Working In Schools

Schools and teachers today experience pressures to ‘do something about students and their problems’ but in order to do this effectively, educators might need to consider learning about themselves, and noticing the time school works for them. Time is measured out in an educators day so strictly, that spending time analysing problems is impossible.’

(Linda Metcalfe 2002)

Within our work in CAMHS Wendy, Linda and Lorraine have worked very closely with schools to try to create a range of strategies for teachers as well as looking at the whole school approach for primary and secondary schools.
 

Lorraine has been very successful in leading a School Based CAMHS service for a number of targeted secondary schools offering:

  • Consultation for staff regarding children
  • Pupil observations in school and feedback to teaching staff. This involves a follow up meeting offering advice, resources and support to the school. A follow up observation can be arranged.
  • Setting up a peer mentoring system to include training to students, providing resources and supporting interested members of staff in setting up an effective rolling programme
  • Workshops for secondary senior school staff on topics such as: deeper understanding of the issues facing young people including attachment difficulties, family construction, self-harm and working with children with attention and concentration difficulties, classroom dynamics and the social and psychological factors affecting the way young people function in the school environment.
  • introducing a solution focussed approach for the whole school
  • Running groups for anger, anxiety, stress

‘staff are more able to handle and defuse challenging situations with pupils to the mutual benefit and respect of both pupil and teacher this has led to a new whole school approach to behaviour, resulting in the reviewing and rewriting of our behaviour policy’ ‘the school was graded outstanding for its guidance and support for pupils in its recent OFSTED report’



Sometimes children struggle at school because they have social and communication difficulties and may be on the autism spectrum, we are able to make observations on particular children and advise as to whether they may need a specialist assessment and how to manage their behaviour using specific techniques.


We are also able to offer school/family consultations, working in this way allows the school, family and young person to talk about their views, hopes and expectations with a neutral person taking control of the session and encouraging people to take different positions thereby opening up new possibilities for moving forward.
We are able to offer any of the above or a consultation involving interviews with staff and students, observations and a written report on our findings with a plan for future work.
 

School Counsellors

School counsellor’s work with a wide rang of issues on a day-to-day basis. Occasionally however, counsellors can feel overwhelmed with a situation or need to check things out with a mental health professional. We are all experienced mental health professionals and can offer consultation or supervision on a one off or regular basis.