery of the school guidance programme in consultation with members of school management and other relevant staff members. The school guidance programme should reflect the needs of all students and there should be a “balance between the personal, social, educational and career guidance offered to students…” (Department of Education and Science, 2005: pg. 4). Guidance counsellors work within a continuum of support model (NEPS, 2010), and are part of a whole school approach to supporting wellbeing in schools (NEPS, 2013).

Useful Links

www.cao.ie Central applications office
www.ucas.com (UK College Application System)
www.qualifax.ie (National Courses Database, Career information & Open day listings)
www.careersportal.ie (Broad spectrum of information on careers, courses and colleges)
www.fetac.ie (Further Education and Training information)