professionalism and you

Professionalism and Professionalism and YouYou

OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES - “- “Professionalism and You”Professionalism and You”

Introduce and initiate discussion on the Introduce and initiate discussion on the Child Child Protection Code of Professional Standards for Protection Code of Professional Standards for Catholic School EmployeesCatholic School Employees

Clarify the parameters of appropriate and Clarify the parameters of appropriate and inappropriate conduct for employees who work inappropriate conduct for employees who work in child-related employmentin child-related employment

What do we mean by What do we mean by ‘professionalism’ ‘professionalism’

in Catholic schools?in Catholic schools? Acting in a manner that is ethical and equitableActing in a manner that is ethical and equitable

Upholding the core values of the Catholic schoolUpholding the core values of the Catholic school

Providing safe and nurturing environments Providing safe and nurturing environments within the school communitywithin the school community

Recognising the significance of the role of Recognising the significance of the role of teachers and those who support themteachers and those who support them

Striving for quality in our work at schoolStriving for quality in our work at school

Fulfilling responsibilities within our rolesFulfilling responsibilities within our roles

What are What are Professional Standards?Professional Standards?

A description of what staff and the community A description of what staff and the community expect all child-related employees to know, expect all child-related employees to know, understand and be able to dounderstand and be able to do

A straightforward guide of do’s and don’ts to A straightforward guide of do’s and don’ts to assist staff to conduct their work effectively and assist staff to conduct their work effectively and professionallyprofessionally

A means of promoting a culture of awareness A means of promoting a culture of awareness where inappropriate or risky behaviours can be where inappropriate or risky behaviours can be detected at an early stagedetected at an early stage

To help build the To help build the arena of safety arena of safety for allfor all

““Child Protection Child Protection Code of Professional Code of Professional

Standards for Standards for Employees in Employees in

Catholic Schools”Catholic Schools”

CONTEXTCONTEXT

The ‘Code’ has been developed as a a result of The ‘Code’ has been developed as a a result of amendments to Child Protection Legislationamendments to Child Protection Legislation

It consolidates previously distributed policy and It consolidates previously distributed policy and practicepractice

It is consistent with the philosophy and It is consistent with the philosophy and requirements of the -requirements of the -

Institute of TeachersInstitute of Teachers Board of Studies School RegistrationBoard of Studies School Registration

Professional Relationships – Scenario 1Professional Relationships – Scenario 1

• A student is experiencing personal difficulties at home.A student is experiencing personal difficulties at home.

• Teacher has contact with the student at school and is Teacher has contact with the student at school and is attempting to support according to Pastoral Care policy.attempting to support according to Pastoral Care policy.

• Student emails teacher via internal school email about some Student emails teacher via internal school email about some homework and includes a personal question about family homework and includes a personal question about family difficulties.difficulties.

• Teacher speaks to the coordinator, who says they will follow it Teacher speaks to the coordinator, who says they will follow it up.up.

• Student sends 2Student sends 2ndnd email and the teacher responds, sympathising email and the teacher responds, sympathising with the student’s situation and disclosing personal information with the student’s situation and disclosing personal information about the teacher.about the teacher.

• Teacher becomes so concerned about the student that they give Teacher becomes so concerned about the student that they give student their personal mobile number for emergency purposes.student their personal mobile number for emergency purposes.

• Student phones the teacher on the weekend, very distressed Student phones the teacher on the weekend, very distressed and the teacher agrees to meet with the student.and the teacher agrees to meet with the student.

• Another parent from the school sees the teacher & student Another parent from the school sees the teacher & student laughing and talking in a café and reports this as inappropriate.laughing and talking in a café and reports this as inappropriate.


• Was there a breach of professional standards?Was there a breach of professional standards?

• When did the breach occur?When did the breach occur?

• How could the parent perceive what they saw?How could the parent perceive what they saw?

• What would you advise the teacher to do What would you advise the teacher to do differently?differently?


• After a school sports carnival a student misses the bus After a school sports carnival a student misses the bus home. The only teacher left offers to drive the student home, home. The only teacher left offers to drive the student home, as it is in the same direction as the teacher’s home.as it is in the same direction as the teacher’s home.

• The teacher informs the Principal the next day. The Principal The teacher informs the Principal the next day. The Principal makes a record and advises the teacher not to transport a makes a record and advises the teacher not to transport a student home in the future.student home in the future.

• 2 weeks later the same student misses the bus. The Principal 2 weeks later the same student misses the bus. The Principal is out of the school and the teacher decides to drive the is out of the school and the teacher decides to drive the student in their car to a bus stop 3km away to catch another student in their car to a bus stop 3km away to catch another bus.bus.

• The teacher decides not to inform the Principal about this.The teacher decides not to inform the Principal about this.

• Shortly after the teacher sees this student walking home and Shortly after the teacher sees this student walking home and is concerned for the safety of the child, and offers to drive the is concerned for the safety of the child, and offers to drive the student home and purchases a meal for the student from student home and purchases a meal for the student from McDonalds on the way.McDonalds on the way.


• What would you do if this teacher was a colleague What would you do if this teacher was a colleague of yours & you witnessed his/her actions?of yours & you witnessed his/her actions?


• When did the breach occur?When did the breach occur?



A teacher walks out onto the playground and witnesses 2 A teacher walks out onto the playground and witnesses 2 students yelling and threatening each other.students yelling and threatening each other.

• The teacher ignores the situation initially and continues on The teacher ignores the situation initially and continues on duty in another part of the playground.duty in another part of the playground.

• The teacher turns around and sees the 2 students physically The teacher turns around and sees the 2 students physically fighting with each other.fighting with each other.

• The teacher comes over and separates the students by The teacher comes over and separates the students by grabbing the arm of one of the students and as the child grabbing the arm of one of the students and as the child struggles to get away the teacher pulls that student into a struggles to get away the teacher pulls that student into a head lock. head lock.

• The teacher admonishes the student while maintaining this The teacher admonishes the student while maintaining this restraint for a few minutes.restraint for a few minutes.


• What would be the Duty of Care obligations for What would be the Duty of Care obligations for this teacher?this teacher?


• If the teacher had verbally instructed the If the teacher had verbally instructed the students and been ignored, would the actions students and been ignored, would the actions of the teacher have been appropriate?of the teacher have been appropriate?


The School Assistant (SA) frequently tells students that their The School Assistant (SA) frequently tells students that their actions are ‘actions are ‘stupidstupid’ and they should ‘’ and they should ‘get back to kindergartenget back to kindergarten’. ’. Most students do not seem to react to these comments.Most students do not seem to react to these comments.

The SA is frustrated by the bad behaviour of some students and The SA is frustrated by the bad behaviour of some students and speaks to these students with her hands clenched and in a speaks to these students with her hands clenched and in a hostile tone. This makes many of her comments appear to be hostile tone. This makes many of her comments appear to be aggressive and intimidating. aggressive and intimidating.

One particularly challenging student starts throwing paper One particularly challenging student starts throwing paper around in a small group lesson with the SA.around in a small group lesson with the SA.

The SA has asked him to stop, but he continues. She then says The SA has asked him to stop, but he continues. She then says ““No one can understand how your poor mother puts up with No one can understand how your poor mother puts up with youyou”, “”, “You are constantly being badYou are constantly being bad” “” “You must send your You must send your Mum crazyMum crazy”. The SA continues with this type of personal ”. The SA continues with this type of personal comment towards the student on and off for the remainder of comment towards the student on and off for the remainder of the lesson.the lesson.



• WouldWould there be a level of student behaviour there be a level of student behaviour that might warrant comments like this ?that might warrant comments like this ?

• How might you support a colleague whom you How might you support a colleague whom you knew was in this situation?knew was in this situation?

OVERALL we need to … OVERALL we need to …

Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all studentsRespect the rights, dignity and worth of all students

Take notice of our words and Take notice of our words and ACTionsACTions

AND IMPORTANTLYAND IMPORTANTLY

the the REactionsREactions that students have to them that students have to them

Raise concerns and significant issues with the Raise concerns and significant issues with the PrincipalPrincipal

professionalism and you

Documents