Mental Health and Wellbeing

Staff Services  | Return to school website

Service Team:

Wellbeing Leader - Samantha Harris, Lead Social Worker (Secondary MHP) 5 days

Student Wellbeing - (New), Social Worker, 5 days

Behaviour Support Practitioner - Ashleigh Corbett, Board Certified ABA Therapist, 3 days

NDIS Navigator and Future Pathways - Lisa Wilson, Expert Teacher, 3 days

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Services 

• stress and anxiety support and management

• mindfulness and trauma training staff/students

• Train staff on behaviour/engagement/wellbeing referrals

• 1:1 counselling and clinical supervision

• Self-harm and suicide ideation support and referrals

• contributing to whole-school approaches to mental health prevention and promotion

• liaise with the relevant internal and external services

• staff reflective practice

• student social difficulties

• student emotional challenges and mental health

• Family challenges, including family break-up

• Grief and loss

• Attendance improvement and school refusal

• Child safety concerns

• Family support service referrals

• Safe minds training

• Well-being initiatives: parent groups, staff training, wellbeing information etc

• Newsletter Item

Service Staff Roles:

Wellbeing Leader:

• provide operational leadership, coordination and supervision related to clinical services and casework for members of the mental health and wellbeing team

• provide the IST with detailed progress upon request regarding open cases and wellbeing outcomes

• maintain active membership and consultation with the allied health multidisciplinary team and the therapy representative

• provide leadership in the development of whole school training and staff capability building in trauma education and wellbeing services

• chair well-being meetings

• coordinate wellbeing referrals in weekly allocation meetings and oversee active clinical caseload progress and timelines

• provide guidance and support for wellbeing staff related to case documentation and detail

• represent the mental health and wellbeing team on the Integrated Service Team (IST) committee 

• member of SSSO school contact meetings

• member of the emergency management incident response team 

• OoHC Team meeting member

• Working with the School Improvement team, review relevant policy and operational practices that will continue to guide the work of Mental Health and Wellbeing team

• take responsibility for the Mental Health and Wellbeing budget in consultation with the Assistant Principal considering relevant targeted intervention services that will support Integrated Services from the mental health tool kit fund

• Represent the school in Wellbeing leadership networks with other schools and community groups (LENs)

• Promote system-wide specialisation and qualified supports in specialist schools within the region (MHP Special School Network) for Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Oversee the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and strategies that seek to support Mental Health and Wellbeing objectives identified in the startegic plan

• Deliver professional support service/s at Yarrabah school, including direct counselling and risk assessments for students with a range of well-being and mental health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

• Provide evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating and working with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.

• provide critical incident response and supervision

Social Worker:

• Deliver professional support service/s at Yarrabah school, including direct counselling and risk assessments for students with a range of well-being and mental health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

• Work collaboratively with the school Wellbeing Team under the guidance of the Wellbeing co-ordinator and contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others.

• Provide evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating and working with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.

• Provide information to education staff and parents on student's social and emotional progress when required.

• Facilitating group work programs based on the needs of the cohort at any given time.

• Provide professional learning to school staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ well-being, and learning outcomes.

• Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.

• Member of the allied health multidisciplinary team

Behaviour Support Practitioner:

• Work collaboratively with the school Wellbeing Team under the guidance of the Wellbeing co-ordinator and contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others.

• Be a member of the Team Teach Trainer team

• assess, refine and review Escalation Management Plans

• allocate FBA / ABC class data collection

• analyse data collection for recommendations

• refer staff for reflective practice sessions and training

• Conduct behavioural assessments and support staff to monitor and record data

• Undertake regular classroom and student observations

• Recommend Behaviour Interventions that are in line with Yarrabah School and DET Policy

• Working closely with families

• Collaborate with the wellbeing and engagement teams to refine and implement the school Wellbeing and Engagement policy

• Provide professional learning to school staff that builds the capacity to manage challenging behaviours.

• Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.

• Member of the allied health multidisciplinary team