Schools Learning Support Officer Newsletter

Name change

Thanks to everyone for your patience and feedback during the negotiations with the Department on the name change.

Child Protection

The PSA cannot state strongly enough the importance of working to your statement of duties and not putting yourselves in the position of being on your own with a student.

It is for your protection that we say you should ensure there are two people present when working with students. Remember SLSOs are not employed to supervise students.

Members should contact the PSA immediately for advice if a complaint is made against them.

Please advise your colleagues who are not members that they should join the PSA before they find themselves in a situation that requires union assistance. Any investigation is an unpleasant experience and staff do need support during this time.

Being a member of the union means we can also assist with OH&S matters and other workplace and industrial issues.

Administering Prescribed Medications and Performing Health Care Procedures

When training is completed and before performing these procedures the principal must apply for payment of the allowance.

It is a Departmental requirement that any staff member volunteering to undertake these duties has the appropriate training and receives the allowance allocated for the additional responsibility.

Administration of Prescribed Medications and Asthma Treatments training is a self paced module you can download from the DET website. Staff should be given time within working hours to complete the training.

SAS staff should not ever administer non-prescribed medications, including Panadol and other over the counter medications. All medications to be administered must be prescribed by a medical practitioner.

Health Care Procedures training is a course run by the Department. Participants also attend recertification training every 2 years. The initial training should include theory sessions, an instructional DVD and practical sessions and assessments on Infection control, hand washing and tube feeding. The recertification should be a face to face session to revise practices and be re-assessed on practical skills.

It appears there have been major changes to the content and delivery of this training. The PSA has raised concerns with the Department.

The PSA has asked for member feedback regarding the training. Input from members helps inform our ongoing discussions with the Department to ensure staff receive the proper training.

It is extremely important that after undergoing the Health Care Procedures training members have practical, face-to-face sessions at school from a qualified health care professional and the student's parent or carer. This is to ensure staff are familiar with the individual requirements of each student and feel confident to perform the procedures. SLSOs should be involved in developing the student's individual health care plan prior to the student enrolling or requiring health care support.

Long Term Temporary Hours

The PSA does not believe this is occurring. Please contact the PSA if you continue to have a problem with this.

However, the Association is aware that there are some instances where students are assessed early in the school year.

Supervision and Transporting of Students

There are OH&S and Child Protection implications if SLSOs undertake tasks that are not within the job description and the consequences if something goes wrong can be severe and traumatic.

Work to the statement of duties.

First Aid

The OH&S policy requires that schools provide first aid. If no one at your school is qualified and volunteers to perform minor first aid then the principal must put a plan in place to ensure that first aid is provided.

The Department's recently issued First Aid guidelines specifically deal with the principal's duty to ensure that the first aid officer receives appropriate support to ensure other work tasks are not affected in undertaking this responsibility.

The Association is continuing discussions with the DET in relation to the amount of the first aid allowance. The allowance paid is the Public Sector allowance. We believe there is a big difference in the responsibility of a first aid officer employed in an office and a SAS staff member having the responsibility of first aid for staff and in addition, responsibility for students ranging in age from 4-18 years and in number from 10 -1800 students or more.

Care and Comfort

Therapy Services

If SLSOs are asked to assist with physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy programs please ensure you have been given adequate training beforehand by the relevant, qualified, health care professional and that there is a timetable for regular follow up visits from the therapist/s. If members have problems accessing training or with ongoing monitoring contact the PSA so we can assist.

Recognition Week, 25-29 August 2008

We are currently organising materials and information that your schools can use to thank you all for the work you do throughout the year.

The PSA recognises how hard SAS staff work and how much they care about their job and the Association organises this week to enable the school community to recognise the vital role SAS staff play.

Recent Industrial Action by School Learning Support Officers (formerly Teachers Aides Special)

Our members were concerned that supporting the changing nature of the student's needs was beyond their skill and training level and there was a need for support from a qualified health professional, in particular to administer tube feeds and medication. Staff also had concerns about the adequacy of the facilities at the school. The SLSOs were concerned for the safety of the student and staff.

PSA Industrial Staff met with the staff who unanimously passed a resolution that they would no longer medicate or tube feed the student concerned.

After an urgent meeting with the DET, the Department acted very quickly to install improved equipment at the school however they did not organise a health care professional to take responsibility for the medication and tube feeding. The PSA again met with members and the DET. The Department asked that the members continue working with the student for two weeks after which time a case conference would be held involving, parents, teachers, SLSOs, the PSA and health care professionals. PSA members agreed to take part in the case conference and work with the student but again unanimously decided not to medicate or tube feed the student because of their concerns.

The DET has now organised alternative arrangements for medicating and tube feeding the student. We are awaiting notification of a date for the case conference to assess ongoing needs and review arrangements already in place.

The industrial action of PSA members at the school proved to be a very effective method of ensuring their concerns were taken seriously and that the student received care from appropriately qualified health professionals. This action demonstrates that the integrity of the SLSOs was recognised and the dignity of the student was respected.

This is a clear example of the importance of supporting each other on an issue...Working together to achieve a good result. STRONGER TOGETHER.

Congratulations to the PSA members.

SAS Staff Delegates