Supervision & Services
Alongside the increasing numbers of children and young people in school experiencing mental health issues and emotional distress, there is also an increasing and recurrent theme of emotional distress and overwhelm in teaching and pastoral staff. We recognise the need for professional support and reflective space – in healthcare settings this is known as clinical supervision. The aim of this is to offer confidential time and space to discuss the issues that staff face in school, to provide an opportunity to express feelings and debrief, to ensure how issues are handled are appropriate, and to reflect on what learning can be shared and what might be done differently next time.
If you would like to understand more about the purpose and benefits of reflective supervision within school settings, take a look at this free webinar delivered by Trauma Informed Schools.
Supervision and support is available to buy from a range of different providers, including those listed below. (Please note that we don’t recommend any service over another).
Improving children’s mental health in schools – Place2Be – Currently funded to work in a certain number of schools in North Devon, their website includes national resources to download and offers mental health expertise and consultation They offer counselling for young people and placements and supervision for those training to be counsellors and psychotherapists.
Education support – Normal Magic are registered mental health professionals offering a pay as you go structure for supervision, consultation and training, in addition to single session interventions for children and young people and their families.
Talking Heads Supervision – Supervision in Education, Healthcare & Social Enterprises offer long-term 121 supervision to senior leaders of organisations with a remit to support or educate others. If supporting a senior leader, they also offer group supervision (but not at a senior leadership level as professional vulnerability and confidentiality is harder to manage when working with senior leaders in a group). Their work is bespoke, they work with you to understand the needs of your organisation.
HeadsUp offer a range of services for children, young people some of which are already funded (free), including Mental health Ambassadors training.
SPACE Education Support Service is a youth work charity who are offering a range of services for young people and have established an Education Support Service for young people struggling to engage in school from year 5 up into Secondary.
Parental Minds is a community interest company (CIC) run by parents with lived experience of caring for children with mental health issues, and they have recently developed a training and support offer for school staff based on their experience of supporting parents and caregivers in East Devon.