School counsellor
A school counsellor helps and supports students and their families like a social worker. School counsellors provide help when children or young people face troubles at school or with their friends, or when their lives undergo changes that affect their performance at school. School counsellors support wellbeing and activities in the entire school community and cooperation between the school and home. School counsellors are expected to be tolerant, and have a positive attitude, the ability to withstand pressure, and mental strength.
School counsellors work at comprehensive and secondary schools.
The job of a school counsellor requires the interest and will to work with children and young people. Requirements include diverse skills in working at individual, family and community levels, as well as related knowledge. The work requires knowledge of social services, education and legislation.
It is important that school counsellors have knowledge of the different development stages of children and young people. The job also requires good listening and guidance skills. As school counsellors work in confidential relationships based on confidentiality regulations, they need to be reliable.
School counsellors should be easy to approach so that children and young people have the courage to talk about difficult issues. School counsellors are expected to be tolerant, and have a positive attitude, the ability to withstand pressure, and mental strength. In addition, school counsellors are required to have good cooperation and interaction skills, as they work with students, families and members of the school community.
Social services can be studied at universities. Suitable upper university level degrees include a master’s degree in administrative or social sciences, depending on the university and faculty.
A bachelor’s degree in social services and health can be completed at universities of applied sciences.
The eligibility criteria for social services are specified in the Act on Social Welfare Professionals. School social worker and responsible school social worker are job titles of social work in schools (Pupil and Student Welfare Act).
Median salary
3689 €/mo
Private sector
3451 €/mo
Public sector
3718 €/mo
The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.
Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries