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Psychological Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2012

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Ceisteanna (110)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

107 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondary schools covered by the national educational psychological service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6092/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy will be aware that primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Any school that does not have a NEPS psychologist assigned to it may avail of the SCPA, whereby it can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved and paid for by NEPS. In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS encourages a staged assessment process, whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention, in consultation with its assigned NEPS psychologist. Only if there is a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts, will a student be referred for individual psychological assessment. This system allows the psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and help many more students indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures students are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.

In late 2010, NEPS outlined its approach in this regard in its publication, A Continuum of Support for Post-Primary Schools, which demonstrates the process from whole school interventions to more specialised and individual interventions. These guidelines describe a graduated problem-solving model of assessment and intervention in schools and comprise three distinct school based processes. The first process, Support for All, is a process of prevention, effective mainstream teaching and early identification. This is available to all students and effectively meets the needs of most students. The second process, School Support (for Some), is an assessment and intervention process which is directed to some students or groups of students who require some additional input. The third process, School Support Plus (for a Few), is generally characterised by more intensive and individualised supports. This level of intervention is for students with complex and/or enduring needs. Relatively few students will need this level of support.

Since the production of these guidelines, NEPS psychologists have offered information seminars to all post-primary principals. That process is nearing completion. It has also had preparatory engagement with individual schools to embed the continuum in each school's practice. The continuum model recognises that pupils present with a wide range of issues and difficulties and allows for their amelioration through intervention at the level most appropriate to the particular need. Currently, NEPS psychologists are assigned to some 615 recognised second level schools, or 93% of the sector's enrolment. Services are also provided to an additional 38 schools through the psychological services of the City and County Dublin VECs. The remaining 46 schools receive assessment services via the SCPA scheme that has been described. NEPS psychologists process applications from all post-primary schools for reasonable accommodations in the leaving certificate examination for students with specific learning disabilities on behalf of State Examinations Commission. It is estimated that applications in respect of over 4,500 pupils will be processed in this regard in the current academic year.

NEPS provides assistance to all schools that experience critical incidents, regardless of whether they have a NEPS psychologist assigned to them. The incidents themselves generally arise because of death through illness, road accident or sometimes suicide of a pupil or school staff member. In the event of a critical incident within a school, NEPS is proactive in offering support to the school community in accordance with its needs. During 2008, NEPS provided all schools with updated advisory material and support to assist them in preparing a critical incident management plan in order that they might better cope with the challenges such unexpected events can present. At a more general level, NEPS psychologists provide a range of supports to school authorities and communities, including the promotion of positive mental health among the general student body and assistance in supporting pupils with particular social emotional or behavioural difficulties. NEPS actively promotes and supports the development of student support structures in schools, which includes the development of contact and collaboration with the relevant local HSE mental health agencies, including the Community Psychology Services and Mental Health Promotion Officers and the referral services of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

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