Requirements
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, or Education, along with CDA registration/licensing as a Counsellor in Dubai (or in process). Essential experience includes working with children and young people in a school, clinical, or pastoral support setting, delivering counselling or emotional support, and liaising with teachers, parents, and professionals. Strong English proficiency is mandatory.
Description
Job description / Role
Job Type
Full Time
Job Location
UAE
Nationality
Any Nationality
Salary
Not Specified
Gender
Not Specified
Arabic Fluency
Not Specified
Job Function
Education & Teaching
Company Industry
Education & Training
About Dubai Heights Academy
Dubai Heights Academy is a warm and welcoming place to work. Located in the Al Barsha South area of Dubai, this is an exciting opportunity to join our team.
The school opened in 2017. It offers an inclusive, exciting and outstanding education to an international community of students from FS1 to Year 12 (2025-2026) and will grow to Year 13 in the next academic year.
The campus is state-of-the-art with separate buildings for each phase as well as a 380 seat auditorium. There are three temperature controlled swimming pools, fully equipped science and computer labs, specialist rooms for art, DT, music, and drama, a library, three multipurpose sports halls, a full size football pitch, a variety of outdoor play areas and two spacious canteens. Our sprawling 292,000 sqft campus boasts 3 buildings dedicated for each phase. We opened a new secondary building in August 2025.
Dubai Heights Academy follows the National Curriculum for England as the basis of its curriculum. This has been tailored to comply with local requirements and supplemented with Arabic language, Islamic Studies, Moral Education and Social Studies. In addition, Dubai Heights Academy has partnered with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to develop and deliver a bespoke AI (artificial intelligence) project-based programme for secondary and an early language programme using social robots for Primary, to further enrich our broad and balanced curriculum.
We are driven by an underlying philosophy captured by our school ethos of ‘Every Child, Every Mind and Everybody matters’ and believe that every student deserves the best possible education, regardless of background and ability.
Job overview
The Assistant Counsellor supports the school counsellor/Head of Well-being in providing a high-quality counselling service for students across the school. The primary focus of the role is to deliver direct counselling and emotional support to students, helping them overcome social, emotional, behavioural and mental health challenges that may impact their wellbeing, learning and personal development. The Assistant Counsellor works closely with the school counsellor, pastoral leaders, safeguarding team, teachers and parents to ensure students receive appropriate support and intervention. While contributing to wider wellbeing initiatives and programmes, the core purpose of the role is the provision of counselling support and the promotion of positive mental health outcomes for students.
Key responsibilities
Provide individual and small-group wellbeing and counselling support to students experiencing emotional, social, behavioural, or mental health challenges.
Support the identification, assessment, and monitoring of student wellbeing needs, contributing to intervention planning and targeted support programmes.
Work collaboratively with pastoral, safeguarding, inclusion, and teaching teams to promote student wellbeing and positive outcomes.
Support the delivery of the school's wellbeing curriculum, mental health initiatives, awareness campaigns, workshops, and preventative programmes.
Maintain accurate, confidential records and contribute to student support planning, referrals, and case management processes.
Assist with parent engagement, wellbeing workshops, and communication regarding student support and wellbeing initiatives.
Promote a positive school culture that prioritises wellbeing, resilience, inclusion, and mental health awareness.
Support staff wellbeing initiatives and contribute to training and awareness activities for staff and parents.
Adhere to safeguarding procedures, identify concerns, and work closely with safeguarding and wellbeing leaders to support vulnerable students.
Contribute to school improvement priorities, data collection, compliance requirements, and the ongoing development of wellbeing provision across the school.
Demonstrate professionalism, empathy, confidentiality, resilience, and a commitment to continuous professional development.
Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the Principal in support of the role and wider school community.
Essential qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, Education, or a related field
CDA (Community Development Authority) registration/licensing as a Counsellor in Dubai (or in process of obtaining license)
Additional postgraduate qualification or diploma in counselling or child/adolescent mental health (desirable or required depending on school policy)
Safeguarding and child protection training (mandatory)
Strong command of spoken and written English
Essential experience
Experience working with children and young people in a school, clinical, or pastoral support setting
Experience delivering basic counselling or structured emotional wellbeing support under supervision or within a safeguarding framework
Experience working with students presenting with social, emotional, behavioural, or wellbeing concerns
Experience liaising with teachers, parents, and external professionals
Experience maintaining confidential records and case notes in line with professional standards
Experience delivering small group interventions or wellbeing programmes in an educational setting
In return we can offer you
A positive and innovative learning culture supported by students, staff, parents and governors
A collaborative and supportive attitude amongst staff which promotes a sense of teamwork and unity
A Senior Leadership team who is committed to promoting the best environment and outcomes for staff and students
Compensation and benefits package includes (where applicable)
Competitive tax-free salary
Visa and medical insurance coverage
Air fare allowance
End of service gratuity in line with UAE Labour Law
Interviews will take place at Dubai Heights Academy or via Zoom, should a face to face interview not be possible. Closing date for applications is as advertised, however interviews may take place ahead of this date so an early application is advantageous.
Whilst we thank all applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Safeguarding statement
Dubai Heights Academy is totally committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and as such expects all its employees to share this commitment. All new staff will be subject to enhanced pre-employment clearance including identity checks, criminal background checks (from your home country/country of residence), qualification checks (attestation) and employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment and at least two satisfactory professional references, which will be verified. Applicants may also be required to provide other applicable personal documents e.g. degree, marriage certificate etc. A full checklist will be provided to successful candidates.
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