Supporting children and young people with mental health conditions
Walton High is committed to supporting children with mental health conditions to ensure they are able to fully access the school’s curriculum and go on to live happy and fulfilled lives.
Through the school’s PSHE programme, students are made aware of how to live healthy lives to ensure both their physical and mental wellbeing.
Walton High can become aware of students with mental health issues in a number of different ways:
- students express a wish to access support themselves
- staff observations of concerning behaviour or through conversation with students
- parents contact Walton High for advice or to inform us of their child’s situation
- external agencies are involved and contact Walton High to discuss the situation or in-school support
The support at Walton High includes:
As Tutors have daily contact with their tutor group, it is sometimes appropriate for them to offer basic support. This may be informal chats during tutor time or offering a little time at the end of tutor time. Tutors deliver the school’s PSHE programme which addresses issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing.
The Pastoral Team work closely with students displaying signs of anxiety or distress. This may involve one to one sessions to talk through difficulties and identify strategies that students may find helpful. Students presenting with these difficulties are brought to the attention of the Pastoral Director/Designated Safeguarding Lead and the Student and Family Support Advisor to ensure that their situation is being closely monitored and can be referred for further action when necessary.
The Trust’s Educational Psychologist provides support for students as well as advice and guidance for staff and parents.
The Medical Room Supervisor is available not only for physical injuries and illness, but also supports when students present with mental health issues too. This includes support for students presenting with symptoms of anxiety or panic by providing refocussing/breathing techniques.
The Student and Family Support Advisor has a caseload of students that are seen on a one-to-one basis, but also provides four weekly drop-ins for students to stop by for advice, support or guidance.
The SAFSA also works closely with the Pastoral Director to manage referrals and explore options for accessing external agencies where appropriate.
Specialist support services
- CAMHS – moderate to severe mental health
- Compass – substance misuse and early intervention
- Brook – sexual health and advice services
Non-specialist support services
- Children and Families Practice – holistic approach and family support
- Service Six – tailored one-to-one support and group work dependent on need
- Independent counselling service
There is usually a waiting list for all agencies, regardless of the work that they do. Parents are always consulted prior to external agency involvement and where appropriate are also provided with a list of local services and advice numbers (see below).
When Walton High becomes aware of a young person presenting with self harm thoughts/ideation, intent or attempt, parents would normally be contacted to make them aware of the concerns so that appropriate action and support can be discussed.
If a young person discloses that they have self harmed that could require medical intervention, parents are called to collect and asked to take their child straight to A&E. The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is contacted and Multi Agency Referral Form (MARF) completed.
If a young person is experiencing suicidal ideation with intent, parents are contacted and CAMHS are also contacted for advice. The advice is usually to present at A&E for a mental health screening.
Where suicidal ideation with or without intent is present in a young person, parents are always advised that they can present at A&E to see a Mental Health worker from CAMHS at any time if they are concerned about the safety of their child. During office hours, they are advised to contact the CAMHS Referral and Advice line first as they might be advised to go straight to CAMHS
All staff are made aware of the support services available in school as well as who they can liaise with regards to any wellbeing or safeguarding concerns. They also receive safeguarding training that covers the management of sensitive information, the wellbeing of students and of themselves.
Counselling
YiS – Youth Counselling Service
401-407 Margaret Powell House
Midsummer Boulevard
Milton Keynes
MK9 3BN
http://www.mkyis.org.uk/
Email: info@mkyis.org.uk
01908 604700
West Bletchley WellBeing Counselling Service
221a Whaddon Way
West Bletchley
Milton Keynes
MK3 7DZ
http://www.wbwbcounselling.org.uk/
Email: wbwbcounselling@btconnect.com
01908 370860
Mind
Milton Keynes Wellbeing Centre
Margaret Powell House
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 3BN
Open: Monday to Thursday: 9.00am-9.30pm, Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
http://www.mind-blmk.org.uk/
Email: miltonkeynes@mind-blmk.org.uk
01908 257830
Relate Milton Keynes
47 Aylesbury Street
Wolverton
MK12 5HX
http://www.relatemk.org
Email: appointment@relatemk.org
01908 310010
Counselling Works Ltd
62 High Street
Stony Stratford
Milton Keynes, MK11 1AQ
http://www.counsellingworks.co.uk/
Email: enquiries@counsellingworks.co.uk
01908 263800
Eating Disorders/Weight Management
MoreLife Family Weight Management
Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes
https://www.more-life.co.uk
Email: e.team@more-life.co.uk
0113 812 5233
Bereavement
Child Bereavement UK
Sapphire House
Opal Court
Fox Milne
Eastlake Park
Milton Keynes MK15 0DF
http://www.childbereavementuk.org/
Email: mksupport@childbereavementuk.org
Email: support@childbereavementuk.org
01908 550895 or 0800 028 8840 for Support & Information
Milton Keynes Bereavement Service
PO BOX 6298
Milton Keynes
MK1 9GA
http://www.bereavementservicemk.org.uk/
Email: mk.bs@virgin.net
07483 308032
Drop-In times are as follows:
Monday
12.00pm - 2.00pm
West Bletchley Wellbeing Counselling Service,
221a Whaddon Way, Bletchley MK3 7DZ
Tuesday
7.00pm - 9.00pm
West Bletchley Wellbeing Counselling Service,
221a Whaddon Way, Bletchley MK3 7DZ
Thursday
2.00pm - 4.00pm
West Bletchley Wellbeing Counselling Service,
221a Whaddon Way, Bletchley MK3 7DZ
Harry's Rainbow
7 Warren Yard, Warren Park
Wolverton Mill
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NW
http://harrysrainbow.co.uk
Email: info@harrysrainbow.co.uk
01908 061676
Substance Misuse
Compass Milton Keynes
Young People’s Substance Misuse Service
33-37 Farthing Grove
Netherfield
Milton Keynes
MK6 4JH
https://www.compass-uk.org/news/uncategorised/compass-milton-keynes-drug-alcohol-awareness/
01908 250730
Sexual Health Services, Support and Advice
Brook
624 South Fifth Street
Central Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
MK9 2FX
http://www.brook.org.uk
Brook Central Milton Keynes - Main Clinic Website
01908 669215 or 0300 300 3030
Young Carers
Carers Milton Keynes
Margaret Powell House,
439 Midsummer Boulevard,
Central Milton Keynes,
MK9 3BN
http://youngcarersmk.org/
Email: mail@carersmiltonkeynes.org
01908 231703
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans
Q:alliance
Acorn House
381 Midsummer Boulevard
Milton Keynes
MK9 3HP
http://qalliance.org.uk/
Email: communications@qalliance.org.uk
Mental Health
Milton Keynes Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (MK Sp CAMHS)
Eaglestone Health Centre
The Hospital Campus
Standing Way
Eaglestone
Milton Keynes
MK6 5AZ
01908 725372
Telephone referrals and advice line available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Young Minds
0808 802 5544
Call the Parents Helpline
Call for free Mon-Fri from 9:30am to 4pm – available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Family Support
Children and Families Practices - One family, one plan
Early Help Team
Children and Families
502 Avebury Boulevard
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 3HS
http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/children-young-people-families/early-help/children-and-families-practices-one-family-one-plan
Email: cfp@milton-keynes.gov.uk
01908 691691
MK Dons Get SET Parenting
Email: getset@mkdonsset.com
01908 622936
Domestic Violence
MK-ACT Domestic Violence Intervention Services
Managed by MK Women’s Aid
Contact us for:
Confidential Advice
Support and Information
Access to emergency accommodation
Email: info@MK-ACT.org
0344 375 4307 Helpline Office hours
Telephone Support
Childline
https://www.childline.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
0800 1111
Samaritans
161 Fishermead Boulevard
Fishermead MK6 2AB
Email: jo@samaritans.org
08457 90 90 90
01908 667777
Open 24 hours a day. There to talk if you need it or something is troubling you.
Talk for Change
https://www.talkforchange.org.uk
01908 228830
A single point of access to talking therapies in collaboration with MIND. Help with stress, anxiety, panic, obsessive thoughts, addictions etc.
Please note this is not a crisis service. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis situation, please contact your GP, visit your nearest Accident and Emergency Service or call the Samaritans on their emergency number 08457 90 90 90.
