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13
WQ.217/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION BY DEPUTY K.G. PAMPLIN OF ST. SAVIOUR
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 21st MAY 2019
Question
Will the Minister confirm what plans, if any, are in place to improve the mental health support available at all levels of schooling?
Answer
Current arrangements available to schools include the following:
- A comprehensive training offer for all school based staff in the areas of Mental Health and well being
- The opportunity for professionals to access face to face and telephone consultation with primary mental health workers; educational psychologists; well-being facilitators. This is an opportunity to talk through concerns, signpost and where appropriate agree suitable next steps including relevant interventions
- Direct support (either 1:1 or as part of a small group) to children, young people provided by:
- primary mental health workers
- educational psychologists
- well-being facilitators
- school-based counsellors
- emotional literacy support assistants
Some young people can be reluctant to access support in school and they have the option to access similar in the community through the Youth Enquiry Service (YES).
- Wider support from the voluntary and community sector including (but not limited to) Mind Jersey and Youthful Minds
- Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) support for a small but significant number of children and young people with more complex needs. This will typically involve close partnership working with schools
There is work ongoing and scheduled to review current arrangements across the whole system and sector for supporting children and young people with mental health needs both in schools and the community. This will ensure clarity on levels of need via a strategic needs assessment; review capacity to provide for these needs and ensure a clear position on how services are organised to ensure support has maximum impact.
Currently a project team led by the Group Director, Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) and the Operations Director, Health and Community Services (HCS) are working to deliver the safe and effective transfer of community based health services of children, including CAMHS, from the operational management of HCS to CYPES.
There will then be a joint piece of work to consider the future shape and design of services to children and young people with mental health and emotional wellbeing issues. The project will consider international best practice and review services across the spectrum of need from early help to more intensive service specialist services dealing with acute difficulties. There is a link to the work taking place on early help across children's services.