Law for School Guidance Counsellors
Issues covered include: Students and mental health, bullying, discrimination, guidance counsellors, social media, pastoral care, counselling, suicide, self-harm, risk assessment, sharing information, Parent Separation, Family Court Orders and Protection Orders, Court Proceedings and Giving Evidence, Expert evidence.
Description
Doing what is ‘right’ to protect a child while acting within the guidelines of the law and policy is often easier said than done. School guidance counsellors will benefit from this program by hearing from an assembly of legal experts on a range of issues including mental health, bullying, online incident, how to respond to family dispute and court orders, as well as receiving practical insights from those on the frontline about self-harm and suicide.
Attend and earn 6 CPD hours
This conference was recorded in NZ on 12 June 2019
Session 1
Responding to Student Incidents and Mental Health
Chair: Bev Weber, President, New Zealand Association of Counsellors
9.00am to 9.45am: Student Bullying and Discrimination Legalities Guidance Counsellors Need to Know
- Understanding the laws that can apply to students and schools in bullying and discrimination
- A rights framework for understanding students’ rights
- Past case law from students claiming discrimination
- Best practice for schools to minimise discrimination and bullying
Presented by Shan Wilson, Partner, Simpson Grierson
9.45am to 10.30am: Supporting young people as they navigate challenges online
Young people are online and connected. Digital devices are a part of their everyday lives and the rapid uptake of digital technology in schools means schools are increasingly called on to support when challenges arise. This session will surface some of the risks, challenges and complexities young people face online and will provide an overview of current legislation around harmful online communications. It will also unpack a practical framework for responding, should a young person come to you with an online related issue.
Presented by Pauline Spence, Education Advisor, Netsafe
10.30am to 10.45am Morning Tea
10.45am to 11.30am: Understanding the Legal Requirements of Pastoral Care
Join Gretchen as she examines the Guidelines assisting New Zealand Secondary Schools and Wharekura in the Provision of Good Practice in Pastoral Care, Guidance and Counselling.
Presented by Gretchen Stone, Partner, Harrison Stone
11.30am to 12.15pm: Self-harm and Suicide Attempts: Risk Assessment
- Potential signs of distress in students
- Conducting a Strengths Based Risk Assessment
- Responding to different levels of risk
- What helplines can offer in the way of further support
Presented by Renee Mathews Clinical Manager, LifeLine Aeotearoa
Q&A with the Panel
Session 2
Managing Court Orders, Conflict and Privacy
1.30pm to 2.15pm: Sharing Information to Keep Students and Staff Safe
The Privacy Act recognises that agencies may need to share personal and health information to ensure the safety of data subjects or others, but it can be difficult to make the call on what exceptions apply when. Simply Privacy Director, Daimhin Warner, will explain how the Privacy Act has been drafted and interpreted to ensure that it does not create a barrier to keeping students and others safe.
- Taking a pragmatic and balanced approach to the Privacy Act
- The Escalation Ladder: A model to ensure appropriate data sharing about vulnerable children
- Sharing as a purpose for collection
- Preventing “serious threats”
- Reporting to, or cooperating with, law enforcement
- Impact of law reform on student privacy
Presented by Daimhin Warner, Director, Simply Privacy
2.15pm to 3.00pm: Family Conflict: Navigating Parent Separation, Family Court Orders and Protection Orders
- Parent Separation: rights to Information
- Agreements and Court Orders
- Protection Orders
- Writing Referrals or Reports
Presented by Ian Telford, Barrister, Quadrant Chambers
3.00pm to 3.15pm Afternoon Tea
3.15pm to 4.00pm: Preparing for Court Proceedings and Giving Evidence
- The basics of a court proceeding
- Exploring when a counsellor can be called to give evidence, including pursuant to a summons
- Giving a statement, including a statement involving police
- Understanding your duties to the court and to the student
- Examining your role as a witness:
- evidence-in-chief
- cross-examination
- witness as to facts and circumstances
- expert evidence
- Preparing for and dealing with cross-examination
Presented by Alex Winsley, Senior Solicitor, Simpson Grierson
4.00pm to 4.15pm: The School Guidance Counsellor Perspective: Group Discussion
Facilitated by Bev Weber, President, New Zealand Association of Counsellors
4.15pm Closing Comments by the Chair
Venue
Grand Mercure Auckland
Level 2, 8 Customs Street East
Auckland 1010
New Zealand