Student Mental Health & Wellbeing

At EPC, we firmly believe that supporting pupils to enjoy positive mental health and well-being is a whole staff responsibility. Furthermore, we strive to educate our young people about mental health and emotional well-being, removing the stigma sometimes relating to mental illness. We offer a graduated response to need when supporting young people whose mental health and well-being requires some extra support.

The College named Mental Health Lead is Mrs R. Whitmore-Gill:

Mrs R. Whitmore-Gill
SENDCo
Ext. 6066
E: SEND@epcollege.org

If you have any concerns about mental health or emotional well-being please do not hesitate to contact the Pastoral Team for further discussions and support.

Led by our Mental Health Lead, the Pastoral Team consists of 13 First Aid Mental Health trained staff. When a student is identified as requiring mental health or emotional well-being support, a referral is made by the pastoral team to the Senior Mental Health Lead. Students are then discussed and appropriate support or intervention, following a graduated response to need, will be decided: most importantly, the decisions made will always involve pupil and parent/carer voice.

Examples of School-based interventions and support

  • CAMHS validated resources for pupils to access at home and during the school day to promote well-being and develop anxiety controlling strategies
  • ELSA programme of support
  • School Nurse referral

Examples of Outside Agency Intervention and Support

If school-based strategies and interventions do not have the positive outcomes desired then we may refer, in consultation with home, students and parents to wider services: this may include

  • Signposting students, parents and carers to community based and voluntary organisations that can offer further support and advice
  • NHS referral GP or CAMHS– following on from school nurse referral, discussion and advice

Advice would be sought from any professionals involved as detailed above to ensure that school is keeping pupils safe and any strategies suggested can be supported and, wherever possible, employed within school.

Safeguarding and Mental Health

All staff, as per our whole-school safeguarding policy, will be aware that mental health problems can, in some cases, be an indicator that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse, neglect or exploitation. Only appropriately trained professionals can diagnose a mental health condition.  Our staff however, are well placed to observe children day to day and identify those whose behaviour suggests they may be experiencing a mental health issue or be at risk of developing one.

If a pupil’s mental health is so fragile that they are sharing suicidal ideation then the Safeguarding Team would always recommend and support that parents/carers take the young person to A and E where their needs can be immediately assessed by the Emergency Mental Health Team.

Useful Websites to Support Well-Being

Cheshire West and Chester offer advice and support. If you would like to access this, please visit Cheshire West and Chester Mental Health information point:

The NHS website is a great source of support for the mental health needs. Visit the site below for further information.

 

Young Minds offers support and Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals. Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

 

Further helplines for conditions such as Stress, Anxiety and Depression can be found on the following links:

 

 

PAPYRUS is the UK Charity for the prevention of young suicide. For PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK call 0800 068 4141 (open 10am-10pm weekdays, 2pm-10pm weekends and bank holidays).

Self-help apps

Here is a list of useful self-help apps.

Behaviour and Welfare

Our Aims
Consistency Across the College
Pastoral Care
Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
FFET Awards
Online Behaviour Tracking System
Student Leadership Team
Sanctions: A Graduated Response
Anti-Bullying
Tell Us
Attendance and Punctuality
Uniform & Appearance

As a College we provide a range of support for our children which includes Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) trained staff. Their role is to support the emotional well-being of pupils.

Miss Kay Gadsby
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Ext. 6142
E: kgadsby@epcollege.org

Mrs Louisa Davies
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Ext. 6102
E: ldavies@epcollege.org

Children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)

EPC has a CAMHS professional linked to our school who offers ongoing support and guidance for vulnerable/high risk students, staff supervision, alongside staff training. At any time, school or parents can contact the CART (CAMHS Assessment and Response Team) for advice and guidance 01244 393 200.

Online Safety

Internet Matters – this is the main online safety advice site for parents in the UK. Internet Matters has a wealth of information for parents including simple tutorials on how to set up the internet filter on your broadband, settings for all devices, advice and guidance, and much more, the link is below:

Common Sense Media – a huge site which allows you to search on a game or app to learn more about it. It also includes books and TV shows too

Think you know – This website is also a great source of support, which sends out tasks and activities that families can complete together to get adults and children addressing concerns around staying safe online.

NetAware – This website is brilliant in terms of understanding the apps kids are using:

AACOSS – The video below gives some useful, simple advice and guidance for parents and carers regarding children and their online activities

Safer Schools Partnership

EPC also works in alliance with Safer Schools and Young People Partnership Cheshire, and our Police Youth Engagement Officer, PC Sarah Bailiff. For more information visit https://www.cheshire.police.uk/police-forces/cheshire-constabulary/areas/cheshire/campaigns/information-for-schools/Â