Mental Health, Wellbeing and Support

Mental Health and Well-Being 

We aim to promote positive mental health and well-being for our whole school community; pupils, staff, parents and carers, and recognise how important mental health and emotional well-being is to our lives in just the same way as physical health.

We recognise that children’s mental health can affect their learning and achievement. Persistent mental health problems may lead to pupils having greater difficulty in learning than the majority of those of the same age.

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice identifies Social, Emotional and Mental Health as one of the four areas of Special Educational Need. All children go through ups and downs through their school life and some face significant life events. Mental health needs can have a big impact on pupils’ quality of life, relationships and academic achievement.

The Department for Education (DfE) recognises that: “in order to help their pupils succeed; schools have a role to play in supporting them to be resilient and mentally healthy”.

School can be a place for children to experience a nurturing and supportive environment that has the potential to develop self-esteem and give positive experiences for overcoming adversity and building resilience. For some, school will be a place of respite from difficult home lives and offer positive role models and relationships, which are important in promoting pupil’s well-being and can help with a sense of belonging and community.

A Whole School Approach to Promoting Positive Mental Health

At St Stephen’s our ethos and environment promotes respect and values diversity. We take a whole school approach to promoting positive mental health that aims to help pupils become more resilient, to be happy and successful and prevent problems before they arise.

Our approach encompasses eight principles:

1. Creating an ethos and environment that promotes respect and values diversity. Establishing policies and behaviours that support mental health and resilience that everyone understands.
2. Curriculum, teaching and learning- helping pupils to be resilient learners and teaching pupils social and emotional skills and an awareness of mental health
3. Enabling children’s voice to influence decisions. Helping pupils to develop social relationships, support each other and get help when they need to.
4. Staff development- Supporting and training staff to develop their skills and resilience
5. Identifying SEMH need and monitoring impact of interventions.
6. Working with parents and carers effectively
7. Targeted support and referral. We aim for early identification of pupils who have mental health needs and plan support to meet their needs, including working with specialist services.
8. Leadership and management that supports and champions efforts to promote emotional health and well-being.

We also recognise the role that stigma can play in preventing understanding and awareness of mental health issues and aim to create an open and positive culture that encourages discussion and understanding of mental health issues.

Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH) Intervention and Support

The curriculum for PSHE and RSHE focusses on promoting pupils’ resilience, confidence and ability to learn.

Positive classroom management and working in Kagan groups is used to promote positive behaviour, social development and high self-esteem.

School-based counselling/ ELSA (Emotional Literacy support) is offered to pupils who require it. Relevant external agencies are used where appropriate; MHST (Mental Health Support Team), ELCAS (East Lancashire Child and Adolescent Services). An Educational Psychologist is available for those pupils requiring the service.

Where appropriate, parents have a direct involvement in any intervention regarding their child. The school supports parents in the management and development of their child.

Well-being Champions are used to encourage and support pupils suffering with SEMH difficulties. Well-being Champions act as friend, with the aim of easing the worries of the pupils approaching them. Well-being Champions will share any concerns raised with the appropriate adults.

School based intervention is not always appropriate therefore referrals and multi-agency support is sought. St Stephen’s will continue to support the pupil in conjunction with external agencies throughout this process. Significant cases of SEMH difficulties are referred to Children and young people's mental health services (CYPMHS) or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

To ensure referring pupils to CYPMHS/ ELCAS/CAMHS is effective, staff and the Inclusion Manager follow the process below:

• Use a clear process for identifying pupils in need of further support (SDQ/ Boxall and other professional observations)
• Document evidence of their SEMH difficulties 
• Encourage the pupil and their parents to speak to the pupil’s GP
• Work with local agencies such as CYPMHS/ ELCAS/ CAMHS/ MHST to make the referral process as quick and efficient as possible
• Understand the criteria that is used by specialist agencies in determining whether a pupil needs their service.
• Have a close working relationship with the local MHST specialist
• Consult MHST about the most effective support to offer a pupil if they do not meet external agency threshold.

At St Stephen’s we implement the following approach to interventions:

• ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) sessions
• ACE Friendly school & strategies in place
• Support is provided through nurture provision and the Learning Mentor
• Interventions are structured in a way that addresses behavioural issues through our behaviour blueprint, policy and Blackburn with Darwen SEND SS SEMH support
• Parental training workshops are held to support positive social behaviours
• Small group sessions will take place and focus on developing cognitive and social skills
• Nurture groups are in the early stages of development and aim to address any SEMH difficulties in pupils
• Play-based approaches with the PALS are in place to develop more positive relationships between pupils and their peers.
• Specific classroom management techniques for supporting pupils are in place. These techniques may include, for example, using a token system for rewards or changing seating arrangements
• CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) delivered by MHST
• Kooth support

MHST- BWD Mental Health Support Team

The MHST support schools within Blackburn with Darwen. Referrals can be made to the service via school for those children needing extra support. 

KOOTH

Kooth is the UK’s largest and longest established digital mental health service. They partner with NHS and local authority organisations to deliver mental health support to young people from age 10 and up.

Kooth is for all young people - whatever background, whatever situation:

• Free - Kooth is funded in a local services partnership, so users never have to pay

• Private and confidential - Everyone can find help in absolute confidence

• Safe space - every forum message and all content on the platform is checked by a safety team

• Flexible - available 365 days a year, with no waiting lists. Young people can tap into support as much or as little as they like

Self-Harm and Suicide Support Guide

PAPYRUS have created a Self-Harm and suicide support guide for parents following discussions with parents who have experience of supporting a young person struggling with their mental health.

It aims to provide information and guidance to help parents cope with a young person who is struggling with thoughts of suicide, to reassure them they are not alone. It is available in both English and Welsh. Click on the link below.

Useful Contacts:

Education Support Partnership    Phone 08000 562 561

Childline   Phone  0800 1111

Samaritans    Phone 116 123     www.samaritans.org

Domestic Violence Hotline     Phone 0808 2000 247

Mind    Phone 0300 123 3393

Age UK    Phone 0800 169 6565

Barnados: See Hear Respond accept referrals from any source either through the Freephone number 0800 151 7015 and via the online referral hub

NHS Mental Health    www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services

MIND    www.mind.org.uk

SHOUT    www.giveusashout.org               TEXT 85258