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<p>It is up to schools to decide what counselling support to provide. The ‘Counselling
in Schools’ guidance referred to in the previous answer, available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counselling-in-schools"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counselling-in-schools</a><strong>,</strong>
provides detailed advice on the benefits that counselling can bring to a school and
how to provide access to safe and effective services. It gives strong advice that,
when commissioning external counselling, schools should look to use providers that
can give assurance the counsellor is properly trained, supported, professionally supervised,
insured and working within agreed policy frameworks and standards, and accountable
to a professional body with a clearly articulated complaints procedure. It also sets
out that where schools employ their own counsellor, they should employ staff with
a minimum of a diploma in counselling (typically two years part time study), who are
on a voluntary register that has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority,
and ideally hold accreditation with a professional body.</p>
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