SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST THE SCHOOL

Transcription

1 SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST THE SCHOOL St Mary s Anglican Girls School is an Independent day and boarding school of 1432 girls from Kindergarten to Year 12. The school is located close to the ocean in the Perth northern suburb of Karrinyup and, during term time, is home to 190 boarders. Founded in 1921 in West Perth, St Mary s moved to Karrinyup in the 1960s. The school has a proud tradition of providing a rich and rewarding education for young women to live, learn and grow. The school strives to ensure each student is nurtured as an individual and feels she is an important member of the St Mary s family. We aim to achieve the highest standards in all parts of school life. St Mary s has a range of excellent facilities including the Lady Wardle Performing Arts Centre, the Lady Treatt Music and Dance Centre, Dannatt and Hearn Halls for sport and the Sir Thomas Wardle Swimming Pool Complex. In 2005 St Mary s purchased a 100-acre property at Metricup, north of Margaret River, where a state-of-the-art outdoor education facility has been developed. ROLE PURPOSE The School Psychologists main duty is to provide a child and adolescent psychological service in the school and to work with other staff to support students and families; to facilitate access and participation and to maximise educational outcomes for students; and to utilise psychological expertise in education and learning to support and build the capacity of the school community working toward the same goals. The School Psychologist works with students, teachers, school staff, parents and external professional groups or agencies. Assistance is provided with matters pertaining to student welfare in the areas of learning, behaviour, and personal/social competence. At all times the delivery of counselling support is within ethical and professional obligations. Psychologists need to adhere to appropriate professional conduct as governed by the Code of Ethics of the Australian Psychological Society. Additionally, the School Psychologist will assist in the promotion and utilisation of St Mary s and community resources to develop an environment conducive to the psychological and emotional well-being of the whole student. School Psychologists are directly responsible to the Principal, with due regard to professional competence. School Psychologists are also members of the Pastoral Care Committee and work in close consultation with the Deans of Administration and Students, Heads of Year, Head of Boarding, nurses and Heads of Department. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Reporting to: Head of Counselling Services Liaising with: Internal Head of Counselling Services School teachers Students External Parents, Guardians or relatives of Students

2 EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES Essential Requirements Must be fully registered by the Psychology Board of Australia under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (AHPRA - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) Working with Children Check In order to provide effective counselling, School Psychologists will perform the following duties. Duties A. Counselling and Liaison 1.0 Provide psychological counselling, therapy, support and programmes for individuals and groups for a range of mental health, emotional and family issues. At all times ensure that the main focus is on the duty of care to students. This involves: Experience and competence with individual psychological therapy, including a range of evidence-based therapies (eg. CBT, IPT, DBT, ACT, solution-focused therapy). Familiarity and experience with evidence-based group programmes for mental health issues and resilience building. Delivery of system level programmes for students e.g. transition programmes, peer support, study skills, remedial support etc. Facilitating small group preventative and proactive programmes for students (e.g. social skills, stress management and anger management). 2.0 Receive referrals from parents and members of staff and decide about appropriate follow-up. 3.0 Communicate students particular needs and plan evidence-based interventions with other staff, relevant professionals and parents. This may involve: Communicating students particular needs by writing reports and/or summarising information in external reports to relevant members of staff or external professionals. Communicating and planning evidence-based interventions with school staff. Communicating and planning evidence-based interventions with parents and referring parents and students to outside professionals or agencies as needed. Liaison with external professionals and agencies regarding student case management. Developing links with relevant community agencies and act as a liaison between parents, St Mary s and appropriate outside agencies as needed. A good knowledge and understanding of the diversity of the student population and school community (e.g. CALD, ATSI, disadvantage, disability, etc.) and principles and practices for inclusion. 4.0 Provide counselling to parents / guardians when concerns relative to their children are impacting on the student s adjustment and progress at St Mary s. 5.0 Provide consultative advice and support and inform teachers regarding recognising and responding to youth mental health appropriately. 6.0 Advise the Principal and, where appropriate, parents when referring clients to outside agencies.

3 B. Pastoral Care 7.0 Transition: Co-ordination of the Year 7 and New Year 8s Orientation Day 8.0 Assist staff (e.g. Head of Boarding, Head of Junior School, Head of Year, Dean of Students, Dean of Administration) in the organisation and implementation of programmes, focussing on the developmental concerns of students i.e. stress management and personal/social development. 9.0 Support the academic and pastoral care programmes at St Mary s through individual case management and taking a Link group Liaise with the Head of Boarding to assist students in the transition to boarding school life e.g. Boarders Big Sister Little Sister Day Consult with the School Executive regarding the development and implementation of relevant staff professional development programmes Attend weekly meetings with the Dean of Students and Head of Boarding to discuss student progress. C. Learning/Psychometric Assessment 13.0 Undertake educational and psychological assessment and diagnosis in all areas of child and adolescent development. This will involve: a. Clear understanding of normal and abnormal child and adolescent development. b. Knowledge, experience and understanding of developmental disabilities. c. Psychological assessment of mental health issues involving clinical measures, clinical interview skills, and observation and information from other sources. d. Knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders and their relationship to child and adolescent development. e. Psycho-educational assessment involving intellectual and ability assessment tools, clinical measurement, clinical interview and observation. f. Diagnosis requiring analysis and synthesis of multiple measures, other information and understanding of diagnostic criteria as set out in DSM-IV or ICD Follow up referral of a student for academic difficulties and provide appropriate information to teachers to assist them to meet the educational needs of the student Communicate results from assessments and interventions to parents, both orally and in writing when appropriate Provide summarised results of psychological assessments to support special consideration applications for the WACE (as required). D. Career Counselling and Subject Selection 17.0 Career counselling and assistance with subject choice to individual students as support to the career education programme Assist Year 12 students who wish to explore the possibilities of studying at eastern states or overseas universities or to apply for exchange Assist Year 10 students with subject choices Administer career counselling assessments, e.g. the Career Voyage (JIIG-CAL) programme to Year 10, 11 and 12 students.

4 E. General Duties 21.0 Maintain an appropriate confidential records system. Collect, collate and maintain student information and records to meet legislative and system requirements to inform research and policy development, such as: Keeping and maintenance of individual records, files and notes. Collection, collation and maintenance of practice-related data e.g. caseload demographics, outcome measures. Maintaining an awareness of school community issues and events which may impact on the school, and work with staff to manage such. Informing the Principal and senior staff regarding current referral issues and suggest strategies to manage these Select, store and maintain appropriate psychological testing and therapy materials and equipment Maintain the confidentiality of all clients, and work within the accepted and written codes of ethical and professional practice Develop and extend own professional skills and knowledge by attending related professional association meetings, conferences and in-service courses. Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning through: Familiarity with PsyBA mandated APS Code of Ethics and Guidelines Continuing professional development Peer consultation 25.0 Participate in departmental and staff meetings Be involved in the extracurricular life of the school, by assisting in sport carnivals and House activities, and attending some events Support the Anglican values and ethos of the school and attend one Chapel Service per cycle.

5 CONDITIONS This is a temporary, 0.8 position commencing Monday 18 th July. This position is a leave replacement until the end of Term 4. Reports to: Location: Head of Counselling Services St Mary's Anglican Girls' School, Elliott Road, Karrinyup Period: Temporary, 0.8 Term 3 and Term Conditions: St Mary s Anglican Girls School (Inc) Enterprise Agreement St Mary s is an Anglican school and applicants should be able to demonstrate empathy with and support for the school s Christian values. APPLICATIONS The application should include: An application letter A curriculum vitae The names, positions and telephone numbers (preferably mobile numbers) of three referees Applications should be addressed to the Principal and completed via the St Mary s website. Applications close on Wednesday 18 May Thank you for your interest in this position at St Mary s Anglican Girls School.