Mental Health and Pastoral Leads
Every Hertfordshire school is asked to nominate a Mental Health Lead (MHL) and where possible a Deputy Lead (DMHL), who will be a key point of contact for emotional wellbeing/ mental health in the school, and a key link with external provision/whole school models. The MHL/DMHL role description can be read below.
All Mental Health Lead guidance and resources can be accessed via a login to the Healthy Young Minds in Herts website. MHLs can find the Level 1 and 2 training slides, the toolkit and advice on supporting a range of mental health issues.
Senior Mental Health Lead training
The Department for Education (DfE) is offering a grant of £1,200 for eligible state-funded schools and colleges in England to train a senior mental health lead to develop and implement a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. This training is not compulsory, but it is part of the government’s commitment to offer this training to all eligible schools and colleges by 2025.
Primary and Secondary MHL and pastoral networks
These networks provide useful opportunities to hear updates from local services. The primary network meets termly online and the secondary network meets face to face at Townsend school.
Dates for 2023-24 tbc
| Primary network | Thursday 23rd November 2023, 1.30pm – 3pm Thursday 14th March 2024, 1.30pm – 3pm Thursday 13th June 2024, 1.30pm – 3pm | Links to join the meetings are in the flier below contact: audrey.tonge@hertfordshire.gov.uk |
| Secondary network | Wednesday 12th June 2024, 4.15pm-5.30pm This will be an opportunity for local services to share what they offer. BBQ food available
| contact: istuckey121@townsend.herts.sch.uk |
Resources from the Primary and Secondary Network meetings
There is further information in the SEMH needs pages
Mental Health Kitemark update
The new Kitemark process is now finalised and a phased roll-out is planned over the next 2 terms.
This term, Summer 2023, the process is being trialled with a small number of schools, to test the process and make any necessary adaptations. This will involve schools completing the new self-review document along with an Assessor visit from a member of the EMWiE team.
In September, schools who had indicated that they were ready to submit the old version will be invited to join the new process, with a full roll-out to all primary and secondary schools in January 2024.
Alongside this, the process will continue to be developed for special schools, colleges and Early Years settings.
Anna Freud Centre - Mental Health Resource Hub
This resource hub has been created in partnership with and funded by the Department for Education, with new resources added regularly.
https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/whole-school-or-college-resources/
Useful Resources
CYPMHS Monthly Newsletters
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing news and information for professionals working with CYP and their parents/carers in Herts.