Resources for Education Settings
CAMHS Support Line for Secondary Schools
This service is open for all Secondary Schools across Bedford Borough
Schools covered by the schools team.
Role
To offer telephone support to schools in Bedfordshire:
- Providing general advice to school based staff around pupil mental health / emotional wellbeing difficulties
- Signposting
- Consultations for specific pupils, which can lead to a CAMHS assessment, signposting and if required, individual therapeutic intervention
- Cases may be allocated during team meeting – and discussed as part of the MDT.
- Supporting referrals into CAMHS Single Point of Entry
- Improved access to a CAMHS professional
Open Monday – Thursday 10am – 4pm (not in school holidays or bank holidays)
Call: 01234 893358 – calls will be diverted to the allocated practitioner on their work mobile
Mental Health and Wellbeing Whole School / Setting Toolkit
This document sets out key actions that headteachers and college principals can take to embed and promote a whole school approach to promoting emotional health, wellbeing and resilience. These actions are informed by evidence and practitioner feedback about what works. These actions build on what many schools and colleges are doing across the country but, if applied consistently and comprehensively will help protect and promote student and staff emotional health and wellbeing.
You can view this resource by clicking here
Mental Health First Aiders
Mental Health First Aiders
Who we are?
There are over 100 practitioners in our schools, preschools and nurseries that are qualified Mental Health First Aiders, having completed their training with MHFA England. They will also have access to high-quality on-going CPD to support them in their role.
What we do?
Mental Health First Aiders are trained to spot the early signs of a mental health issue, including warning signs of mental health crises, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person towards appropriate treatment and other sources of supportive help.
They will be approachable, non-judgemental, kind and supportive and their skill set will benefit the mental health of all staff within schools preschools and nurseries as well as parents and local community.
How to contact a Mental Health First Aider?
Most schools and many preschools/nurseries/childminders in Bedford Borough have a Mental Health First Aider- please ask if you don’t know who it is in your school or early years setting
Education Psychology Service
Over 95% of schools in Bedford Borough have bought into the Bedford Borough Education Psychology Service. this team can provide assessments and consultations, drop in sessions and whole school training is available.
For more information click here
Bedford Borough return to school guidance
Bedford Borough's Education Psychology Service have created these helpful resources to support schools with managing the wellbeing of their staff and pupils during the return from lockdown. These strategies and resources remain relevant even as schools have returned as the full impact on children's emotional wellbeing may yet to be felt.
Return to School Guide: Part 1 Key Transition Principles and Pscychological Theories
Primary School Support
The Schools’ Wellbeing Partnership, in consultation with the Department for Education, has published support for primary schools to help them prepare their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic so that the mental health and wellbeing of the whole school community is protected.
You can view this resource by clicking here
Secondary School Support
The Schools’ Wellbeing Partnership, in consultation with the Department for Education, has published support for primary schools to help them prepare their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic so that the mental health and wellbeing of the whole school community is protected.
You can view this guide by clicking here
Eating Disorder Resources
Health London Partnership have created useful guidance for education settings for spotting the signs of an easting disorder and when to refer to the local community eating disorder service.
You can view this guidance by clicking here
More information regarding Bedfordshire's community eating disorder service can be found on their website by clicking here
Crisis Support
Mental Health Crisis line
Call NHS 111 option 2, the service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Access mental health crisis support from a trained mental health professional who can arrange urgent assessment or signpost you to another service that can help.
Advice for Schools
Bedfordshire CAMHS Service has created a helpful flow chart for schools to use when a child is presenting to them in a Mental health "Crisis". You can view this guide by clicking here
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are highly stressful and potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood and / or adolescence (up to the age of 18).
This could be a single event, prolonged threat or breach to a young person’s safety. No-one is immune to ACEs, however certain population groups have been associated with higher risks of facing ACEs.
This helpful bitesize training sheet takes you through the most common 10 ACEs staff may come across in their pupils, how these pupils may present and what trusted adults can do to support. You can view this training sheet by clicking here