All state schools
This procedure outlines the responsibilities of school staff when supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all students in state schools; and the processes that will enable schools to support students’ mental health and social and emotional wellbeing across a continuum of support from promotion to specialised intervention and case management.
The department’s Student learning and wellbeing framework (the Framework) guides schools as they develop a whole school approach to learning and wellbeing. The Framework assists schools to provide inclusive and supportive environments that nurture students so they become lifelong learners and healthy, confident and resilient young people.
This procedure, which supports the Framework, focuses specifically on students’ mental health and social and emotional wellbeing and the responsibilities and actions associated with:
For general information about mental health and how to recognise and support students’ mental health and wellbeing please see Fact sheet – Mental health.
When a student requires additional resources, the case manager can apply to the Regional Director or delegate for further funding using the SSMH4 Form – Application for supplementary funding to support students with mental health difficulties.
When a student is admitted to a child and adolescent inpatient or day facility, on discharge the case manager may develop a supported re-entry to school program, including additional educational support.
Term
Definition
Case management
Case management is a collaborative planning process that is essential to the delivery of quality support to students with mental health difficulties.
Case manager
The case manager, who is an appropriately qualified member of staff nominated by the principal, will ensure students with complex social and emotional issues or mental health difficulties can continue to access curriculum activities, achieve learning outcomes and participate in school life. The case manager will coordinate the implementation of actions to support students, including facilitating access to internal and external support services. In some cases the case manager and nominated officer may be the same member of staff.
Clinical care provider
A clinical care provider may be (but is not limited to): a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, general practitioner, case manager from a public mental health service, mental health professional registered under the Medicare Access Scheme, nurse working in general practice and psychiatry, or an allied health professional (working in a division of general practice, Queensland Health or an Aboriginal community controlled health service). For the purposes of this procedure, a clinical care provider may also be an external support agency.
Complex case management
The department’s Complex case management (DoE employees only) process outlines the actions to be taken by school staff to assist students with complex and significant support needs.
Confidentiality
Communication with staff, parents/carers, clinical care providers or external agencies must comply with confidentiality requirements in relation to the sharing of students’ personal information. Section 426 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld) outlines the requirements in relation to the recording, use and disclosure of personal information about past, present and prospective state school students.
Delegate
An appropriately qualified individual of the department.
Educational adjustments
Educational adjustments are modifications made to curriculum activities, attendance and participation requirements to allow students to achieve optimum educational outcomes and ensure students with mental health difficulties have equal access to participation in education. Educational adjustments for students with mental health difficulties are documented in the Personalised learning plan in the Student plan on OneSchool.
Mental health
Refer to information available on the Mental health resource hub on Understanding mental health (DoE employees only) and Fact sheet – Mental health.
Mental health difficulties
Students with mental health difficulties, including diagnosed mental illness, generally demonstrate behavioural and/or emotional responses of a frequency, duration and intensity that is different from appropriate age, cultural or ethnic norms and which adversely affect the student's educational performance and participation in school life.
Students generally present with behavioural and/or emotional responses that are:
Nominated officer
A nominated officer is a member of staff, such as a guidance officer, year level coordinator or deputy principal, who is nominated by the principal to be the contact person in the school for staff to discuss concerns about a student's mental health and wellbeing. This officer will also oversee the day-to-day responses to students’ non-complex mental health issues. The nominated officer should be available on a daily basis throughout the week.
Personal information
Section 426(4) of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld) defines personal information, in the context of students’ confidentiality requirements, as information or opinion, whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion. Students’ personal information may be included in written records, photographs, images or information that is not in writing but which is in the possession or control of the department.
Personalised learning plan
The Personalised learning plan, in the Student plan on OneSchool (DoE employees only), captures information about the student’s personalised learning needs, including key characteristics, impacts and adjustments, strategies and skill development. Further information can be found on the Learning Place (DoE employees only).
Regional Principal Advisor – Mental Health (previously Mental Health Coach)
Regional Principal Advisors – Mental Health (PAs - MH) provide a key point of contact for support and advice to principals, school leaders and regional staff across the continuum of mental health and wellbeing including:
Regional PAs - MH provide leadership and direction in the planning and implementation of mental health and wellbeing initiatives and priorities within each region.
Student plan
The Student plan (DoE employees only) documents the school’s actions and strategies to support a student at school. Depending on the student’s individual needs and the plan’s intent, a student plan may include the following: Personalised learning plan, Individual curriculum plan, Health management plan; and/or Support provisions.
Previous seven years shown. Minor version updates not included.
3.0 Supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing
Manager, Student Wellbeing, State Schools – Operations Phone: (07) 3513 5821
Uncontrolled copy. Refer to the Department of Education Policy and Procedure Register to ensure you have the most current version of this document.
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