Transcript Primary Mental Health Workers in Education Sarah Davies

Primary Mental Health
Workers in Education
Sarah Davies & Sarah Jones
Promoting positive mental health and
emotional well being of children and young
people in Wrexham
National and local context
for PMHWiE role






NHS Health Advisory Service (1995) Together
We Stand
Welsh Assembly Government (2001)
Everybody's Business
DfES (2004) Every Child Matters Next Steps
DH (2004) NSF for Children, Young People and
Maternity Services
Wrexham CAMHS Strategy and Implementation
Plan. July 2005 – Sept 2010
CAMHS Review (2008)
National imperatives state
Tier 1 should:




Identify those who need help early in the
development of the problem
Offer advice and support to those with
mild or minor problems
Have sufficient knowledge of specialist
services to be able to refer on
appropriately as necessary
Contribute towards mental health
promotion
Our Principles
Promoting positive mental health and
emotional well being
 Supporting staff in schools to enhance
their own skills and confidence
 Encouraging early identification and
intervention
 Working in partnership with schools

Spring term 2008









Mapping existing provision within schools and
external agencies
Understanding existing structures
Establishing relationships
Developing a shared understanding of the role
Networking/ liaison with other agencies
Planning evaluation (audit and outcome
measures)
Developing resources and information for schools
Setting up systems, e.g. defining access routes to
PMHWiE service and developing recording
systems and paperwork
Creating service leaflet
Service delivery to Pilot
schools (April – Dec 2008)


Pilot project – 3 high schools and their primary
clusters
Work in high schools:
 Consultation
 Joint working
 Direct work with children and young people
 Universal mental health promotion
 Targeted group work
 Training
Service delivery to Pilot
schools (April – Dec 2008)
Area of work
Total
Consultations about individual pupils
93
Requests from school staff for information on mental
health issues
29
Direct work/ assessments
20
Referrals to Tier 3 CAMHS/ liaison
8
Pupils accessing universal mental health promotion
sessions
350
Pupils accessing targeted group work (e.g. managing
exam stress)
33
School staff trained in child and adolescent mental
health awareness
67
Key learning points and
recommendations




Developed an understanding of what needs
to be in place in schools for the service to
be effective
Most successful when all aspects of the
service are taken up by schools
Ongoing development of interface and
pathways between services
Recommendation that number of PMHWiE
posts be increased to provide wider
coverage across Wrexham schools
Feedback from pilot
schools…



“It has been very useful to talk to the health
workers and have time for detailed
consultation. Their work regarding
individual pupils has been invaluable to
them.” (School based professional).
“I feel more confident in dealing with this
type of issue, both as a result of my
increased knowledge and knowing I have
the back up of the PMHWiE.” (School based
professional).
“I feel that it is now possible to be more pro
active and to intervene much earlier.”
(School based professional).
What next?
PMHWiE Service evaluation report
 Next steps…
