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WQ.230/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
BY SENATOR T.A. VALLOIS
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 17th MAY 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 24th MAY 2021
Question
Will the Minister advise what consideration, if any, has been given to providing behavioural and mental health support units within secondary schools (particularly Town schools) that enable the inclusion of affected students amongst their peers whilst still ensuring support and safety are provided for all?
Answer
Mental health and well-being is an increasing issue and a policy priority in Jersey, supporting two of GoJ's five priorities by Putting children first' and Improving Islanders' wellbeing'.
The current behavioural and mental health support offer for schools includes services provided by the Education Inclusion Service such as the Primary Mental Health Workers and La Passarelle ( SEMH) based at The Bridge, where schools are able to refer young people aged 11-16 who are struggling to engage for a two term placement whilst still on their school roll.
Telephone advice and support is available to children, young people, parents/carers and schools, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm via the Children & Families Hub from a range of qualified practitioners on a range of well-being and behavioural issues.
As part of the future model of care, consideration is being given to a whole system approach to better supporting mental health and behavioural needs within secondary schools. A provider is currently being identified to audit every Jersey school, primary, special and secondary, including non-provided schools, to understand their individual mental health training and support needs and develop individual school action plans.
Work is ongoing via the Inclusion Review and the emotional well-being and mental health redesign work to identify the best approach to better supporting mental health and behavioural needs within schools; this may include a recommendation for behavioural and mental health support units within schools, however evidence review to date suggests taking a whole system and whole school approach to these issues.
Recommendations to date include:
• Named CAMHS Practitioners to offer support to each secondary school
• Children and Families Hub to include mental health specialist professionals able to provide telephone support
• Improving the quality and impact of mental health and well-being support as part of the core PSHE curriculum
• Providing significant governance and school leadership to guide a "whole school" mental health approach
• Monitoring the delivery of mental health and well-being support through
the Jersey Schools Review Framework, as this will ensure that delivery is maintained over time
• Re-specifying School Nursing via Family Nursing and Homecare (FNHC) to provide health and well-being drop-in clinics to students and parents/carers
• Providing additional capacity across the system, including behaviour support, mental health therapy and support, and parenting support
Recommendations will be finalised following the publication of the Emotional Well-being and Mental Health Strategy and outputs from the Inclusion Review and the Schools' Mental Health Audit.