Young Women’s Place Inc

Policy and Procedure Manual

 

Policy:Schools Policy

Effective Date: July 2004

Participants: All Staff and Volunteers

 

 

Policy Purpose

 

This policy aims to ensure high quality service provision to schools upon request to YWP for education / training / information sessions. The policy also aims to provide clear guidelines in relation to school requests, service responsibilities, school responsibilities and staff requirements for acceptance of invitation to provide services to schools.

 

 

Rationale

 

YWP has been invited to provide service to state and private schools in the Toowoomba and surrounds. This invitation has provided many opportunities for service promotion, health promotion activity and prevention and early intervention programs. The increase in invitations to provide these activities requires clear guidelines for school personnel and YWP staff to ensure risk management, safety of staff and students and prevent service duplication, resourcing issues and competence requirements.

 

Young Women’s Place Inc. will provide the following services to schools:

1. Short term counselling and support within the school setting
2. Workshops / information sessions related to core business criteria for funded programs – i.e. risk factors associated with homelessness, early parenting and health promotion activities.
3. Peer education programs
4. Group information sessions regarding YWP service functions and programs
5. Speakers regarding YWP and current / emerging youth issues
6. Teaching staff training regarding workshop material, current issues and intervention work where requested.

 

Work conducted in schools is to be covered by the following criteria:

1. Information, workshops and speakers for YR 6 – YR 12
2. At least 4 weeks notice is requested for such workshops / presentations unless negotiated directly with the Coordinator
3. At least (1) meeting will be held with relevant school personnel to provide detail of presentation material, school support staff, parental consent issues or requirements, follow-up support etc.
4. Group size is limited to 40 students per worker, dependent upon style of presentation / workshop.
5. Confidentiality is respected by the worker when working with young women, excluding situations involving suicidal ideation, threats to harm an individual or group, suspected child abuse or neglect. When confidentiality is to be breached the worker will, where appropriate, inform the young person of this requirement. Staff will ensure safety of the student is maintained at all times. Incidences that require confidentiality to be breached will be reported to the Principal for their appropriate actioning. YWP staff will also notify Departmental officers/ Police should schools decide not to proceed with further action where the worker has discussed the issue with the Coordinator and action is recommended. School Principal’s will be informed of such action should it be required.
6. Young Women’s Place Inc. is a not for profit organisation. Donations are accepted to assist the cost associated with preparation time etc.

 

 

Procedure

 

1. School personnel request YWP participate / coordinate activity documented in School Request file – YWP folder.
2. School is sent an information sheet detailing policy, requirements and formal briefing request. This is to be completed and faxed / mailed / emailed to the staff member relevant to the request.
3. Request is tabled at staff meeting to ensure the dates are suitable to the organisation in terms of staff coverage, vehicle availability, co-facilitator availability and prioritisation.
4. Decision to accept or refer on the request is made at the meeting.
5. Relevant worker contacts school personnel relevant to request to provide confirmation or information regarding availability or acceptance of request.
6. Relevant YWP worker to send a confirmation letter to school detailing dates, time, name of worker, presentation information and copy of “School Information Sheet”.
7. Meeting opportunity canvassed to provide information to wider school personnel around workshop details and follow up/ referral pathways.
8. Workshop implemented in school
9. Evaluation methodology implemented post workshop
10. Results collated and filed for reporting / statistical purposes.

 

Student Behaviour Procedure

 

Purpose

 

YWP operates within a Feminist framework recognising and adhering to standards of practice encompassing principles of respect, dignity, social justice and safety for staff and clients. Staff accept the values of the organisation upon appointment and agree to ensure clients and consumers of YWP services and programs are treated within the framework. Staff are therefore entitled to a working environment free from abuse, violence, sexual harassment, intimidation and unsafe situations. The student behaviour policy recognises this expectation and provides a procedure for responding to and managing risk associated with student behaviour issues while visiting a school.

 

Procedure

 

1. Schools are to be given a copy of the “Schools Information Sheet” detailing rights and responsibilities of students and YWP staff prior to any workshop being conducted in a school setting.
2. Behaviour identified by staff as intimidation, sexual harassment, abuse or impacting on the safety of the staff are to be bought to the attention of the supervising teacher or personnel immediately.
3. The staff member is to request a small interval to allow this discussion to take place and make a decision as to whether the workshop will continue or not.
4. Staff are to use professional discretion as to whether they wish to raise these inappropriate behaviours with the group and seek an agreement around further inappropriate behaviour or to immediately cease providing the presentation.
5. Staff is to inform the supervising Teacher or school personnel of the decision and the reasons for ceasing the presentation before leaving school grounds.
6. Staff will complete an incident report detailing incident to be signed off by Coordinator.
7. Coordinator to assess whether further correspondence or meetings should take place to resolve issues.
8. Coordinator informs Management Committee at next meeting of incident and action taken.
9. Management Committee endorse action taken and / or make recommendations regarding future workshops or service provision to the school involved.