WORK CONTENT AND DESCRIPTION
I am gaining significant valuable
experience. I have worked with children before but working with disabled children
(both physically and mentally) poses a whole range of different challenges. From
learning how to communicate with them so they understand, to how to motivate them
to engage with the task in hand. I am also lucky enough to be working alongside
other allied health professionals, being Occupational therapists and Speech and
Language therapists so I am learning about their work here as well."Rebecca
Acheson
You'll assist in a unit that has a large number of children with physical disabilities
such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and mobility problems. You'll work alongside
and under the guidance of the current therapist at the unit, helping the children
with their disabilities.
ABOUT THE CENTRES:
The Inclusion Support Centres we work with are attached to the following schools:
Primary (for children aged 5-10 approx.), Intermediate (for children aged 10-12
approx.), and Secondary (for children aged 12-18 approx.). Here students with disabilities
can grow emotionally, socially and cognitively in a challenging and supportive environment
with maximum contact with their age peers. Many of the children at the unit are
wheelchair bound and require constant attention.
The Centres have a number of staff who work with the children, such as:
- Physiotherapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Speech Therapists
- Teachers
The staff and the parents work together to establish what the aims are for their
children and how the therapists can achieve them with the outcome of an individual
programme for each child. Where possible, the children will be integrated into the
mainstream schools to give them the opportunity to interact with their peers throughout
the school day while supported by special educated teachers, teacher aids and therapists
(Occupational, Physio and Speech Language Therapists).
The centres also boast a number of facilities, such as a gym which includes balancing
bars, treadmills, weights, stepper, Swiss balls, stationary cycles for the therapist
to work with.
The staff at the centre are incredibly friendly and welcoming people, true Kiwis!
You will be learning from qualified professionals who have a real passion and love
for what they do and they are very enthusiastic to share their knowledge and time
with those who truly want to learn. They are also very keen to demonstrate some
kiwi style hospitality so some post-work socialising will really make you feel like
one of the team!
ABOUT YOUR WORK:
You'll work as a teacher aid to the children and have the opportunity to shadow
the existing therapists who treat the children. You'll work under supervision alongside
other teacher aids and staff in groups or one-on-one with the students. You will
also get the chance to work with the children in a classroom environment and this
will give you additional experience in how to work with their disabilities and to
overcome these obstacles within education.
The units generally have around 30 children with a range of disabilities. Many of
the children at the units are wheelchair bound and require constant attention. The
children are split into 3 classes according to the severity of their disability.
This means that you can specialise in an area you are more interested in within
these classes.
Each child will have different problems that the therapists will be looking at, therefore
they will be creating individual programmes for each child, which could include
any or all of the following:
- Stretching,
- Positioning,
- Swiss ball work,
- Compression through the spine,
- Using standing frames,
- Looking at tone and posture,
- Massaging and maintaining good joints.
As a teacher aid, your main objectives are to enable special needs students to participate
as fully as possible in the education and daily living process.
Assisting children on the journey to independence: This includes
supporting pupils in academic and therapy programmes, in Eating, in Toileting, in
ensuring children are working in a safe, tidy and clean environment. You'll also
assist with supervising children in the playground.
Fulfilment of the primary objective involves accepting responsibility for completing
the following tasks:
- Following the individual timetable given.
- Supporting children in their activities as directed by the Centre Manager / Therapists
/ Class Teachers.
- Preparing, sorting, tidying and maintaining therapy / classroom / Centre resources
as directed by the Centre Manager / therapists.
- Attending meetings as directed and keeping records as directed by the Centre Manager
/ Therapists.
- Attending professional development sessions or courses as appropriate.
- Accompanying students on class outings as appropriate.
Previous graduates have found it to be an excellent experience which has enhanced
their learning and also made a great contribution to the centre. Volunteers work
in a class and with the teacher, specialists and other Teacher Aides in their collaborative
setting. Volunteers are expected to fulfil the same duties as other Teacher Aides
as directed by the teacher. Orientation and guidance is provided.
Please note this project is a teacher-aid rather than an internship - this is because
Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists must be New Zealand registered to be
able to carry out their professional role. This means that the Centre is unable
to offer formal supervision and formal teaching; therefore they are not able to
assign you to individual cases.
Previous volunteers have independently kept a log and completed self generated assignment
on their experience. The Centre also provides a reference and evidence of the hours
worked at the end of your placement.
PLEASE NOTE: We can only take one volunteer at a time on this project so we
strongly advise booking early.
PLACEMENT DATES AND WORKING TIMES:
You are likely to work between 8:30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m., Monday - Friday. The programme
is only available during the school times, which are as follows for 2015:
Term 1: 2nd Feb –2nd April
Term 2: 20th April – 3rd July
Term 3: 20th July – 25th Sep
Term 4: 12th Oct – 15th/18th Dec
The school dates for 2016 are:
Term 1: 1st Feb – 15th April (NB: No arrivals 8-11 Feb & 25-29 March)
Term 2: 2nd May – 8th July
Term 3: 25th July – 23rd Sep
Term 4: 10th Oct – 15th Dec
REQUIREMENTS: Anyone working with children and/or vulnerable adults
is required to complete a Criminal Records Check (CRC) as part of their application
process. We'll provide you with the necessary papers and take you through the process.