Role
Social Workers work in partnership with individuals, groups and communities to help them reach their full potential by addressing barriers to health and wellbeing. These barriers may include social and economic disadvantage, individual differences resulting from cultural, language and sexual preferences, bullying, grief and loss, substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness.
Social work in schools is a specific field of social work that encompasses direct practice, service management, organisational development and system change, policy, research and education and professional development. School social work requires the ability to work with individuals, groups and communities at the interface between the student, school organisation and curriculum, peers, family, neighbourhood and wider society.Social Workers develop and implement programs and strategies that foster resilience in children and young people and address their social, emotional and educational needs. Social Workers address individual functioning related to the whole system around a child and intervene at these levels. Social Workers also undertake psychosocial assessments and mental health tests/assessments. They work as part of multidisciplinary teams in schools and networks to support students and teachers.The VSC Student Wellbeing in 2024 will consist of:
1. A Leading Social Worker - Head of Student Wellbeing
2. Three ES Social Workers
3. A teacher with counselling training.
This team is co-located in a for-purpose office suite with adjoining counselling spaces.The VSC Social Worker will work as part of the broader Student Services team by:
4. Organising and overseeing the delivery of programs to support student wellbeing, predominantly (Tier 1 and Tier 2).
5. Collating and distributing student wellbeing data to members of the Student Services Team.
6. Contributing to the delivery of student support services within our multi-disciplinary team.
7. Contributing to the development and implementation of student support services policy across the school.
8. Supporting the school and staff in the development of educational programs, particularly in respect to students with additional needs.
9. Providing advice to the leadership of the school about student support service needs.
10. Providing direct support to students and families that addresses social and emotional needs, such as psycho-social assessment, critical incident response, advocacy and support for students and families and liaison with external community service providers.
11. Liaising with community service organisations, DFFH, hospitals, specialist programs and other professionals as directed by the team.
Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.
Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.
This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 ( therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS Graduate or postgraduate qualifications in social work or other qualifications that are acceptable for membership to the Australian Association of Social Workers.Current Working With Children Check.Current Victorian Drivers Licence and use of own car is required.