Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine offers a comprehensive guidance and counselling service to all our students. Our Guidance Counsellor is Ms. Niamh O Mahony.
The role of the Guidance and Counselling Service is very broad and a key part of students’ experience while in school, it includes:
- Personal and social development (Self-awareness, decision making skills, planning, coping strategies)
- Educational development (subject / course choices, subject level, motivation and learning, study skills, learning related problems, psychometric testing)
- Career development (employment rights and duties, job opportunities, vocational education and training, further education, job and interview preparation, career research and career / course information)
- To provide individual and group counselling (personal, vocational & educational).
- To provide career information: support students in accessing career information through ICT and blended learning.
- To plan and organise workplace learning and to make strong links with the wider business community, agencies and the voluntary sector.
- To conduct psychometric testing (Aptitude and ability tests – incoming 1st years, career and interest inventories).
- To work with parents and referral agencies in facilitating the personal, social, educational and career development of students. (Parent Information Evenings).
- To refer students to external agencies and professionals as appropriate.
- To establish close ties with feeder schools, FET Colleges, training centres, Higher education colleges and Universities..
The Guidance Counsellor links with students throughout their time in school. When new students begin in first year they are assigned a mentor, who supports them in the transition to second level. This First Year Transition Programme is co-ordinated by our Guidance Counsellors, Year Head and SPHE Team.
Guidance is provided to students throughout their time in school to assist them in their education and vocational choices, through the medium of classes, information sessions and individual appointments. All students are taught how to use the multitude of resources available to assist them as they make their choices for after Leaving Certificate including online careers platforms where they take part in interests, values and aptitude assessments.
We also have an established Student CareTeam, who co-ordinate a variety of supports and check and connect programmes that run throughout the year.
Our school also has the service of a qualified Psychotherapist available to us on a weekly basis. The Guidance Counsellor links with her in the co-ordination and delivery of counselling sessions to students who are in need of extra support.
We are fortunate to also have a special room called “Neidín” where students can access time out with a support teacher. Neidín is a supervised space where students can take a break and reset, it gives students an opportunity to build positive relationships with school and help to retain them in school.
The Guidance Counsellor engages directly with parents at meetings throughout a student’s time in school and is always available to them for a private meeting on any area of concern.
How does a student meet with the Guidance Counsellor?
If they speak to the Guidance Counsellor, Ms O Mahony, they will be dealt with there and then if possible, otherwise they will be given an appointment. There is also a referral system within the school to refer students to one of the Guidance Counsellors when the need arises.
Links to Careers Information (please ensure all formatting is correct and links are neatly done with no long messy URLS)
Links to Careers Information
Key Dates (CAO):
Download CAO Key Dates PDF
Open Days Information:
Qualifax Open Days Calendar
Download Open Days PDF
Parents’ Guide (CareersPortal):
Parents’ Guide to Supporting Students
National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ):
View NFQ Diagram
Read More About the NFQ
Supports for Young People in Kerry:
Kerry Children’s Services Directory