Social Workers in
Secondary Schools
Welcome to the
Social Workers
in Secondary
Schools
Presentation
for School Staff
My Name is:
• Insert name here
Introduction
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I would like to take 20 minutes of your
time to talk to you about SWiS in your
school:
What we do
How we do it
Who will benefit
How you can refer a young person
What is SWiS?
SWiS is:
• a free and confidential social work service for
young people in the school
• With the young person’s consent this can
involve their families and whānau
• Aimed at improving the social & educational
outcomes for high risk young people, in
collaboration with the school and local
community social services
Why have a social
worker in school?
• Most young people are seen regularly
at school
• Schools already focus on the young
person’s well being and development
• There is an existing social service
infrastructure to support the delivery
of services
Why have a social
worker in school?
• School staff know the young person
and if something is adversely
affecting them
• Difficulties can be identified early on
because school staff are likely to
know about the circumstances of the
young person and their family and
whānau
What do SWiS do?
• The SWiS service works with the
strengths of young people and their
families and whānau to achieve positive
outcomes These outcomes are:
• Young people engaged in their school
• Safe socialised young people with a
strong sense of well being
• Healthy young people
What do SWiS do?
We therefore work with young people to
help them:
• Achieve well-being & safety
• Support them to achieve a positive
transition to independence
• By building on the existing strengths
within the young person and their
family and whānau
How will the social
worker do this?
• Individual work with young people
• Work their families and whānau with
the young person’s consent
• Preventative group programmes
• Referral to other school and
community services, where required
How does SWiS
achieve this?
1. SWiS works in a voluntary and
confidential relationship with the young
person to help resolve or manage any
specific difficulties which could create
barriers to the young person’s academic
success and social well being
How does SWiS
achieve this?
2. SWiS provides young people and
their family and whānau with group
programmes to support their health,
well being and educational
achievement
How does SWiS
achieve this?
3. SWiS social workers are an
integral part of the school social
service hub and work closely with
these professionals.
SWiS social workers also network
with other community groups to
access the support for young people
which is most appropriate to their
needs.
Examples of how will the
social worker will work
• Link in with other social services within the school
to provide the most appropriate service
• Advocate for young people with the school and
other agencies, e.g. WINZ, HNZ
• Link young people and their family and whānau to
resources within their communities that can assist
them with any identified needs
• Develop plans/contracts to manage/improve
young people’s behaviour at home/school
• Co-ordinate services to young people and their
families and whānau
How you can help
make SWiS a
success
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Take time to become familiar with the
work we do
Promote the SWiS service and the group
programmes to the young people
Encourage and support young people to
access the SWiS social worker
How to make a
Referral to SWiS
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If you know of a young person or
family and whānau who could benefit
from SWiS, tell them about us and
give them a copy of the brochure in
their first language
The SWiS service is voluntary, so
encourage the young person to
approach the SWiS social worker
themselves
How to make a
Referral to SWiS
 Alternatively you could make a
referral yourself using the school’s
referral process
 Anyone can refer a young person to
the SWiS service. This includes the:
principal, teacher, RTLB, or any other
organisations working with the young
person
Summary
• We’re here to help young people
so that they can achieve at
school
• If you know of a young person
who could benefit from our help,
tell them about us or refer them
to us
Want more
Information?
Contact me:
Hand outs
Upon leaving this meeting you should
have copies of:
• The Information Leaflet for Secondary
School Staff
• The Information Leaflets for Young
People in different languages
• Referral forms for you to refer young
people to the SWiS service