Location Profile

Heatherwood School is a secondary school for students aged between 12-18 years with a mild intellectual disability (full scale IQ between 50 and 70). The school provides a range of on and off campus programs that allow for the development of students as self-motivated individuals with a sense of personal worth, independence and the ability to pursue a socially productive and personally fulfilling life-style.

Heatherwood Vision Statement

The Heatherwood school community envisages a vital and dynamic school established to meet the current and future life needs of its students. The school will develop students as self-motivated individuals with a sense of personal worth and independence and the ability to pursue a socially productive and personally fulfilling life-style.

The School's curriculum shall be based on the democratic values of social equality, mutual respect, self-discipline, cooperation and shared responsibility.

The School will provide programs designed to meet the individual needs of students within the framework of the policies of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the School Community.

Role

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:

• Contributing to the delivery of student support services within the school.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of student support services across the school.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of links and referral pathways between relevant departments, organisations and the school to optimise support of vulnerable students and their families.
• Offer direct support for families attempting to access support and transition services.
• Offer direct support for students and families attempting to access support from external services such as NDIA and Centrelink.
• Liaising with community service organisations as required.
• Direct support for students and families.

Responsibilities

Manage the delivery of support services to students, teachers, parents and other school clients.

• Ensure all external providers deliver the required service.

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfil the specific requirements of the position. 

EEO and OHS Commitment

The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. 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 the 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.

DET 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 here. 

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.

Selection Criteria

Please provide written responses to the following

1. Ability to deliver a comprehensive social work support service to students and families in an education environment.
2. Well developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills. Including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
3. Ability to provide leadership and professional learning that informs and influences the work of others.
4. Demonstrated ability to link with external agencies such as Centrelink and NDIA in to support students and families.
5. Demonstrated ability to undertake individual and small group support for students and families.

Term of Contract

Begin date: 4th October 2021

End Date: 26th January 2024

For more information contact Paul Hills on 03 9842 8319.