Northern Health School Charter Goals and Targets

2013

Vision / Mission Statement
Inspired, Inter-connected, Innovative learners. / To enrich the learning of Northern Health School students.
Values
Commitment / To collaboratively facilitate innovative individual learning programmes.
Achievement / Of high level student outcomes and meaningful connection with others.
Respect / For culture and diversity in ourselves and others
Equity / Of opportunity for curriculum delivery and student achievement expectations.
NHS embraces the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Special Character Statement
Northern Health School (NHS) is governed by a Ministerially appointed Board of Trustees to provide education for school aged students unable to attend their school of enrolment due to serious illness. Students are admitted, to the NHS roll and remain enrolled at their School of Enrolment (SE) which retains funding and responsibility for these students under the Education Act. Students admitted to the roll of NHS are included in their school of enrolment’s curriculum reporting, linked to their in-school cohort.
NHS teachers provide education programmes to students from years 1 to 13 in hospitals, support centres, homes and other suitable environments. An individual learning plan (ILP) is developed in association with the student’s regular school, medical teams, caregivers and other interested parties. Full curriculum coverage will not be appropriate for most students. The focus is on the student’s education progress and transition to school, employment or tertiary study, while taking into account relevant health factors.
Students are mostly admitted to Northern Health School. They remain enrolled at their regular school. It is the responsibility of the school at which the individual children are enrolled to report on their progress and achievement in relation to National Standards or Ngā Whanaketanga Rumaki Māori. The NHS teachers do however provide assessment information as requested by the regular school in order for the regular school to meet the requirements. The Individualised Planning process is the conduit for the information sharing.
The ILP is the base for reporting on student progress to students, parents and the regular school. Aggregated information is prepared for the Northern Health School Board of Trustees. As health conditions and time on the roll vary greatly, it is not possible for NHS to report on progress in relation to a school-wide age or year level cohort. NHS measures student progress against the achievement of their individual ILP curriculum goals.
The Northern Health School aims to provide programmes that reflect and include Te Reo Maori and Tikanga Maori, and which include reference to new Zealand’s unique cultural heritage and diversity.
The school’s community, including Maori families, is consulted at an individual family level, through the ILP process. Individual goals and programmes are agreed that meet the needs of the student, educationally, culturally and in terms of their illness.
NHS staff participate in professional development, including The Kahikitea programme to increase their awareness and skill in making programmes of work and their delivery culturally appropriate.
Where students have been instructed in Te Reo Maori at their school of enrolment, NHS staff will take all reasonable steps to facilitate this. These steps may include the use of programmes provided by Te Kura (the Correspondence School) and resources from the student’s school of enrolment.
NHs employs staff with specific responsibility for this area.
Strategic Area: Governance NAG 2.
Key Strategic Three year Goal:
The Board supports the staff in the provision of high quality learning outcomes for all students
Long Term Goal 1
Relationships with MoE are maintained or improved
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Review the Health School Guidelines with the Ministry / Principal / Annually / Regular discussions have been held with our MoE liaison person regarding the Guidelines and their interpretation as part of the Principals and Chairs meetings.
Long Term Goal 2
Self review information is collected and results used to improve performance
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Conduct Biennial staff survey / Board and Principal / 2014 Term 2
2016 Term 2
Conduct a self-review of Board performance / Board and Principal / 2013 Term 3 / November. Draft review constructed. / Dec. Review survey developed and results to be analysed for Feb meeting.
2015 Term 3
Conduct leadership effectiveness review / Board and Principal / 2013 Term 2 / March: preparatory work with senior staff completed.
May: Survey completed and report presented to the Board
June: results shared with individual SMT members / Survey completed, results analysed and presented in total to the Board and to staff, shared individually with Management team.
2016 Term 4
Review and update parent, student and SE surveys / Board and Principal / Term 1 2013 / Surveys created in SurveyMonkey and now in use.
Continue to conduct research projects related to best practice. / Board and Principal / Ongoing, reported Dec 2013 / March: Research team established and research planning under way.
April. Request for Board ethics membership. / Research projects completed and shared with Board and staff. Final reports available on the school website.
Use 2012 research findings to inform practice / Board / Term 1 2013 / March: Research finding from 2012 shared and discussed with staff in regional Principal meetings
June: NCEA results shared in regional Principal meetings with staff.
Research findings discussed with NHS teams and presented to the Board.
Include questions on awareness in surveys and establish a baseline of awareness / Board and Principal / Term 1 2013 / June: awareness questions included in the surveys.
Operational Targets
Targets 2013 / Overall staff satisfaction better than 90% / Target met
Overall leadership effectiveness better than 80% / Target met
Long Term Goal 3
Plan strategically for the school’s future
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Review Vision, Mission Statement and Values with input from staff, students and the community / Board and Principal / 2012 and 2015
Prepare and review Charter and annual plan. / Board and Principal / Term 3 annually / October: discussions commenced with staff regarding 2014 Charter. / Input from staff used to prepare a 2014 Charter for final Board approval at December meeting.
Analyse self review and community consultation information from staff, parent, students and School of enrolment consultation and surveys / Board and Principal / Term 3 annually / Reports presented at December meeting.
Targets 2013
Long Term Goal 4
Awareness of our school’s services increased.
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Conduct presentations with clusters of schools and interest groups / Principal and DP / To coincide with Unit openings and as opportunities arise / August: Have met with all CAMHS teams across the school area.
November Board meeting held in Taupo alongside Unit opening.
Several local meetings and presentations conducted by Unit leaders.
Identify under-represented schools for targeted awareness raising. / Principal and senior staff / Ongoing, reported Dec 2013 / August: Principals Unit discussions targeting under represented schools. / Local team leaders have identified local schools and targeted appropriate people to target within these schools.
Conduct Board meetings in different NHS Units and invite local stakeholders. / Board / Twice in 2013 / September: plan for Taupo opening and Board meeting prepared / April: meeting held in South Auckland Unit.
November meeting held in Taupo.
Publish Strategic Goals throughout the school. / Principal / Term 1 annually / June: draft poster prepared. / August: poster versions developed and displayed in all NHS Units
Operational Targets
Targets 2013
Long Term Goal 5
Staff and the community are informed and aware of the school’s strategic direction
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Publish Charter in all Units and on line. / Board and Principal / 2014 Term 2
2016 Term 2
Feature the values, Mission and Vision in communications. / Board and Principal / 2013 Term 3 / June: SMT agendas follow charter goal format. / Principal regional discussions have included Charter values and mission statement links. Whole school PD has focused on these areas as well.
2015 Term 3
Improve Board feedback from meetings to staff and community. / Board and Principal / 2014 Term 4
2016 Term 4
Strategic Area: Cultural NAGs 1, 2
Key Strategic Three year Goal:
Maori and Pasifika achievement is at least as high as achievement from other ethnic groups.
Long Term Goal 1
Maori and Pasifika Staff recruited
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Recruit staff with appropriate qualifications through community consultation / Principal / Ongoing, reported Dec 2013 / September: permanent and Fixed term positions advertised for 2014. / All Units will start 2014 at 80% permanent staffing. A balance of curriculum skill and pastoral care has been used in all appointment processes.
Long Term Goal 2
A balance of Board members maintained
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Review the balance of members and co-opt as necessary. / Board / September / March: review of skills completed and communicated with Ministry.
August: discussions at combined BOT chairs and Principals meeting Wellington regarding Student representation on the Board. / The Board have discussed the Ministry recommendations for representation and have reviewed the current Board composition.
Operational Targets
Targets 2013 / There is a balance of ethnicity within the Board / Target met
There is a gender balance within the Board / Target met
The Board contains a range of experience and skill / Target met
Long Term Goal 3
Maori and Pasifika awareness of NHS is raised
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Investigate admissions with medical teams / Principal / Ongoing, reported Dec 2013 / April: mental health discussions undertaken in Auckland and Hamilton.
August: Discussions held in all parts of the school through CAMHS teams.
Identify key Maori and Pasifika leaders for consultation / Principal / Ongoing, reported Dec 2013 / Local Iwi have been identified by several of the Units and for special events such as the Unit opening in Taupo.
Meet with local cultural groups / Board and Principal / Ongoing, reported Dec 2013 / Local meetings have been held by several Unit teams and local links established.
Through targeted research, establish the extent to which NHS is meeting the needs of Maori students. / SMT / Dec 2013 / June: NCEA results used to establish Maori effectiveness of programmes.
Long Term Goal 4
Learning needs for each student are met in a culturally appropriate manner
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Develop staff ability to work in culturally appropriate ways / Principal and DP / Ongoing, reported Dec 2013 / PD in this area has been led by 2 MU holders and this has continued through whole school PD in 2013.
Develop resources for staff working with Maori and Pasifika students. / Principal and senior staff / Ongoing, reported Dec 2013 / June: Regular information and weekly updates sent to all staff. / MU holders have added to and updated the resources available on Moodle. This includes resources in Te Reo.
Strategic Area: Staff NAG 3.
Key Strategic Three year Goal:
Staff contribute to the cultural and achievement needs of our students.
Long Term Goal 1
National and International relationships maintained and extended.
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Continue professional development and dialogue with national and international clusters of health schools / Principal and DP / On-going, reported Dec 2013 / September: HELP conference attendance by 6 NHS staff. / A team of 6 staff attended and presented at the HELP conference in Australia. The school is represented on the HELP executive by the principal as chair. The school has participated in international research from Australia and the EU.
Selected staff present at and participate in HELP conference / Principal and DP / November 2013 / March: abstracts received from 5 NHS staff and submitted to HELP selection panel. / May: 4 staff abstracts accepted for HELP and a 5th senior staff member booked for the conference
Long Term Goal 2
The school is staffed in a flexible and effective way
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Review and maintain the balance of permanent staff at each Unit in relation to changes in roll numbers / Principal and DP / Term 3 2013 / May: Permanent part time position advertised in Rotorua.
August: permanent position advertised in YTP. / Review and recruitment of permanent staff to bring all Units up to minimum of 80% permanent starting staffing for 2014.
Recruit permanent staff where necessary. / Principal and DP / On-going, reported Dec 2013 / June: Rotorua permanent staff member recruited.
August: permanent position in YTP appointed. / Permanent staff appointments have been made across the school to reflect the needs of the individual teams as well as the needs of the school as a whole.
Identify relief staff prepared to work flexibly. / Principal and DP / On-going, reported Dec 2013 / The management team have each identified such staff and refined their systems of deployment.
Operational Targets
Targets 2013 / The school is flexibly staffed / Case load and roll numbers have been consistent and the school has been able to respond to roll changes.
The school operates within its staffing entitlement / Novopay data uncertain so we cannot be sure that this target has been met.
Long Term Goal 3
Staff have the specific knowledge and skill required
Planned actions / Led by / Timeframe / Progress / Result Achieved
Identify curriculum needs in Units before recruitment of new staff / Principal and DP / As appointments are required / April: curriculum needs used to shortlist for Tauranga team position.
May: Maths and Science identified for the Rotorua position.
September: Curriculum balance within units used to advertise and appoint staff across the school for 2014. / All application processes have included the identification of curriculum needs and have been advertised accordingly.
Increase the range of subject expertise across the school. / Principal and DP / On-going, reported Dec 2013 / May: science and maths expertise recruited in Tauranga. / Maths, Science and English skills have been the focus of new appointments. Assisting existing staff to increase their subject skills has been the focus of a lot of PD this year.