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(E) Copyright: The NSW Department of Education, Sydney, 1987
Free for copying by non-profit educational institutions.
A Strategy for Clarifying Roles in the Student Welfare Program
Clarifying the roles of the people involved in the Student Welfare Program is an important step in ensuring its effective operation. The following process describes how one secondary school sought to clarify these roles. (Also included here are the characteristics of some key roles developed as a result of this process.)
INDEX
Clarifying Welfare Roles
Characteristics of Key Welfare Roles
Clarifying Welfare Roles
A survey of staff was conducted seeking perceptions of how each person saw his or her role in the student welfare system. The survey asked staff to
-identify their own roles e.g. class teacher, grade supervisor, remedial/resource teacher, Year Adviser/House Patron, Roll Patron, Head Teacher ancillary staff
state the tasks each saw as part of his or her role
-state the tasks seen as part of other key roles e.g. Deputy Principal, Counsellor, House Patron.
The results of the survey were collated and presented to house group meetings and consensus was reached upon definition of roles.
The Student Welfare Committee incorporated the role statements into the school's Student
Welfare Policy.
Characteristics of Key Welfare Roles
Role of the Principal
* provide leadership and direction
* oversee workings of the student welfare committee and make decisions based on its recommendations
* provide staff support and the opportunities for professional development
* encourage a caring atmosphere
* liaise with subject departments, parents and community regarding policy and programs.
Role of the Student Welfare Committee
* write and oversee policies
* co-ordinate activities in the program
* communicate with, and where necessary provide guidance or, staff
* maintain consistency
* seek solutions to welfare problems
* initiate and coordinate staff development in welfare skills.
Role of the Deputy Principal
* provide support for the Principal in student welfare matters
* liaise with staff, students and parents
* ensure a safe, healthy, clean school environment
* guide programs related to student behaviour and attendance.
Role of Student Welfare Co-ordinator
* co-ordinate the work of the student welfare committee
* liaise with school executive
* promote awareness of welfare issues
* initiate staff development related to student welfare
* encourage a caring environment
interact with outside agencies and relay new information to the school
* encourage involvement o students and parents.
Role of Year Adviser/House Patron
* Leadership - provide a role model -encourage participation -delegate tasks e.g. camps, socials -co-ordinate roll patrons -represent students at executive levels.
* Communication - disseminate information-collate information to provide an overall picture of the student -liaise with parent/teacher/child -be willing to listen.
Role of the Counsellor
* provide counselling for students as necessary
* provide information about the welfare needs of students
* provide support for staff and parents in student welfare matters
* act as a resource person for staff development in student welfare
* liaise with the Student Welfare Co-ordinator in assisting the promotion of student welfare issues.
Role of the Teacher
* provide challenging and interesting learning experiences for all students
* seek to enhance the self esteem of students in all aspects of school life
* be sensitive to the welfare needs of students
* provide support as necessary and appropriate for all students in all aspects of school life.
Role of the Parent
* support the school's program
* encourage the student's interest in all aspects of schooling
* participate in decision-making about the Student Welfare Program
* take part in the Student Welfare Program, as appropriate.
This page was last updated 25 July 1996
Enquiries/Comments to: mteach.IT@alex.edfac.usyd.edu.au