Welcome
to the EWB newsletter

December 2022


Welcome to Northorpe Hall’s Emotional Wellbeing Lead Newsletter for December 2022. This is intended for the person/people responsible for leading and supporting Mental Health in schools and colleges. Please share it with the relevant people in your setting.

A Whole School Approach to Mental Health: Principles into Practice Conference, Northorpe Hall 28th March 2023.

We are delighted to be holding our first full day conference for Mental Health Leads, Senior Leaders, SENCOs and staff with responsibility for Mental Health and Wellbeing in schools and colleges. Please join us for an inspiring day.

Delegates will:

  • Gain insight into the key principles related to a Whole School Approach to positive Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Hear first-hand experiences of how the principles have been implemented and embedded in individual Primary and Secondary settings in Kirklees.
  • Discover innovations in practice and consider how these can influence your practice in your own setting.
  • Learn how better practice in prevention and early identification supports the mental health and wellbeing of the whole school community.
  • Have the opportunity to network and forge connections across schools.

Booking will be available in January 2023.


Network Meetings for Emotional Wellbeing Leads/Mental Health Leads

A reminder that the same contact is covered both the face to face and the virtual network meeting, so you only need to attend one. Please use the following link to book on the Spring Term Network meeting.

Emotional Wellbeing/Senior Mental Health Lead Spring Network Meeting, Northorpe Hall

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 15:30

To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/445209111437

Emotional Wellbeing/Senior Mental Health Lead Network Meeting (VIRTUAL)

Wed, 1 Feb 2023 15:30

To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/445198419457


Local News

Nightowls

If a child or young person you care for is in a crisis, they can contact Night OWLS. This is a support service available 8pm to 8am every day for children, young people, parents and carers across West Yorkshire. They offer listening, advice, support and information. It may be worth sharing information for the Christmas Break. Night OWLS can help you if you.

  • Feel you have nowhere to turn
  • Feel you can’t go on living
  • Are in a crisis
  • Are finding it hard to cope with life
  • Are feeling angry, lonely, anxious or depressed
  • Are feeling confused or finding it hard to think straight
  • Are feeling unsafe
  • Are caring for a young person
  • Just want to talk
They’re available 8pm–8am every day for children, young people, parents and carers across West Yorkshire.

Call this number for free:

0800 148 8244

Text:

07984392700

Visit their website

To download a poster to share with families/young people please click here

Resources

YoungMinds 360° Schools Community

YoungMinds have a range of information, advice and resources such as wellbeing activities, toolkits and webinars to help you support children and young people on a range of topics including anger, trauma, self- harm and anxiety. It is certainly worth a browse if you are looking for information. https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/. You can also sign up to the 360° Schools Community e-newsletter to receive resources and tips that give you all the tools you need to look after your pupils' mental health and wellbeing. https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/360-schools/.

Anna Freud Classroom Wellbeing Toolkit- Secondary Schools

This evidence-based toolkit, created in partnership with the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF), will help secondary school staff take steps to improve students’ mental health and wellbeing through everyday practices. Download the toolkit here: https://www.annafreud.org/schools-and-colleges/resources/classroom-wellbeing-toolkit/.

Anna Freud CARE Animation

The CARE animation is aimed at all staff, including support staff and those who may not have direct contact with pupils. You may find it useful to share in staff meeting or send out to all staff to help them understand that everyone has a role in promoting and supporting wellbeing. https://www.annafreud.org/schools-and-colleges/resources/care-animation-and-resources/.

BBC Moodboosters – Primary Schools

BBC have created a new resource to inspire primary school age children to get moving and learning about their mental health and wellbeing. The short, simple and fun dedicated educational resources, inspirational videos and activities are available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/moodboosters. There are some great videos which can be used in the classroom encourage children to recharge, connect, imagine and boost!

Emotionally Based School Avoidance

Following COVID-19, there has been an increase in Emotionally Based School Avoidance, also known as Anxiety Based School Avoidance or Emotionally Based Non-Attendance. EBSA occurred for a long time prior to the pandemic but this has intensified as children have experienced extended periods at home due to the risk of harm from attending school/being around others during Covid. Further to this, family ill health and stress may also contribute to emotionally based school avoidance, making children want to remain close to their primary caregiver(s). The 2022 Attendance Audit from the Children’s Commissioner found that in Autumn 2021, 1 in 4 children were persistently absent. In 2018/2019, this figure was 1 in 9 – meaning that persistent absence has more than doubled in this time period. There are two resources which you may find useful to support pupils experiencing EBSA.


Christmas Resources

How to help your child if Christmas makes them anxious

Looking after your mental health at Christmas

Self-Care for Teenagers

YoungMinds Wellbeing Advent Calendars

National News - Taken from NSPCC’s CASPAR Newsletters

Click here to sign up NSPCC’s CASPAR’s weekly newsletter for practice, policy and research and to keep you up-to-date with all the latest safeguarding and child protection news

Child Mental Health

Date: 23 November 2022

Source: COSMO, UCL, The Sutton Trust

COSMO, a cross-organisational study and collaboration between UCL and the Sutton trust, has published a new briefing exploring the mental health and wellbeing of 16- and 17-year-old children across England. Survey research was conducted using a sample of over 13,000 young people in Year 11 and parents in England. Findings include: 44% of 16- and 17-year-olds report elevated psychological distress; and 24% of young people said they experienced bullying at school or college. Recommendations include: ensuring access to an independent counsellor for students; the introduction of Mental Health Support teams in every school; and a well-evidenced anti-bullying programme in all schools.

Read the report: Briefing No. 4 - mental health and wellbeing

Children's Mental Health

Date: 02 November 2022

Source: ADCS

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has published a thematic report looking at children’s mental health and provision of services in England. The report collates data from local authorities and interviews with directors or assistant directors of children’s services. Respondents reported an increase in the demand for mental health services and an increase in emotional disorders.

Read the news story: ADCS safeguarding pressures - special thematic report on mental health

DfE Funded Senior Mental Health Lead Training

Did you now that approximately 50% of schools in Kirklees have accessed the DfE grant (£1200) to train a Senior Mental Health Lead? Of those schools, almost half of those have done their training at Northorpe Hall Child & Family Trust. We pride ourselves on delivering high quality, personalised training with ongoing support, during and after the training. Feedback from delegates include:

'Mental Health is everyone's business! This was really inspiring and reminded us of the importance of caring for children's wellbeing amongst all other curriculum challenge'

'The course content was well delivered and I feel much more confident moving forwards with our whole school approaches, particularly knowing that ongoing support with our journey is readily available should we need it.'

'The course was transformational!'

We have four courses available on a range of dates and recommended starting with Strategic Leadership for Change on either 27th February 2023 and 24th April 2023. If all four courses are completed, the DfE Learning Outcomes for Senior Mental Health Leads will be fully covered. Alternatively, settings may choose the courses most appropriate their needs.

For more information, dates and details of booking please visit our website or email helen.parker@northorpehall.co.uk


Support for Young People and Parents from Northorpe Hall

We are offering a range of virtual and face-to-face workshops for Children and Young people living in Kirklees over the next few months:

  • Body Image and Self-Esteem (aged 11+)
  • Building Resilience (aged 8-11 must be accompanied by a parent/carer)
  • Exam Anxiety (aged 14+)
  • Low Mood (aged 11+)
  • Managing Worry (aged 8-11 must be accompanied by a parent/carer)
  • Understanding and Managing Emotions (aged 11+)

To book: https://chewsnews.northorpehall.co.uk/workshops.php

We also offer a number a range of virtual and face-to-face workshops for Parents and Carer living in Kirklees.

  • Chill N Chat
  • Introduction to Children and Young People's Mental Health
  • Introduction to Self-Harm
  • Supporting Sleep
  • The Teenage Brain
  • Understanding and Supporting Anxiety
  • Understanding Behaviour as Communication

To book: https://chewsnews.northorpehall.co.uk/workshops.php


National Dates Spring Term 2023

If you wish to plan any days to promote Mental Health and Wellbeing in schools, here are the key dates for Spring 2023. If you need any support, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  • Time to Talk Day – 2nd February
  • National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NED Awareness Week) 20th- 26th February
  • Children’s Mental Wellbeing Week – 4th – 11th February
  • BEAT Eating Disorders Awareness Week – 24th February- 2nd March
  • Self-Injury Awareness Day 1st March
  • World Autism Awareness Week 29th March
  • World Bipolar Day – 30th March
  • Stress Awareness Month – from 1st April
  • World Autism Day – 1st April

Developing A Whole School Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing

We continue to support schools with their work on developing a Whole School Approach to mental health and wellbeing. Whilst specialist support for many children and young people is required, it is crucial that schools prioritise their work in this area. Many schools will be doing a great deal already without realising! We recommend that schools use the Anna Freud 5 steps to Mental Health and Wellbeing Tool, an evidence-based framework for schools and colleges to embed a whole school approach. It will help you to support staff, lead change, and engage with parents, carers and the community so that you can meet your pupils' and students' needs. You can register for free to access an interactive planning tool, resources, and examples of best practice at https://www.annafreud.org/schools-and-colleges/5-steps-to-mental-health-and-wellbeing/

5 Steps to Mental Health & Wellbeing

Waiting times

  • 47.8 weeks for Counselling support
  • 44 weeks for direct support with an Emotional Health Worker
  • 47.5 weeks for direct support with a Senior Practitioner

  • This is from the date of the original support request.

    Counselling is delivered by therapists. Direct Support is delivered by Senior Practitioners & Emotional Health Workers. Find out more information here.

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