Early years social work service
Social workers promote social change and empowerment by adhering to the principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility, and respect for diversity.
Social workers establish caring and respectful relationships with intention, and purpose, to strengthen, restore and uphold the safety and wellbeing of those they work with. Social workers identify strengths, needs, and support networks to prioritise goals that will enhance social connectedness, and assist in addressing life challenges and major events.
Social workers apply their knowledge and expertise in a variety of ways, his includes direct work with people and whānau, therapeutic social work, community-led development, consultancy, research, education, supervision, facilitation, and advocacy.
Ko Taku Reo is in the process of employing an Auckland based Social Worker who can provide direct support to Auckland’s Pre-School children and whanau. In Christchurch, Social Work support is contracted to The Christchurch Methodist Mission who works with the Early Intervention Centre’s children and whanau.
Values
Our social work practice is guided by:
- Social Workers Registration Board
- Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand school values
- Social Justice
- Human Rights
- Collective responsibility
- Dignity
- Integrity
- Promote social change
Social Work Registration Board
- A strong commitment to Deaf bi-lingual and bi-culture practice
- Valuing Deaf cultural norms
- Provide students with an environment where they can Belong, Grow, Choose, Excel
- Access to resources and services students need to be happy and engaged learners
- To have opportunities to be their best and become confident leaders of their own lives
Ko Taku Reo School Values
How to access the service
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If anyone from a child’s existing team has noticed that they need support around emotional, mental health, well-being, safety, whanau support, they can refer to our Social Work service. This can be done by filling in the integrated services referral form.
It is preferable that referrals have whānau consent. However, if this is not possible for safety concerns, referrals can be made without parental consent.The Social Worker will also spend time with children and teaching teams in an informal basis to build relationships and may do small pieces of work during this.
If this referral is an emergency and you cannot wait for a referral form to be responded to, please email directly to Paul Scammell, Integrated Services Lead, at paul.scammell@kotakureo.school.nz
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You will receive an email receipt of your referral and a team member may contact you to gather more information, if needed. The referral will be accepted or declined, and this will be communicated to the referrer and their team.
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A team member will contact the child’s team, (including whanau if appropriate), teachers and other professionals.
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Assessment will be carried out using formal (e.g. tests) and/or informal (e.g. observation) methods. Whānau and team members are central to this process.
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Assessment findings will be used to determine the level of support for the child and their team. The Social worker will then work with the child’s team, including teaching staff, their whānau, and the child, to co-construct a Support Plan. The Support Plan will have clear learning goals and an agreed time frame. The time frame will include review points for the support being given.
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At review meetings, the team will decide on criteria that will show that the child’s Support Plan is complete.
When the criteria have been met, or the team has agreed that the Support Plan is complete for a different reason, then the team will organise a Next Steps meeting.
At the Next Steps meeting, progress will be reviewed, and final recommendations will be discussed before the child’s Support Plan is closed.
The child may be re-referred to the Ko Taku Reo Social Work service in the future, if anyone from the child’s team (existing or new) identifies further need.