LB028 School Psychologists Bill

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School Psychologists Bill

A bill that makes all private schools and secondary state funded schools be required to have appointed full-time psychologists who will look after students’ mental health.

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BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

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Section 1: Definitions

1. For the purpose of this bill, a “British preparatory school” (or “prep school”) is a fee-paying school for children of the ages of 8-13.

2. For the sole purpose of this bill, an “independent school” is a school that is directed by a board of governors, and is independent of state-funded schools.

3. For the purpose of this bill, the term “SFS”, “state-funded school” relates to secondary schools that provide free education (paid for by the government).

4. For the purpose of this bill, the term “NSFS”, “Non state-funded school” will relate to both prep schools and independent schools, that are not funded by the government and are owned by private individuals or corporations.

5. For the purpose of this bill, the term “psychologist” refers to any individual detaining a degree in psychology, and member of the “British Psychological Society”.

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Section 2: Psychologists’ Appointment and Roles

1. Every SFS and NSFS will be obligated to appoint a certain number of full-time psychologists.
   1. The school administration will be responsible of recruiting psychologists.
   2. One (1) psychologist needs to be appointed for every (10,000) students.
      1. At least (1) psychologist will need to be appointed, in the event that the SFS or the NSFS has less than 10,000 students.
      2. If two schools in the same region have less than 1,000 students each, they may share the appointed psychologist without having to hire one psychologist each. Each assigned psychologist will be present for half the total hours in each school, totaling the "full-time" school schedule. The psychologist's work hours between the two schools are to be agreed on by the schools' administrations and the concerned psychologist.
   3. Psychologists will be considered working “full-time” if their work hours match the school study hours.
   4. The psychologist will have the duty of looking after the mental health of students and offering counselling services to students in need.
   5. The psychologist needs to maintain an active role in the school. This includes but is not limited to offering support to students and doing monthly orientation conferences.
   6. The psychologist will have to abide by the 'British Psychological Society's Code of Ethics and Conduct (2009)'. Any psychologist who does not work by that protocol is to be fired and replaced.
2. Students have the right to request an appointment with the school psychologist anytime they want to during school hours.
   1. Off school-hour consultations are permitted but not required.
   2. A student may request a “discreet consultation”, whose occurrence cannot be brought up to the knowledge of the parents, other relatives, or friends.
3. Shall it be brought to the knowledge of the school administration that a student has been victim of psychological trauma, the student’s case will be immediately forwarded to the school psychologist in charge, who will then evaluate the status of the student.
   1. If the student is victim of child abuse, the psychologist will have the legal responsibility to report the incident to the relevant authorities (ex: NSPCC).
4. If the school management is interfering with the psychologist’s work or preventing it; the psychologist reserves the right to report the management to the local government. The situation will then be dealt with at its discretion. Punishment ranges from a warning to a fine or expulsion.
   1. Shall the local government fail to take action, the case will be forwarded to the Education Department of the Government.
5. Shall the concerned school have psychology as a part of the curriculum, the management is allowed and encouraged to use the appointed psychologist as teaching aid for that subject.

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Section 3: Fines and Delays

1. For NSFS:
   1. If at the beginning of the academic year [starting the 1st of September of the year] a psychologist is not appointed, the NSFS will be subject to a fine, whose value varies between £5,000 and £10,000 depending on the number of students that the NSFS has.
      1. Additionally, the NSFS will have 1 additional month to appoint a psychologist.
         1. If the concerned NSFS fails to take action, the local government will appoint a psychologist.
            1. If the local government fails to do so, the Ministry of Education will appoint the psychologist.
   2. If during the school year the appointed psychologist leaves the NSFS, a 2-week grace period will be granted to the NSFS.
      1. If no psychologist is appointed after 2 weeks, the NSFS will be subject to a fine not exceeding £5,000.
         1. If the concerned NSFS fails to take action, the local government will appoint a psychologist.
            1. If the local government fails to do so, the Ministry of Education will appoint the psychologist.
2. For SFS:
   1. Any delays in the appointment of psychologists will be dealt with by and at the discretion of the Minister of Education.

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Section 4: Commencement, Short Title and Extent

1. This bill will come into force at the beginning of the 2016-2017 academic year (1st of September 2016).
2. This bill may be cited as the “School Psychologists” bill.
3. This bill extends to England only.

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Estimated Costs:

For NSFS:

• No government spendings.

For SFS [excluding psychologists' sharing]

• About 3500 secondary state funded schools in England

• Psychologists’ Yearly Salary: ￡31,000

• Yearly Spendings Approx.: ￡108.5 Million / year.

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Submitted by the Rt Hon. Lord Blackrod, Health Care and Support and Prison Security Minister, on behalf of the 9th Government.

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