How to Answer: What steps would you take if a student told you he or she was being abused?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a School Counselor job interview.
38. What steps would you take if a student told you he or she was being abused?
How to Answer
Sensitive cases like abuse, that have legal implications, need to be dealt with seriously. When answering, consider all sides of the case such as the well being of the student, the protocols of the school and your moral responsibility to protect this child from danger.
Written by Ryan Brown on August 12th, 2014
Answer Example
"First, I will ask the student further on the kind of abuse that he or she is experiencing so I would understand the situation and the next steps that I need to do. Next, if the school has a protocol for cases like this, I will follow the proper escalation process so we can remove or protect the child from the abusive environment. If we cannot remove the child from the abusive environment immediately, I will provide the child with contact numbers or methods to reach me in case he or she is abused again so we can alert the authorities."
Written by Ryan Brown on August 12th, 2014
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
I would then ask the student to show any bruises (if in an appropriate place) and I would take pictures of any bruises for documentation that I would provide to authorities if necessary. I would then contact the child welfare office and report an alleged abuse and provide any details they may ask for and I would adhere to their recommendations as far a contacting police. I would then contact my administrator and inform them of the siutaiton and follow up in the days after the intial report to ensure the students safety both at school and after school."
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About the Author
I began my career in emergency medical services (EMS) over 30 years ago, working as a Firefighter-Paramedic, EMS Captain, Mental Health Technician, ER Technician, EMT and Paramedic Adjunct Instructor, and EMS Educator. During my career, I served on over one thousand interview panels to help various organizations choose the right candidate for the job.
My interview experience includes hiring emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, professors, school counselors, nurses, medical assistants, school support staff, home health aides, and physician assistants. I have created curricula and training materials to prepare candidates for interviews and held mock interview courses for healthcare and educational professionals. I have coached paramedic and EMT students to pass their licensing exams and counseled and mentored many other healthcare professionals in providing compassionate patient care.
As a coach and contributor for MockQuestions, I am excited to help you navigate your upcoming school counselor interview. While these questions assess your critical thinking and communication skills, interviewers also ask these questions to gain insight into your personality to determine if you will be a good fit with the company culture. Remember to be relaxed and be your authentic self. Best of luck in acing your interview!
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