Ever feel like sitting at your desk is like maneuvering through a battlefield, where urgent needs clash with limited resources? If you're a Special Education Director, it can often feel like you're patching up one breach in the defensive line of challenges, only to discover another breach that needs to be addressed. Amidst this battlefield, where the demand for special education services ever intensifies, it is crucial to find innovative strategies to address staffing gaps and ensure students receive the support they need.
Contract companies can provide a flexible, short-term solution that alleviates the strain on permanent staff and bolsters your team's capabilities. Yet juggling, supervising, and coordinating contractors can pile on extra stress when you’re already stretched thin. Not to mention, seamlessly integrating them into your teams and processes can pose a significant challenge. In this blog, discover creative ways to leverage contracted school psychology support to boost team integration, productivity, and success and take your impact to the next level! Once a solid partnership is established, you'll unlock a reliable solution that not only meets current needs but also saves time when you inevitably require contracted services again in the future.
Related:
https://blog.psychedservices.com/choosing-a-contract-company-to-fill-school-psychology-vacancies
1: Assessment and Report Writing
In many districts, school psychologists spend the majority of their time completing evaluations and writing reports, leaving limited time for other required job duties. When contract school psychologists are utilized to complete evaluations and reports to ensure legal timeline compliance, your district school psychologists are able to engage in other required activities, such as counseling, consultation, meetings, intervention planning, functional behavioral assessments, etc. Subsequently, the district is able to maintain continuity and quality of care for students requiring psychological services, assessments, and support.
2: Community Referrals and Prekindergarten Evaluations
Leverage contract companies to handle essential yet time-consuming tasks that require less integration into a specific school site, such as community referrals (e.g., requests for evaluations from private schools and Independent Educational Evaluations) and prekindergarten evaluations. This strategic move allows your on-site psychologists to concentrate on the workload at their assigned schools.
3: Virtual Counseling and Report Writing
Virtual services are reshaping the educational landscape. By using contract companies for virtual counseling and report writing, you can extend your reach without overextending your in-house team. Virtual services offer flexibility and timely support, ensuring that student needs are addressed promptly.
4: Training and Supervision
Contract companies can play a transformative role in building internal expertise. Utilize their know-how to train other school psychologists, behavior technicians, and paraprofessionals, effectively equipping them with valuable skills. If your staff capacity is stretched thin, look to contract providers for practicum student and/or intern supervision. Even though the intern or trainee may be on-site, the supervision provided from afar can free up precious resources and foster professional growth.
Related: https://blog.psychedservices.com/6-benefits-of-customized-training-and-coaching-for-your-team
5: Outsourced Professional Development (PD)
The continuous professional development of your staff is a non-negotiable aspect of maintaining high standards of education. Contract companies can offer specialized PD opportunities that are customized to your district's needs, helping educators to stay abreast of the latest best practices and methodologies.
6: Prioritizing Mental Health and Burnout Support
Amidst the challenge of staff shortages lies a hidden toll on mental health. Contract companies can provide much-needed support in the form of stress management workshops, burnout prevention strategies, and even direct coaching or other support services, which will contribute to a healthier, more productive work environment.
Important Planning Steps
Contracting with a company to fill a vacancy or support your district school psychologists can be a temporary solution until you are able to hire a full-time candidate. Contract companies are often willing to step in and meet your district's needs as a stopgap solution in any way that is needed. However, it is important to be aware of the steps and timelines involved in hiring and onboarding a contract company, which can often take weeks. Being prepared with the requirements and ensuring prior communication with your business department and contracting authority in your district will help smooth the way for a contract company to begin working as soon as possible.
Conclusion
We understand the immense challenges Special Education Directors face in ensuring the well-being and academic success of students, particularly amidst the pressing issue of school psychology shortages. We also recognize the pivotal role you play as champions for both students and staff. By creatively integrating contract companies into your staffing strategy, you get the necessary support to be further empowered to fulfill your vital mission so that you can invest in the future of your programs and meet all student needs.
Psyched Services Supports School Psychs
