Address Job Description
Location: Western Region | Ballarat
Job type: Full time / From 15/04/2024 - 20/12/2024
Organisation: Schools (Government)
Salary: Salary not specified
Occupation: Education and Training
Reference: 1409278
Selection Criteria
Demonstrated experience and ability to work with students with a wide range of developmental disorders, with a preference in a field of health and well-being, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy or speech pathology.
Demonstrated ability to use written and verbal communication professionally and effectively with a wide range of individuals, including therapists, teachers, parents and students.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, taking initiative while seeking and accepting direction or advice from supervising therapy or health and well-being team members.
Demonstrated ability to supervise small groups of students, and an aptitude for implementing small group programs devised by health and well-being staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, music therapists or speech pathologists.
Demonstrated willingness to support fitness and hydro pool based programs
Demonstrated knowledge or willingness to engage in learning about relevant technology, equipment, resource making tools and Allied Health specific professional development topics.
Role
Allied Health Assistants work under the guidance, direction and supervision of Allied Health professionals. They can undertake therapeutic intervention support tasks or other specialised student/teacher support roles that require specific training. The role may include training other education support class staff within the work area or Allied Health programs, administrative tasks and discipline-specific responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Discipline-specific responsibilities
Implement and support speech pathology, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, music therapy, physiotherapy, and health and well-being intervention programs under Allied Health professionals' guidance, supervision, and direction.
Administer informal assessments under the guidance of Allied Health professionals.
Communicate with Allied Health professionals regarding student progress, session outcomes, intervention strategies and professional learning goals.
Run and coordinate individual or group sessions, including hydrotherapy programs.
Provide essential self-care, physical and emotional care for students such as toileting, showering programs, some lifting and physical handling required as per transfer profiles.
Administrative Responsibilities
Create and update school resources, including timetables, social stories, visual support.
Process stationery orders and other purchase orders.
Update and follow work plans as discussed with the team leader.
Write progress notes and student reports in conjunction with Allied Health professionals.
General tidy up of the therapy room, sensory room, sensory gym, pool, offices.
Assist with the supervision of students as timetabled and requested by leadership teams, e.g., bus port, playground, camps, excursions, incursions.
Laundry ordering, unpacking and sorting.
File, create and update documents in paper-based files, electronic files or online portals.
Audit, repair, catalogue, clean, set up and pack up equipment and resources.
Support Allied Health Assistant university students during placement.
Professional Conduct
Attend meetings and contribute to reviewing and celebrating learning and curriculum design, implementation and evaluation as a member of the professional learning teams, mini school groups, and class groups.
Participate in performance reviews.
Work within the policies and procedures of the Ballarat Specialist School and adhere to privacy legislation.
Demonstrate a strong commitment to ongoing professional development.
Communicate directly to the therapy team leader. Report issues, discuss complex cases and queries with the Allied Health team leader.
Promote a safe and supportive school environment by following safe work practices and OH&S requirements.
Who May Apply
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
EEO AND OHS Commitment
The Department of Education and Training is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.
Child Safe Standards
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx
DE Values
The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx
Other Information
Our school appoints Education Support Officers who:
Are able to work with students who have mild, moderate and profound intellectual disabilities associated with physical, social, emotional, communication, multiple and sensory impairments.
Are able to assist other staff members in a specific area of the school. These areas may be in Administration or Information Technology.
Show a commitment to whole school life by participating in all school activities.
What can you expect from our school?
Our school has a strong focus on assisting our students to reach their full potential. We are committed to the development of our Education Support staff with professional development programs offered in relevant areas.
You will be part of a vital, stimulating and challenging learning environment. The skills you bring to this environment will be accepted and used.
Our school has a committed School Council and we share a good relationship with our broader school community.
Preparing your application:
Applicants must hold a current type ‘E’ Working with Children Check Card. In your application you must include both the name on your Working with Children Card and the actual card number.
Your application should persuade us that you are the best person for this position. It does not need to be long but should help us to decide if you would fit easily into our school philosophy and learning and teaching team. If you are submitting hardcopies of your application, please provide the school with four copies of your application.
Applicants must respond to the Key Selection Criteria for this position in their application. If you do not address the selection criteria you may not be offered an interview.
You are also requested to name two confidential referees that we can contact for further information.
Our selection process:
After the closing date, our Selection Panel will meet and consider the applications submitted by applicants. The Panel will short list applicants for interview, interviews will be conducted and referees contacted prior to a decision being made. If offered an interview you will be expected to present your current type “E” Working with Children’s Check card.
The successful applicant will complete a Validation of Personal Information declaration and a Pre-Employment Health declaration.
Hours of Employment:
Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. to 4.35 p.m. Attendance is not required during school holiday periods.
Other Information:
All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
Conditions of Employment
All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx
Location Profile
Ballarat Specialist School caters for students aged from 3 and 18 years who have a diagnosed intellectual disability ranging from mild to profound. The school population is drawn from the city of Ballarat and within a 30km radius of the school location. Ballarat Specialist School is a dual-campus K-12 school organised around four stages of learning - Early Learning (Ages 3-7), Junior School (Ages 8-11), Middle School (Ages 11-15) and Senior School (Ages 16-18). Our Early Learning to Middle School students are accommodated on our main Gillies Street Campus. Our Senior School students are located at our 8.09 hectare FARM Campus in Norman Street. Our current enrolment is approximately 500 students.
Our school's mission is "Achieving Personal Success Together". We strive to enable our students and staff to reach their full potential in a safe, stimulating and flexible learning environment. Our educational programs provide a balanced and personalised curriculum where student achievement is acknowledged and celebrated.
Our specialist programs include: Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Physical Education (PE), Health, Design Technology, Horticulture and Hospitality. The Educational Residential Program (ERU) and the Transition to Community Living FARM units are aimed at developing home and community living skills for all our students. The school also operates two cafés open to the public. The Special Treats Café is located at our Gillies St. campus and the FARM Café is located at our Norman street FARM campus. Through these enterprises we are able to offer our students pathways to future employment.
Individual Learning Programs (ILP’s) are implemented by classroom Teachers and Education Assistants and supported by a team of Allied Health Professionals in the areas of Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. A Psychologist, Student Welfare Officers and a School Nurse are available to support staff, students and parents.
Ballarat Specialist School currently employs 4 Principal Class Officers, 66 Teachers and 146 Education Support staff members, with more than 60 additional staff employed casually
