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Outreach psychology service

Psychology is a contracted service to Ko Taku Reo where we refer to outside Psychologist’s that allows us the ability to provide services and support on a national level to our students and whanau. This could include Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, or Behavioural Psychology. Our Psychologist could work through a number of models to the Outreach School Service, these could include direct Telepractice work with Students and whanau, working with local support networks that are supporting a student and their whanau and through support to local school staff. Our contracted Psychologist’s will work in the same manner as a Ko Taku Reo employed specialist and are coordinated through the Integrated Service Leader. Every one of our contracted specialists has a slightly different service pathway, but in general, will follow the service pathway as seen below.

Psychology aims to help young people to become resilient so they can cope with difficult emotions and life challenges. This happens through specific, emotional or behavioural assessment and intervention plans for young people and their families. This could be around academic, social, emotional or behavioural issues.

  • Psychological and emotional assessments
  • Education Assessments
  • Behavioural assessments and interventions
  • Cognitive assessments
  • Therapy and counselling
  • Advocacy and support
  • Programme evaluation
  • Anger management
  • Social skills training
  • Help with - parenting, anxiety, depression, grief, relationships, Trauma, and stress

Values

Our practice is guided by:

  • The values from New Zealand Psychology Society
  • Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand school values
  • Respect for the dignity of persons and peoples
  • Responsible caring
  • Integrity of relationships
  • Social justice and responsibility to society

New Zealand Psychology Society

  • A strong commitment to Deaf bi-lingual and bi-cultural 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 this service

  • If anyone from a learner’s existing team has noticed that they need support around emotional, mental health or well-being, or are in need of an educational, behavioural or cognitive assessment they can refer to our Psychology service. This can be done by filling in a referral form and sending it to the Integrated Services referral email: Integratedservices@kotakureo.school.nz.
    It is preferable that referrals have whānau consent. However if this is not possible for safety concerns or the student does not want whanau to know, referrals can be made without parental consent. Students can also self-refer to this service.

    What will happen after the referral is received

    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.

  • A team member will contact the learner’s team, including whanau and the learner, teachers and other professionals.

  • 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.

  • Assessment findings will be used to determine the level of support for the learner and their team. The Psychologist, will then work with the learner’s team, including teaching staff, their whānau and the learner, 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.

  • At review meetings, the team will decide on criteria that will show that the learner’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 learner’s Support Plan is closed.

    The learner may be re-referred to the Ko Taku Reo Psychology service in the future, if anyone from the learner’s team (existing or new) identifies further need.