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At Home at School

 

 

Lorraine Florian keeps a jar of buttons on her desk. Believe it or not, they’re an essential part of her job as a social worker for nearly 800 students at One Tree Hill College.

 

Lorraine says her role is to help take away the barriers that prevent young people learning and being happy at school. That may include big issues like abuse, dysfunctional family relationships and addictive behaviours. Or it might be something as small as a missing button on a uniform – and no one at home to sew it back on.

 

Family Works employs Lorraine under the MASSISS scheme – Multi Agency Social Services in Secondary Schools. The team at One Tree Hill College includes guidance counsellors, a nurse and resource teachers for learning and behaviour. They collaborate with whanau leaders (deans) and others in senior management to provide essential support for troubled students.

 

If a new student is not settling in, for instance, Lorraine may discover an unstable family background and a history of drifting from one school to the next. If there are signs of bullying or conflict with staff, she will be quick to use the ‘Restorative Room’ to involve everyone in a mediation process. She may be called on to support students at family group conferences, or refer individuals to other agencies.

 

“I just love working with adolescents and the challenge that brings at a time in their lives when they’re forming their own independence and opinions. My previous role (with CYFs) was all about crisis intervention. Here you can work with students long-term and see them find their niche, achieve and come out the other end. It gives me great satisfaction.”

 

Lorraine often goes the extra mile, dealing with those little things that can make all the difference to a young person’s sense of belonging and well-being. She picks up leftover bread from a local bakery to give to students who come to school hungry next day. She recycles uniforms and joins parents sewing costumes for pasifika or drama productions. She takes students to get prescription glasses, others to buy soccer boots. Recently she applied for funds on behalf of 12 students who had lost a parent through sickness or accident.

 

Deputy Principal Nick Coughlan says Lorraine is a huge asset to the school and the students.

 

“She works tirelessly for their welfare and supports them with amazing levels of compassion and generosity. Lorraine is very well known in our community and has connections into most families. She is incredibly well respected.”

 

Such dedication, and the fact that Lorraine has been at the school for 14 years, earned her a ‘staff person of the year’ award from her colleagues last year. So far though, she’s been too busy to use the prize – vouchers for a luxury weekend away.

 

-ENDS-

 

For more information:

 

Rachel McQuerry

Communication & Marketing Advisor

Presbyterian Support Northern

Ph: 09 520 8622

Mob: 027 210 8616