Schools

VCPS work closely with schools and organisations to build tailored support solutions for their students and employees. We provide comprehensive assessment, reporting and training services to schools across Australia.

Our services include:

• Staff, student and parent satisfaction surveys and school well-being reviews
• Professional development and training programs
• School employee assistance programs
• Mentoring and coaching for leadership and staff
• Neuropsychological assessments for children and adolescents, and consultative services to families and teachers/school leaders

Surveys for schools

Our e-survey product, encompass, provides schools with important information regarding levels of satisfaction from students, parents and staff, to assist school leadership and gain insights into their operations. The opinions of these important stakeholders are essential indicators of how effective a school is in providing quality education for its students. Further information is available at www.schoolsurveys.com.au.

School Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

VCPS has extensive experience in providing Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to primary and secondary schools. EAPs provide your teaching and non-teaching staff with numerous services and interventions designed to identify, manage and resolve emotional, psychological and workplace concerns that may adversely affect their health and workplace engagement. These concerns may arise in many areas; some examples are physical and mental health, personal relationships, family interactions, financial concerns, emotional states, or substance dependence concerns.

How exactly can EAP assist your school and your staff?

Our EAP services can assist staff and their managers to:

• Cope with job-related and personal challenges that impact work performance
• Manage job-related crises and critical incidents, including debriefing and providing ongoing support
• Manage the risk of unexpected events
• Decrease work-related accidents
• Improve productivity and workplace efficiency
• Lessen absenteeism and staff turnover
• Promote workplace co-operation
• Position your organisation as an employer of choice
• Recruit and retain staff
• Reduce grievances
• Assist in addiction problems
• Improve staff morale and motivation
• Provide a management tool for performance analysis and improvement
• Assist line managers in identifying and resolving staff problems

School Neuropsychological Services

Our neuropsychology division works with children, adolescents, their families and their school to assist them to better understand brain function and improve their everyday experience. We also conduct information sessions for schools on the impacts of a range of concerns on brain development and learning. These sessions can be tailored to current specific concerns, or can be general in scope.

Neuropsychological services are available to children and adolescents aged 6-18 years. Referrals can be made by parents/guardians, teachers, and health professionals.

Common referral questions include:

• Why does the child have difficulty learning and what can be done to help?
• What does the child's brain injury or other medical condition mean for their development and learning needs?
• What is the impact of early psychological trauma such as abuse or neglect on the child's development and what can be done to help?
• How can the child's behaviour be better managed at home and at school?
• Is the child eligible for funding support in the classroom?
• What are the child’s strengths and weaknesses and how can their everyday function be improved?

Neuropsychological assessment involves gathering detailed information about the client's development through an interview with the child and their parent/guardian, contact with teachers as required, reviewing previous assessment reports, behavioural observation, and pencil-and-paper tests that assess thinking and learning abilities as well as psychological function.

Assessment findings are used to assist with diagnosis of medical, psychological or developmental disorders and to inform a range of neuropsychological or psychological treatments including the following:

• Education about the impact of brain development and function on everyday life
• Management planning for learning, behavioural and developmental needs
• Attendance at school meetings
• Relaxation training
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Providing Employee Assistance Services to your staff will support in today for a promote healthier, happier and more productive workplace. Our services and solutions are very affordable and can be tailored to work within your school or organisational current systems and budgets.

Professional development and training programs

Programs available to teachers focus on improving individual well-being as well as educational and discussion forums on topics relevant to increasing student wellbeing.

Programs for teachers include:

• Managing stress
• Managing anger
• Conflict resolution
• Communication and negotiation
• Managing difficult and challenging behaviours
• Managing the student mental health concerns
• Mental health concerns for staff
• An examination of the ethical, moral and legal dilemmas of working with young people
• Managing experimental behaviours including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and sex

Programs for students include:

• Communication and negotiation
• Achieving work / lifestyle balance
• Study skills
• Conflict resolution and mediation
• Emotional expression (e.g., aggression & anger management)
• Understanding your emotional and mental health
• Managing stress and anxiety
• Enhancing social skills
• Communicating effectively
• Working with your family
• Goal setting
• Self esteem
• Managing negative thoughts
• Transition from primary to secondary school
• Surviving VCE
• Staying focused and motivated