Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Hi everyone that takes the time out to read this firstly I would like to say thanks for that. Below is my assessment I am having a few troubles I am unsure if I am on the right track with my answers. I can not find non government places in SA any advice on these would be great. Lastly I have never done action plans before so any advice on these would be great i.e. set up what I should include in these etc.

Scenario
You have just started a new job at Valley View Primary School and you are working in the Year 5 classroom with Julia, the qualified teacher. During the first week you spent time getting to know the routines, children and their families. A young boy by the name of Luke caught your attention. It is hard not to notice Luke as his head is badly scared and little to know hair grows on 75% of his head. You approached Luke numerous times to assist him with an activity and you have noticed he doesn’t talk. When you talked to Julia about Luke she said that a few years ago he and his brother were caught in a house fire, Luke came out badly burnt and his brother died. The fire was an accident and since the family has relocated to Valley View and he started attending the school last year. Julia continued to say that he doesn’t interact with any other children, he rarely speaks and he doesn’t complete any work he is set in full. Julia expresses that at this rate he will be repeating the 5th grade. You asked Julia if she has tried to help the family and she replied that she has tried to talk to Luke and help him with his school work but he just quietly walks away finding something to do where no-one will bother him.

1. Identify Luke’s rights and needs that are not being met from the information you gathered in the above scenario. Luke is clearly not getting the support that he needs at school to complete set tasks. His rights to an education are not being met, Julia should have addressed the problems Luke is having at school quite some time ago with his family and got some support into place for Luke. Luke should be seeing a guidance counsellor or some other form of service such as a psychologist for his grief and lack of social development this is another way in which Luke’s rights and needs have not been met.

2. How would you obtain Luke’s point of view about his situation and the idea of people helping him? I would try to achieve this by firstly talking with Julia and seeing if she was aware of Luke’s interest if she was unaware of these I would have a chat with Luke’s parents to find out about Luke’s interests. I would then with this knowledge introduce activities to Luke based on his interest in an attempt to develop a friendship/ trusting relationship with Luke, in the hopes that this would get Luke to open up to me about how he is feeling. With this new found knowledge of Luke’s interest I could also find another child who has the same interest as Luke and gradually encourage this child to join in on our activities this may help Luke to develop a friendship with a peer.

3. If Valley View was located in your community research and present for Julia;

A list of three non-government services and a summary of the assistance they provide
1. Anglicare SA, this is a community service that offers loss and grief camps, these camps are free weekend camps that are offered to children struggling with grief who have lost a parent, sibling or other significant person in their lives. The program is offered to children aged between 5 and 12, there is also a teens program for children up to the age of 17. The children are paired with trained volunteer mentors and also offered experienced therapeutic sessions. The children also play sports, games and do arts and crafts, the camp is completely funded by donations from the community. This would be a great service for Luke to access, this gives him the opportunity to talk to others who have been in similar situations have a mentor he can open up to and work on his social interactions. This service can be accessed by referral from his parents, teacher or counsellors etc.
2. ?
3. ?

A list of three government services and a summary of the assistance they provide

1. Child and Adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) this is a community service that offers mental health services to infants, children and adolescents. They specialise in Emotional issues such as anxiety, fears and worries, feelings of sadness or depression, low self-esteem, grief and loss to name a few. They also specialise in behavioural issues such as distractibility or disruptiveness and social issues such as social withdrawal or social isolation. Anyone is able to call CAMHS to make a referral to be seen here one of the offices is in my local area.

2. School Mentoring service, Sa.gov, (2016) discusses how the school may be able to access a school mentoring service this service offers Luke a mentor that he can talk to, the mentor will offer him support and guidance. It is based on building confidence through positive relationships and shared experiences and can encourage successful participation at school.

3. School Counsellor, this service should already be getting accessed by Luke, a school counsellor is able to support Luke in a variety of ways firstly by giving Luke the chance to have someone to open up to about how he is feeling after his traumatic experience. The school counsellor can also support Luke with encouragement to complete school tasks, offer support in managing any issues Luke is facing at school as well as offer advice on therapeutic support places or other forms of support that Luke and his family may be able to access outside of school.

Create an action plan of how the school and staff could assist Luke

Create an action plan of how the school and staff could assist Luke’s family

4. Outline when and how you could seek feedback from Julia regarding your action plans and how this feedback can help you with your work with Luke and his family.

Thanks so much you have been a great help i may check in again

Hi again Lorina, I am still having a little trouble understanding these action plans, I have never had to complete an action plan before and am worried that I will get these wrong.

Thanks for ur guidance ill contact my trainer tomorrow

will do so far every time I try to get a hold of my trainer she is out of the office it is quite annoying. I feel like I am on my own and need to submit AGH...

Thanks

Still haven't got a hold of the trainer this is so stressful any ideas on ways I could assist Luke's family?

Luke’s Action Plan
Goal How will the goal be accomplished Who will assist in reaching this goal Evaluating the goal/goal completion.
Assist Luke in participating in class activities. Parents to notify teacher about Luke’s interest’s so teacher is able to plan curricular activities based around some of Luke’s interest.

Teacher to plan a classroom activity that is based around Luke’s interest this may give Luke the encouragement he needs to Join in.

Teacher’s aide to build a positive relationship with Luke, talk to Luke try to find out how he is feeling, encourage Luke to join in during class activities, assist Luke and support Luke with as much or as little as he may need. Class teacher, teacher aide and parents. This goal will be evaluated in two weeks to see if Luke has opened up to teacher’s aide. If Luke is still yet to open up and has not attempted to join in any school activities the action plan will need to be re-evaluated.

If Luke is starting to progress and join in teacher’s aide and teacher will continue with the plan for a further two weeks’, then see how Luke has progressed.
Assist Luke in making a friend. Social skills are just as important as education.

Parent’s will be asked to encourage both children to play together.

The teacher’s aide and teacher will do their best to find a child that has similar interest to Luke and arrange a buddy system for the both of them.

Luke will be sat next to this student during class timed and encouraged to complete small group tasks with the other student.

During Recess and Lunch Luke will be encouraged to play with the other student doing something based on both children’s interest. Example say both children follow AFL, both children will be asked if they would like to have a kick of the footy on the oval at lunch time.

Luke will also be offered a chance to see a school counsellor twice a week so that Luke is able to express any worries or feelings he is having at school and at home, there could be underlying issues as to why Luke chooses to always play alone. Teacher, Teacher’s aide and parents.
School Counsellor This Goal will be evaluated in two weeks to see if Luke has attempted to play with the other child if Luke is still isolating himself this plan will need to be re-evaluated.


THIS IS ALL IN TABLE FORMAT but this is just to get your opinion do you think this is right? Lorina