Best Practice Guidelines for Registered Psychologists working in
Independent Schools
Preamble
One of the features of independent schools is that they not only seek to provide high quality
academic programs but also place a considerable emphasis on the overall wellbeing of the students
enrolled. These features include highly developed pastoral care /student support programs which
are designed to cater for a wide range of issues affecting student wellbeing and functioning at
school, and are additional to the general duty of care that a school owes to the students in their
care. Psychologists employed in schools play an important role in the pastoral care / student support
function of a school in collaboration with other members of the school's professional staff. In many
instances, they are also integral to the School’s ability to exercise its duty of care, and protection
from legal liability.
Psychologist subscribe to the Code of Ethics of the Australian Psychological Society which has been
approved by the Psychology Board of Australia and are bound by that Code. It has been suggested
that this Code does not permit disclosure of information to the principal of the Schools which has
been obtained by a school psychologist from students at the school. This is not correct. The Code
contemplates that disclosure can be made with 'consent of the relevant client or a person with legal
authority to act on behalf of the client’. It also provides that confidential information can be
disclosed where there is a legal obligation to do so.
Students should be advised that when they see the school psychologist that there are limits on that
confidentiality. In these circumstances if the school principal gives the registered psychologist an
instruction to provide him or her with information there is an obligation to do so and the Code will
not prevent this. As an employee of the school, the school psychologist reports directly to the
Principal of the School or his/her delegate, who together with the school's governing body, is
responsible for the operation of the school. Therefore, and acknowledging the above dichotomy, a
close and trusting working relationship is needed between the psychologist and the Principal. This
Best Practice Guideline outlines the role of the school psychologists in independent schools. It sets
out the requirements and expectations in relation to confidentiality and information sharing in
accordance with relevant federal and state legislation, the AHPRA code of Ethics and school
communication protocol.
Student support / pastoral care processes and the referral and communication systems involved
must be well understood by staff and students, and communicated clearly to parents.
Confidentiality
The school’s primary responsibility is the education and wellbeing of its students. Every employee
working with students has a responsibility to be alert to the needs of students and to refer any
concerns about a student’s welfare and wellbeing to the appropriate person as outlined in the
school's Communication Protocol (see below).
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The effective management of students in the school’s care requires collaboration with parents and
regular and appropriate communication between the staff responsible for the pastoral care/ support
and well being of students as needed, and depending on the circumstances.
Students may themselves seek a meeting with the psychologist, or may be referred by staff or at the
request of parents. Some issues may be considered by a school to be more appropriately dealt with
by a member of the teaching staff rather than the psychologist. On other occasions a member of the
teaching staff may consider an issue better dealt with by the psychologist. Collaboration and
appropriate communication between all stakeholders (psychologists, teachers, parents, senior staff,
students and other service providers) will usually provide the best outcomes for student wellbeing
and school functioning.
Issues raised by students with a psychologist should be treated as confidential by the psychologist as
best practice, unless there are issues of immediate concern that may include, danger to self or
others, a requirement to notify abuse, or court subpoena. Other members of the school staff may
need to be informed about a student’s circumstances to ensure the school’s duty of care (for
example, when a student feels bullied or has an eating disorder). Information must be shared on a
need to know basis or as determined by the Principal, and all other staff are required to maintain
confidentiality under privacy laws and, again, as a matter of best practice.
Students must be made aware that the psychologist cannot guarantee total confidentiality of
discussions they have with students. It is a requirement that school psychologists ensure that
confidentiality limits are clearly explained and understood by students at the commencement of
counselling. This must include the requirement to breach confidentiality when required to by law or
by the Principal, and presage the need for communication with others where necessary and
appropriate.
Depending on the issue and the age of the student, involvement from parents/guardians/carers may
be preferable or necessary. However, where there is a concern for the immediate safety or
wellbeing of a student or others, then the school and its staff must act in the child’s best interest,
which may override any need for parental consent prior to an intervention. Students or parents may
also request that information be shared with others, where they have a legal right to do so.
School psychologists may be required to share necessary information with other school staff. This
most often involves briefing senior staff for required action on significant issues affecting the
education, health, welfare or wellbeing of the student. The greater the confidentiality of the issue
the greater the need to limit access to that information, and it is important that other staff
understand their requirements to maintain the privacy of student and family information. This may
in some cases, even include the information that the student is seeing the Psychologist.
All school staff should have an understanding of the “need to know” principle, and information
should not be shared with others who are not required to take direct action on an issue. In matters
of an extremely confidential nature it may be that only the psychologist and the Principal and
his/her delegate will be aware of an issue.
Duty of Care and Duty to Warn: Where there is real and immediate danger to the student or another
person the psychologist must ensure that the Principal is informed immediately. In consultation with
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the Principal, there may also be a duty to share necessary information with others, such as the
child’s parents, guardians, carers or police.
In accordance with the school’s Student Wellbeing Policy the psychologist will usually brief the
Principal and his/her delegate weekly in relation to their counselling caseload, with a particular focus
on students at risk. The depth of information provided will be determined between the Principal and
the psychologist depending on the circumstances in each case. (see Attachment 2 - Weekly Briefing
Template). With particularly serious issues, it may be necessary to meet with the Principal outside
of the weekly briefings.
The Student’s Counselling File
Counselling files should be managed in accordance with the relevant health and privacy legislation.
School psychologists are employees of the School and therefore must obey any instruction to
provide the Principal with access to counselling files upon his/her request.
Counselling files must be stored securely and separate to the student’s general school file whether in
hard or soft copy form. Access to the psychology files must be restricted to the psychologist and the
Principal where necessary and appropriate.
Communication Protocol
[Note: this protocol is an example only. Schools should insert their Communication Protocol]
Students are referred to the psychologist through the nominated staff member (this may include
the Deputy Head and Head of Junior and Middle School) [Referral protocols are a matter for
individual schools to determine according to their requirements]
Any concerns about the wellbeing of a student will be referred by whoever notes that concern to the
nominated staff member in the relevant school who will determine whether or not to refer to the
psychologist, and what communication is required to other staff members to ensure a
comprehensive pastoral care / student support and well-being approach. Requests by parents for
the intervention of the psychologist should be made through the nominated staff member. The
psychologist should direct the parent to the nominated staff member if a parent approaches them
directly to request counselling for their child.
Students who refer themselves, or are referred by peers to the psychologist will be evaluated as
soon as possible and the nominated staff member notified, unless there are exceptional
circumstances. If the student is deemed by the psychologist to be at risk (issues such as friendship
issues or minor disagreements with friends should be referred to the nominated staff member) the
psychologist will spend an appropriate time with the student and then confer with the nominated
staff member.
Staff may consult with the psychologist for advice on student issues or student management from
time to time, however the psychologist should only undertake intervention with a student through
the appropriate referral protocol.
Regular and open communication must be balanced with privacy and confidentiality requirements
for the effective management of students in the school’s care.
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The psychologist may be required to attend regular scheduled meetings about the pastoral care of
students. These may include, but are not limited to:
-
A weekly briefing with Principal and/or his/her delegate
Fortnightly meetings with the Year Coordinators highlighting students at risk or worthy of
particular mention.
They should also attend:
-
Any meetings between the school and parents about students on their caseload, as
requested.
Case meetings, planning meetings and other school based meetings where interventions and
student management are discussed.
Case meetings and meetings with external service providers as needed.
Meetings regarding individual student behaviour, including re-entry meetings for students
on suspension, or other behavioural issues, including bullying.
The psychologist may be required to attend pre and post enrolment interviews with students who
have a history of serious mental health or behavioural issues. In such cases the psychologist may
facilitate the provision of medical and health information from previous health and welfare
providers such as the previous school’s psychologist.
Attachment 1 – Disclosure Statement
Attachment 2 – Weekly Briefing Template
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