PSA CONSULTATION WITH DECS 260606

The PSA met with DECS on Tuesday 20th June. The following issues were discussed:-

Members have raised concerns that there are some Job and Person Specifications being prepared which suggest that people have to work in areas with high workload and cope under pressure. The PSA view is that these requirements do not reflect a work environment which complies with occupational health and safety policy. DECS will refer our concerns to those preparing job and person specifications.

DECS will be waiting for recommendations from the SA Industrial Relations Commission before making any decisions regarding the PSA proposal to address the Guidance Officers' classification issues in the next enterprise agreement.

The PSA has been represented on a working party established to consider how the $10m Behaviour Management funding would be allocated.

The PSA has consistently raised concerns that the issues sites are keen to address in relation to behaviour management are priority issues for Guidance Officers and Social Workers in particular. These professionals have consistently raised concerns in relation to service delivery, particular since the realignment when the district structure was introduced and reduced the accessibility of these student services even further.

The PSA believe that Guidance Officers and Social Workers have the skills and experience to work with sites to address challenging behaviours. If sites use funding to buy in services this does not build the capacity of DECS to deal with issues and often the outsourced services are expensive and do not provide site solutions but deal specifically with individual students. If sites are having difficulties with behaviour management it maybe that the system needs to change so that all children, including those with complex needs have access to learning opportunities. DECS professional staff are the people best equipped to develop site strategies to deal with behaviour management issues.

Members have raised concerns that one of the districts had denied four staff's claim for mileage allowance when one departmental car was not used. Clearly only one person would have been able to use the car, so refusing claims for all staff was not appropriate. If members continue to have concerns with application for mileage allowance they should contact the PSA.

Social Workers continue to raise concerns in relation to their capacity within the current structure to provide the most effective social work service to sites. A specific committee may be established to discuss this matter.

DECS propose to move the West Group of Districts Family Day Care Office to the Enfield Primary School site. PSA members involved are very concerned about this move. The Enfield site would be inaccessible to a large percentage of the care providers and families serviced by this office. Family Day Care is currently facing further cuts by the Commonwealth Government, it is more important than ever that services be accessible so that more family day care providers can be recruited and trained.