Increasing mental health support in Harris secondary schools

The Harris Federation is building a new team of qualified practitioners to support Harris students with their mental health. 

According to an NHS Digital report, one in six children aged 7 to 16 years had a probable mental disorder in 2022, rising from one in nine in 2017. It’s also been reported that with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) being stretched, following increasing demand and fewer resources, some of the most vulnerable children wait almost three years to access mental health care. 

There is no doubt of covid’s impact on mental health concerns; over the last two and a half years, young people have experienced uncertainty and disruption to their everyday life, including multiple lockdowns that kept them away from friends, family, school, and hobbies. An internal welfare audit conducted in November indicated that reported mental health concerns in secondary students at Harris academies are still way above pre-pandemic levels. 

In response to this, the Harris Federation have committed to increasing the mental health and wellbeing provision in their schools. As part of a new initiative, a new Harris School Mental Health Team is being introduced to ensure that secondary students at Harris academies get the support they need, when they need it.  

Currently, all academies have a designated safeguarding lead who is responsible for managing mental health risks in schools, but this new team will increase the amount of dedicated support that struggling students will receive. These qualified practitioners will also lessen the pressure on academy staff who are not trained to manage severe mental health cases. 

Initially working across eight Harris secondary schools, the new team of four School Mental Health Practitioners will be led by a School Mental Health Team Leader. This person will report to the Senior Lead Consultant and Director of Secondary Schools, and will oversee the work of the new team, and provide regular supervision to the other practitioners. 

David Shanks, Senior Lead Consultant, said:

At Harris we strive to do the best for our students each and every day. Our staff have always worked tirelessly to support all students, including those facing mental health challenges. However, the extent of the post-pandemic challenges we are facing in our schools and the strain on existing resources, means we must act now. 

 

Our vision is that our new Harris School Mental Health Team will target and have a positive impact on the large numbers of our young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues and provide appropriate support before they become more severe. Given the scale of the challenges faced, we fully recognise the team must sit as part of a wider, multi-disciplinary approach and we are exploring other initiatives that will support this work.

 

We are fully committed to building this new team and are keen to bring on board equally passionate people who are excited by innovation and the prospect of shaping the provision to maximise its impact. This will support our drive to best support our students and give mental health the focus and profile it deserves. 

Each member of the new team will be assigned to specific schools, allowing them to get to know the young people they are working with. However, the team will also work closely together to share best practice, utilising each other’s specialisms, enabling them to deliver the best support. 

Talibah Bello is the first of the School Mental Health Practitioners to start, working across Harris Academy Bermondsey and Harris Academy Peckham. Of her expereince so far, she said:

It has been a great opportunity to be part of the Harris Federation’s vision to increase mental health support and awareness within academies. I have found it rewarding to support students and see them learn new skills and develop techniques to improve their wellbeing.

 

This role has also given me an exposure to a diverse range of approaches and allows me to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and with external agencies, both statutory and voluntary. Being part of a federation gives unique perspectives and insights into mental health and wellbeing within different contexts. 

If you are a qualified mental health practitioner and would be interested in being part of this new team, please keep an eye on our vacancies page.  We will be advertising for additional School Mental Health Practitioners in the near future.