Vacancy Child Psychologist/Psychotherapist UWC ... - UWC Maastricht

Vacancy Child Psychologist/Psychotherapist
UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a
sustainable future. UWC schools, colleges and programmes deliver a challenging and
transformative educational experience to a diverse cross section of students, inspiring
them to create a more peaceful and sustainable future.
United World College Maastricht (UWCM) seeks a Child Psychologist / Psychotherapist
with experience treating children to lead a 5 year Counsellor Project.
The United World College movement was launched 50 years ago. UWC Maastricht (Preschool,
Primary and Secondary) is the twelfth UWC in the World and shares a
commitment to high academic standards and to the values of peace, sustainability and
community service. In particular, the College is expected to take a leading role in the
promotion of Service Learning opportunities both nationally and internationally. The
College is at an exciting stage in its development since a new built campus will open for
the academic year 2013-14 with a capacity for 950 students. Around 200 students will
be boarders selected for scholarships by UWC National Committees throughout the
world. The National Committee network is a defining feature of the UWC movement
with selections carried out in 146 countries in 2012. The successful applicant will be
expected to play a wider role in all aspects of college life and will have the opportunity
to help build and shape an innovative and dynamic school.
From the start, the UWC programme called for recruiting students from around the
world to represent their countries and for the tensions of society to be represented on
the campuses of the schools. Today, we recognize that the tensions of society and
potential geopolitical conflicts often transcend borders and include environmental
issues (particularly around questions of sustainability), religious and cultural conflict,
and the socio-economic divide to name of few.
The UWC movement has become much more aware of challenges that lie ahead and
begun to target specific tensions more systematically in its recruiting. But the
development of appropriate support systems, particularly psycho-emotional support,
has lagged behind. Professional support in the form of child psychologists, school
counsellors and psychiatrists has only recently been introduced at a number of the
colleges and often as the result of a crisis versus in a proactive and thoughtful manner.
At the same time, we are recruiting more students from conflict-ridden countries, so a
greater number of students are coming to UWC campuses with histories of trauma,
abuse, or conflict in their home land or within their family. The UWC Maastricht Student
Counsellor Project aspires to change this paradigm.

The UWCM Counsellor Project.
The aim of this project is to establish a uniform procedure for the UWC community to
ensure that the emotional and psychological needs of students are addressed through
proactive, school based programmes. The project will include setting up procedures to
ensure that students who have been identified as needing any kind of
psychotherapeutic help receive the necessary support either from the psychologist
him/her self or through a referral. The starting point for the project would be the
diploma level students (Years 12 and 13), the majority of whom are residential students
selected through the UWC National Committee system.
The appointed candidate will:
1. Investigate what level of severity of problems or symptoms warrants psychological
help is needed.
2. Establish evidence-based practice, so that students would receive the best known
treatment for their difficulties based on empirical evidence.
3. Investigate the intensity of psychological support based on the individual needs of
the student (few meetings, brief course of psychotherapy or longer term therapy
and develop the appropriate therapy.
4. Address common themes, such as anxiety, dealing with loss, insecurity, trauma and
stress, or anticipating leaving school through age appropriate psycho educational
programmes across the school population.
5. Meet World Health Organization standards for evidence-based international
programs for the prevention of mental illness, through school-based programmes.
The project will include a goal in which all UWC schools adopt at least one psychoeducational
programme. The aim is to focus on elaboration of the World Health
Organization guidelines for the specific school settings.
6. Create a climate in which all students feel safe and appreciated, encourage and
guide the social skills of students from various socio‐cultural backgrounds.
7. Structure and coordinate the counsellor activities at UWC Maastricht in
collaboration with the school counsellor.
8. Screen students to identify students who are more vulnerable or suffering, and who
may be in need of psychological support.
9. Identify common issues which may affect many students (such as trauma, loss,
identity, etc) which could be addressed through psycho educational programs.
10. Develop treatment plans and active counselling of individual students on the basis of
these plans with particular attention to students who feel uncomfortable seeking
support when they are struggling, due to cultural reasons.
11. Discusses student problems with the internal counsellor and/or the Head of College.
12. Submit proposals for new treatment methods and programmes.
13. Maintain the competences required for the profession and expand them as
necessary.
14. Take part in development activities, as well as in collegial consultations, etc.
15. Keeps up to date with developments in the profession and studies relevant
professional literature.

16. Deliver a significant tribute to the creation of a trustworthy, peaceful and supportive
environment for all students at the UWC Maastricht community.
Profile
A Master’s degree in Child Psychology/Psychotherapy.
Proven experience in development therapy, counselling and treatment of children
(preferably children with a different cultural and linguistic backgrounds)
Good theoretical and practical substantive and pedagogic knowledge and skills
Empathy and excellent social and communication skills
Knowledgeable about educational systems and practices worldwide
Excellent command of the English language (native or near native) and a knowledge
of the Dutch Language is preferred (tuition will be provided where necessary)
Only applicants who successfully can apply for a residence/work permit and a VOG
(police check) will be considered. The College will assist in processing the
application for a residency/work permit and VOG.
Remuneration:
The package will be commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and will
include the following elements:
- Salary depending on previous experience and qualifications (scale 11 of the Dutch
CAO VO (Collective Labour Agreement Secondary Education), max € 4.361, - gross
per month, 40 hours p/wk.
- Holiday allowance 8%
- End of year bonus 7.4%
- ABP Pension scheme (contributory: employer 15.38%, employee 8.945%)
- The appointed candidate will start with a 1 year contract. This project is fully
sponsored by a donor. Renewal is subject to annual review.
- School closure Holidays
How to react:
Complete the letter of application on our website and send it with your CV, copies of
your passport, degrees and experience certificates to: hr@uwcmaastricht.nl
The deadline for applications is Friday January 25 th , 2013. Shortlisted candidates will be
interviewed as soon as possible thereafter either in Maastricht or as appropriate.
For further information about the college, the position and the application form please
visit our website: www.uwcmaastricht.nl