There are particular challenges in managing staff who seem to suffer from undiagnosed poor mental health and who also are performing poorly. Understanding which process to follow can be confusing and unsettling for the manager and for the staff member.
This course is a focus on the professionals who are involved in these claims including psychologists, psychiatrists and barristers. Participants can expect to acquire knowledge of what constitutes ‘reasonable management action’ can be ‘taken in a reasonable way’.
The major learning activity will be to view videos of a clinical psychologist and a barrister who relay their experience with stress related work cover claims. The final topic addresses tips and traps on how to manage scenarios where there is an overlap between poor performance and suspected mental health concerns. Course participants will undertake quizzes to consolidate learning and serve as evidence in meeting Australian standards.
At the conclusion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Recognise work related mental stress (physical mental or emotional)
- Understand the role of psychologists, psychiatrists and lawyers in stress related work cover claims
- Learn what constitutes reasonable management action taken in a reasonable way
- Recognise the tips and traps when managing matters when there is an overlap between poor mental health and unsatisfactory performance at work.
- Identify warning signs of psychological injury
The course is self-paced and shall be completed within a six-week period. The course content enables staff to meet goals in accordance with their Annual Performance Review and gather evidence to support the following Standards:
Australian Professional Standard for Principals (Leadership: Leading teaching and learning – Developing self and others – Leading improvement, innovation, and change – Leading the management of the school – Engaging and working with the community) (Professional Practices: Leading teaching and learning – Developing self and others – Leading improvement, innovation, and change – Leading the management of the school – Engaging and working with the community)
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (6. Engage in professional learning: 6.1 Identify and plan professional learning needs – 6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice – 6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice) (7. Engage professionally with colleagues, parents, carers, and the community: 7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities – 7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative, and organisational requirements – 7.4 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities)
The course includes:
- Lesson 1 – Introduction (Course Design and Self-Reflection)
- Lesson 2 – Topic A (Mental health and the workplace)
- Lesson 3 – Topic B (Reasonable management action taken in ‘a reasonable way’)
- Lesson 4 – Topic C (Managing mental health and performance)
- Lesson 5 – Reflection and Personalised Practice
The course includes:
- Topic A – Mental health and the workplace
- Concerning statistics for educators
- A clinical psychologists overview of the role of mental health professionals and purpose of the DSM 5
- Topic B – Reasonable management action’ taken in ‘a reasonable way’
- The Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 and psychiatric and psychological injury
- A barrister’s view on stress related work cover claims
- Reasonable management action’ defined
- Onus of proof and a mere blemish
- Examination of a school-based scenario that ended up in court
- Topic C – Managing mental health and performance
- What are the warning signs of psychological injury?
- Managing characteristic behaviours caused by a disability
- A strategy for managing mental health concerns
- Tricky scenarios involving mental health
The course includes:
- Video 1 – Dr Stuckings – Psychologist v Psychiatrist
- Video 2 – Dr Stuckings – Stress claims/ DSM Five
- Video 3 – Mr Nielsen (Barrister) – Making a workcover claim
- Video 4 – Mr Nielsen (Barrister) – Non-related work stress
- Video 5 – Mr Nielsen (Barrister) – Onus of proof – mere blemish
The course includes:
- Quiz 1 – Reflection on your knowledge of conflict
- Quiz 2 – Mental health and the workplace
- Quiz 3 – ‘Reasonable management action’ taken ‘in a reasonable way’
- Quiz 4 – Strategies for managing mental health concerns and incidents
- Quiz 5 – Reflection and Personalised Practice