Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Trailblazer
Attention schools in South Warwickshire! Please look out for an email invitation to join the trailblazer and respond promptly to confirm your involvement - the LA must confirm which schools wish to be involved by 21st Jan 2019
You may have read over the holiday that South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was successful in its bid to become one of 25 Mental Health Trailblazers. The Trailblazers will be trialling the government’s new approach to supporting children and young people with mental health issues, including the launch of 59 Mental Health Support Teams nationally.
This is excellent news for schools in the central and south areas. The CCG will be establishing two Trailblazers, each comprising around 20 schools and 8,000 young people. As well as the launch of the two Mental Health Support Teams, South Warwickshire is one of 12 areas that will pilot a four week waiting time for secondary children (defined by the CCG as a four week wait until ‘something meaningful happens’ for the young person).
This work has arisen from the Government’s Green Paper, ‘Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision’ (first published in Dec 2017, and last updated 25 Jul 2018) which included the following core elements:
- Designated senior leads for mental health in schools and colleges
- Mental Health Support Teams working across schools and colleges
- Piloting a four week waiting time for secondary children and young people’s mental health services
Schools involved in the trailblazer will receive free training for their designated Mental Health Lead. They will have direct communication with their Mental Health Support Team, who will do the direct work necessary with children and young people in their schools rather than external venues. The schools will be involved in decision-making for appropriate interventions for their children, and outcomes from the work will contribute to a national data set to drive this model of mental health support in schools forward.
Training for designated leads in schools and Mental Health Support Team practitioners will be happening over the next few months and it is hoped that the work will start by the end of this calendar year.
Criteria being used for the selection of schools include:
- children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) who have Social, Emotional or Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties and/or Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
- schools involved in Early Help with SEMH as a factor
- schools who have Children Looked After and Young Carers
- schools where School Age Health Needs Assessments (Reception and Year Six) have identified some issues
- schools with pupil premium numbers above the Warwickshire average
- we need a mix of phases, types of school and OFSTED categories
Learning and Performance colleagues will be in touch with those schools who meet the criteria in the next few days. Please look out for the email and respond as soon as possible as we need to confirm which schools wish to be involved by 21st January.
For further information or any queries please contact Margot Brown:
Email: margotbrown@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Tel: 01926 742283
Update from School Health
Happy New Year!
The start of 2019 will see our Health Support Workers out and about in schools delivering both the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and Public Health interventions.
We know that the start of a fresh year is often a time when many people choose to set themselves new personal challenges and goals.
You may want to take a look at the 10 minute shake up games on the Change4Life website - a fun way to help children to be more active!
Medical awareness training
If you have any staff who missed the medical awareness training which has been delivered in localities, you may want to consider booking a training session at your school.
The Health and Wellbeing Service are able to provide this training at a cost of £60 for up to 20 members of staff. To book training, please phone the service on their usual number: 03300 245 204.
Contact details
ChatHealth - young people can contact us directly using our confidential text messaging number: 07507 331525
ChatHealth Parentline - parents can contact us directly using our confidential text messaging number: 07520 619376
Referrals to the service - referral forms have been sent to schools and are on the Warwickshire School Health and Wellbeing website
First orchestral workshop for young musicians a success
Talented young musicians from across the region attended the inaugural Orchestral Experience Workshop at the University of Warwick Arts Centre on Friday 4th January.
The music services of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull are working in partnership to ensure the future of orchestral playing and the workshop signalled the start of a range of exciting opportunities for young musicians interested in orchestral performance.
The orchestral workshop was also a first opportunity to work in partnership with both the university Arts Centre and the National Youth Orchestra.
The students, including 45 from Warwickshire, worked with professional conductors Robin Newton and Alex Laing, supported by tutors from the three music services. They then had the opportunity to sit alongside members of the National Youth Orchestra in a rehearsal and performance of Finlandia by Sibelius. The final flourish was the opportunity for the workshop students to attend the concert in the Butterworth Hall by the 163 members of the National Youth Orchestra.
Director of Warwickshire Music, Jeremy Dibb, said: ‘the music services of Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire are determined to support and ensure the future of orchestral playing for our talented young students. Our very first orchestral workshop has proved how successful our partnership plans are going to be. We look forward to more events like this and to establishing a regional youth orchestra from September 2019.’
Good report for Youth Justice Service
Warwickshire Youth Justice Service (WYJS) was recently assessed by HM Inspectorate of Probation and has received an overall grade of ‘Good’.
The inspector’s report, published earlier this month, noted that WYJS has strong leadership and a wide range of services to support young people to avoid reoffending. The report also judged some areas of work as outstanding, particularly the supervision of court orders.
Keeping people safe is a key priority for us. Youth justice helps us do this and through work with our most vulnerable youngsters we are able to help them to move away from criminal activity and toward making positive contributions in our communities.
The inspection report highlights some excellent practice in Warwickshire along with improvements needed to make the service even better.
View the full report here.
CPD: Outstanding practice in Philosophy and Ethics
Offered by the Southam Teaching School Alliance
Session: Outstanding practice in Philosophy and Ethics including British Values
This is an exciting opportunity for Primary and Secondary RE Coordinators to share best practice in the teaching of Philosophy and Ethics across the key stages. Guest speakers will provide practical strategies for participants to take away.
When: Thursday 4th April 2019, 4.15 - 5.30pm
Cost: £25 per person (non-Alliance schools). £20 per person (Alliance schools).
How to Book: Email STA@welearn365.com or telephone 01926 812560