Leadership and management
A whole school approach involves a school leadership team that:
- recognises that a child or young person’s emotional health and wellbeing influences their cognitive development and learning
- champions and supports mental health and wellbeing for children and young people, and staff
- supports in a practical way as part of improvement planning
A whole-school/college approach involves all parts of the school, working together to establish and embed a commitment to mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL)
The Transforming Children and Young Peoples’ Mental Health Provision (2017) Green paper recommends that education settings have a Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL) who focuses on developing and implementing whole school approaches to Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing (MHEW).
It is important that the SMHL has the authority, capacity and support to influence and lead strategic change.
This SMHL will be responsible for leading on developing whole school initiatives but would need the support of other key staff members to ensure a joined-up approach. Key roles to include in developing whole school approaches to MHEW could include but are not limited to:
- PSHE leads
- Mental Health First Aiders, Thrive/Nurture Practitioners, Emotional Literacy Support Advisors
- Senior Leadership Team
- Attendance Officers
- Designated Safeguarding Leads and SENCo’s
A whole school/college approach to mental health and wellbeing is an ongoing process, not a one-off activity.
It is good practice to audit what your school/college is doing to prevent and identify mental health problems early and promote an environment that champions efforts to promote and support mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The Department for Education (DfE) currently have a £1200 grant available for new SMHL’s to access a training programme to understand the role and all eight principles of a whole school approach.
ESCC MHEW Advisors provide this training at a low cost; check the ESCC Learning Portal for dates.
Contact MHEW@eastsussex.gov.uk for support with auditing.
MHEW Policies and Procedures
We recommend developing a school/college mental health policy. The policy should aim to:
- promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all staff and pupils
- increase understanding and awareness of common mental health difficulties
- alert staff to early warning signs of mental health difficulties
- provide support to staff working with pupils with mental health difficulties
- provide support to pupils experiencing mental health difficulties, their peers, parents and carers
- provide appropriate support to parents and carers
The school/college’s mental health policy should also link to policies on behaviour, diversity, safeguarding, anti-bullying and e-safety.
MHEW Governor
We encourage school/colleges to have a MHEW governor with responsibility for oversight and scrutiny of policies, strategic intent, and stakeholder engagement relating to the mental health and wellbeing of staff and children and young people.
To support this role, we provide MHEW Governor training and networking opportunities. If your school/college is using the ESCC Governor services, your governor will be sent the information and dates of events.
- MHEW governors checklist [158.1 KB] [docx]
- The role of the wellbeing link governor - Governors for Schools
Leadership resources
The resources and links below can be used to support a school/college to review current practice and in policy and provision and to identify next steps.
- School health check
- WSA: Mapping and planning tool
- Mental Health Lead Role Guidance [685.1 KB] [docx]
- Mental health policy guidance [793.8 KB] [docx]
- Example school mental health policies
- Reducing mental health stigma in schools (educationsupport.org.uk)
- ABA_Responding_To_Bullying_Incidents_School_Tool.pdf (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk)
- ESCC Learning Portal for mental health themed training to support SMHLs with their understanding of mental health and develop strategies for support children and young people
- Peter House Strategy
Government guidance:
- Promoting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- Senior mental health lead training - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Mental health and wellbeing provision in schools (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
