Supporting schools to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people
Summer support to Wiltshire schools from CAMHS
Wednesday 22nd July 2020
The purpose of this document is to explain the support available to schools from Wiltshire CAMHS over the summer holiday period.
1. Mental Health Support Teams in Schools
- The schools which are participating in the roll-out of the Mental Health Support Teams are able to continue to access support from the MHSTs over the summer holidays.
- The two Wiltshire teams (Salisbury and Devizes, Trowbridge and Westbury) have been in touch with all of the schools that have been selected for the MHST programme to explain the offer.
- In addition to receiving referrals, the MHSTs are offering digital workshops with pupils about transition.
- Some schools have asked the team to start planning wellbeing days and assemblies for delivery in September. We are able to accept more requests for support of this nature.
- Referral forms have been shared with all participating schools and can be sent to: oxfordhealth.mhstwiltshire@nhs.net
- These same contact details can be used for all other enquiries.
2. Education Practitioners
The “SPA and Education Practitioners” continue to support educational settings over the summer holiday period.
- 15 educational settings identified by commissioners receive 10 hours a fortnight of dedicated CAMHS support which remains available. The schools are: Devizes School, The Clarendon Academy, Wiltshire College, Matravers School, the John of Gaunt School, Sarum Academy, Downland School, Melksham Oak Community School, Stonehenge School, Kingdown School, Wiltshire College, Corsham School, Abbeyfields School, Kingsbury Green Academy, Wiltshire College
- An additional 16 educational settings receive 2 hours a month of CAMHS time which can be used for consultation and advice. The schools are: Wyvern College, Wiltshire College, St Augustine’s Catholic School, St Edmund’s Girls School, St Joseph’s Catholic School, St Laurence School, Bradon Forest School, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, St John’s Marlborough, Malmesbury School, Sheldon School, Lavington School, Pewsey Vale School, Avon Valley College, The Wellington Academy and Hardenhuish School.
- The role of the SPA and Education Practitioners in the schools is to promote wellbeing, identify concerns and any signs of mental illness at an early stage, promote best practice and resilience and train staff in educational settings to identify mental health needs and respond appropriately.
- We can support any workshops or events regarding the mental health of those under 18 years of age, as well as offering 1-1 and group work.
- Each school will have the contact details for their allocated SPA and Education Practitioner.
- If education settings are wishing to refer they can contact the SPA on 01865 903330 for a discussion or complete an online referral. For those that have a CAMHS practitioner connected to their school they also have the option to contact them direct to discuss.
3. Early Help CAMHS practitioners, Wiltshire In-reach Team
- Early Help CAMHS practitioners will continue to provide support, consultation and joint working to colleagues from a range of education based services within Wiltshire Council, including Early Years Inclusion, Behaviour Support Service, Medical Needs Education Service, Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service.
- In addition, primary schools can request Information and Advice Workshops for parents and staff. The aim of these workshops is to provide parents with a range of skills to support their children to build resilience, manage their worries and to make positive transitions.
- They can be contacted by email. Annabelle.Gilham@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk and/or Laura.pettigrew@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
4. Referrals to Core CAMHS
- Our usual referral processes remain in place over the summer. Please visit the Wiltshire CAMHS website for information about how to make a referral.
- We have recently updated the website with
additional self-help resources for children, young people and their families. Visit: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/camhs/advice/self-help/
