School’s metal health forum January 22nd 2020 What exists and what do we want in schools? 58 professionals from the education sector attended the Healthwatch school’s mental health forum on 22nd January 2020. This included people from a variety of roles, SENCO’s, safeguarding leads, family support workers, governors, head teachers, teachers, school nurses and third and voluntary sector youth organisations etc. all playing vital part of supporting our young people across the county with their emotional wellbeing. Everyone took part in this workshop to help Healthwatch better understand what already exists to support mental health in schools and to find out what else schools need.

Part 1 - What does your school have to support mental wellbeing? For a full list of organisations who participated in the feedback session see appendix 1

(External) H.O.P.E. Counsellors Kids club – holiday only anti-bullying ambassadors Young cartshed – dedicated Mental health School Nursing practitioner; dedicated occupational

Peer mentoring therapist Learning mentors Parent & child programme (Pilot ongoing) Support staff with many hats! School counsellors Student support base (BROADLANDS, AYLESTONE, WITHINGTON)

Staff trained in youth mental health first OUT OF SCHOOL CARE aid (All funded directly by school) TLC Out of School Care ELSA – emotional literacy support Tier 1 Provider assistant – access to referrals to CLD, CAMHS, parent courses – PPP Child Led Play Strong young minds ambassadors – trained Space to play young people in school Opportunity for risky play Anna Freud centre – Aylestone is one of Playwork qualified staff 100 schools nationally taking part in a

Child & Parent support from staff research project about teaching children Champions of outdoor play ie. Mental health Mental health first aider – staff &- parents Emotion coaching – training for staff by

TLC out of school care CIC – based in LP’s (??) Bromyard, serves all cluster schools for LSA’s in school – offering self-esteem, anger management, behaviour after school care and holiday play. Has 30 children per day for ADC + 20 per day HP. management groups Offers Qualified playwork staff; unique Access to local services – BST, Hospital school etc, EP, LAC team play environment for tree climbing, campfires, bike riding, den building, School nurse drop in hammocks, woodland play etc, Child led; Drop in room break / lunchtime for pupils Informal support to parents. to discuss concerns – run by ELA’s Family support worker – works with The Cartshed Tier 2 Provider families i.e.. EHA’s access to external services – phoenix, butterflies etc.

WESTFIELD

Theraplay sessions – trained (Westfield) LORD SCUDAMORE Virtual head – LAC Friendship groups (Westfield) Self-referral for pupils Group work Buy in play therapist pupil premium Val’s room One to One work Across to grief counsellor Theraplay 1:1 support sessions with pastoral lead Nurture groups

Lego Therapy

Horse Riding Pottery BISHOPS Forest School School Counsellor – 3 days - + group sessions Swimming CLD counsellor – 2 days (therefore there is Therapeutic story writing always a counsellor at school) Family support Peer listeners – trained by school counsellor, Speech & Language yr 11 prefects Ed. Psych. Pastoral mentors Learning mentor Hampton Dene Primary SENCO Protecting behaviour programme ‘Thrive’ practitioner i.e.. Group emotional wellbeing sessions 3 days Moving targets 121 sessions from school Young Voices choir Counsellor 2 afternoons (probably will grow)

MORDIFORD

STAUNTON Peer mentors Yr 6 for Yr R children

Ad hoc buying in of counselling & play Pastoral mentor – 121 & small group therapy Not trained. Evolving. Background as a TA, Peer massage ‘going for it’ Yoga ‘Chat & Chill’ lunchtime sessions Mindfulness Available for ‘talk time’ whenever Peer mediators RIVERSIDE

Community Room – Baby ASHFIELD bouncy; baby massage Buy in counsellor Play Therapist Use HOPE services Parent courses

Staff all trained in Attachment & emotion coaching Family support workers x 2 Tap into LAC team services for LAC & post LAC pupils Named school nurse – Family support worker based in school (Buy in) school nurse drop in’s

Key adult trained to support vulnerable children in Learning mentors x 2 KS2 Did have school based school nurse for “Drop in

sessions” for children & parents OUR LADY’S “Family room” – SENCO DSC’s office Play Therapist Youth support worker through the Baptist Church for Butterflies – 1 day a week Yr 6 pupils

Children’s centre workers FAIRFIELD (11 – 16) Peer mediators Counsellor Yoga In-house support – learning manager – Private Counselling Mental Health – self-esteem; stress & Art Therapist anxiety; resilience ELSA’s

Thrive Primary School nursing Crucial Crew Family support workers Victim support

Health visitors Strong Young Minds (Age 10 & above) Mental Health Awareness Training – 2 days – Mental Health First Aid – Inset funded by Adult Education Board days

EARDISLEY ORLETON (KIMBOLTON & LUDLOW)

Sometimes school nurse School nursing team Strong Young Minds Made referral to CAMHS Play therapist – as and when needed

PE Wellbeing School counsellor /behavioural support Key support workers / Family support Teacher training in values education Value each month, topic based work Behavioural support practitioner on this value Small school so look for services when needed Reflection time BROOKFIELD Meditation & Relaxation Offer everything to 5 – 16 and parents Story (Downtime) Qualified Counsellor Daily walk with everyone Art / Music Therapy (Come in to offer Behaviour support team services) Attachment training Interventions

Stride Active Wellness programmes Horse Riding Swimming Forest School

SENCO

Part 2 - What does your school need to improve mental wellbeing?

• Therapeutic services. 16 (especially 4 – 10 yr olds).

• Play therapy. • Support to parents available within a reasonable time frame. • Early interventions for the young students. • Parent focused support to include young people – creating shared • A holistic approach to the child (the experiences / learning (i.e. Jointly whole picture). facilitated but also providing to each group separately as needed – this is • Preventative therapeutic interventions quite resource rich but has so far Communication between & from provided incredible outcomes. This services. could target specific groups of parents E.g. Armed forces families / 1st time • Funding. mums.

• Awareness. • Recognition of the value of provision with commissioners and schools to • Mental health prioritised. enable a commitment to funding.

• Access to more staff training. • Dedicated site for full time provision.

• Support to be more pro-active rather • Sustainable funding for service that reactive. provision.

• Staff mentoring – solution focused • CAMHS support – more, faster, training support. for staff.

• Local services who are able to extend • Social media – info and advice for support to under 9’s (e.g. CLD). school staff.

• TLC Out of School Care (Bromyard). • More specialised provision locally for children – at younger age groups. • Desire to move to Tier 2. • Provision for more complex needs. • Training for Play therapy & mental health. • Access to more intervention placements for both younger & • Non-school based & school based – Play secondary aged children so that there therapy; Counselling; Mental Health is more early intervention to prevent support for children of school age 4 – crisis.

• Provision for girls (Social emotional • Support for staff – mental health / and mental health). wellbeing.

• Provision for under 7’s at specialist • ”Poor” families tend not to access provision locally. services if it involves travel to from Ross due to cost, time, • Work with parents. hassle getting there. Children miss a • Shorter timescales to access support. days schooling for an hour’s appointment. • More money to pay for the increased need. • Training.

• Funding (Most things funded through • Time. school budget). • Space. • Mental Health First Aider. Working with the parents – working with the family around the child. • More creative therapies available – Play, Art, Music. • Promotion of local services in detail – what; where; when; how. • More local services (All based in Hereford – or further afield). • Looking differently at needs of children whether at primary or • Better training for school staff in secondary e.g. Drop in or scheduled mental health (Recognition & session. response). • Idea re. small schools with little space • Personal support for mental health / sharing a ‘hub’ for a cluster? (e.g.) pastoral support staff in schools. where children could go. Possibly shared service utilising current staff in • Time. individual schools – need to re- establish the partnership working • Space – resourcing (creating a ‘safe across clusters. room’). • Funding. • More open forums to discuss practice / needs / ideas / skills. • Parent groups – support for parents Real benefit of school staff being • More aware of services available for trained, or school employing their own children & families (directory). counsellor, so they spot things – also benefit of outside counsellor as a • Services for under 10’s (What are balance in objectivity etc. they?). • Staff wellbeing initiatives.

• Special provision for girls (Brookfield escalated in a timely way – often too for boys). many forms / steps can be off putting & delay progress. • Special provision post 11 and for children with medical needs which • Support for families / schools for affect school attendance. children who soil.

• Linking with other schools. • Faster assessment where A.S.D is supported. • Training & Attachment training. • Professional emotional support for • ADHD diagnosis for under 7’s. under 10s.

• Better communication. • Increase availability of family support workers • Access to a professional. Support& advice for parents with children with emotional needs e.g. • Mental health leads. Emotion coaching – timely so things don’t escalate. • More looking at things as and when the need arises. • CDC / CAMHS – children are falling through the gaps. • Mental health education for parents? • All Staff to do Mental Health First Aid • How to target the parents who need it Awareness of Mental Health for young most? people – peer support.

• Courtyard developed programme to • Parent workshops. look at unpicking what mental health is through drama, games etc with SYM • PHSE – Mental Health. & CLD trust. • Where you go for help? Especially in • Space for children & young people to Holidays. calm down if needed. • Workshops for children on Wellbeing. • Faster GP appointments (not a phone call in 3 weeks). • Outdoor learning – community farm; forest schools. • Knowing that if early interventions aren’t working then support can be

Part 3 – What exists in our community to support children and young people’s mental health? In this part we asked all participants to help us to collect a list of services, groups and initiatives in which can be accessed to improve emotional resilience.

Appendix 1

List of organisations present Ashfield Park Primary School Brookfield School Cambian School of Hereford Clehonger Primary School Clifford Primary School Eardisley Primary School Fairfield High School Fostering Hampton Dene Primary School Hereford Cathedral School Hereford Community Farm Herefordshire Community Foundation Herefordshire Council Herefordshire Marches Federation of Academies - Lord Scudamore Herefordshire Marches Federation of Academies - Pencombe Hope Support Services Horizon Training Hub home and hospital teaching team (H3) Ivington Primary School Kington Primary School Leominster team WVT NHS Llandau Luston School Mordiford Primary School Niche Personal Coaching No Wrong Door Orleton Primary School Our Lady's catholic Primary School Riverside Primary School School Nursing Service St James Primary School Staunton Primary School Steiner The Cart Shed the CLD Trust The Courtyard Theraputic Play Practitioners TLC out of school care YSS