Dan Hughes Adviser, Targeted Mental Health in Schools Wolverhampton Contact

What is Food for Thought? Food for Thought is a series of informal, lunchtime seminars with a focus on working with children and families from a mental health perspective.

Rationale Initial Aims Mental health awareness Encouraging psychological approaches Additional Benefits Professional links CPD

Topics covered Projects –e.g. ‘Family Life and Emotional Health’ Professional roles –e.g. ‘The Role of the Social Inclusion Pupil Support Worker’ Issues –e.g.‘Self Esteem and Mental Health’ Theories/Application of theories –e.g. ‘Managing Challenging Behaviour with Attachment in Mind’ Approaches –e.g. ‘Person Centred Counselling’

Speakers e.g. –Educational Psychologist –Clinical Psychologist –TaMHS Adviser/Office –Nurse –Psychotherapist –Play Therapist Finding speakers

Promotion Posters – Clear design – Consistent identity (logo) – Placed around the professional centre s –Consistent identity (logo) –All council employees in children and young people Leaflets –Initially distributed to Multi-Agency teams –Renewed interest

Practicalities Jennie Lee Professional Centre –Training rooms Computers and projectors Capacity 30 Layout/informality Friday lunchtime, 12pm - 1pm Alternative venues

Outcomes Mean attendance: 12 Professionals attending: –Social Worker –Educational Psychologist –Teacher –Early Years Practitioner –Nursery Nurse –Educational Welfare Officer –Mentor Coordinator –CAMHS Practitioner Requests for further training

What’s next? Schools Promoting further afield