Whole School Approach to Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health What do we mean by a whole school approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health? Ruth Conway Deputy Director Support for Learners Division, Welsh Government

Strategic context Prosperity for All (2017) Taking Wales Forward (2016-21) (2016) The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015) United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990) Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure (2011)

Education Context Our National Mission (2017) Developing a high-quality education profession. Inspirational leaders working collaboratively to raise standards. Strong and inclusive schools committed to excellence, equity and well- being. Robust assessment, evaluation and accountability arrangements supporting a self-improving system. Curriculum for Wales 2022 Ambitious capable learners Enterprising creative contributors Healthy confident individuals Ethical informed citizens

Mind Over Matter Report (April 2018) 27 recommendations and one key recommendation that: the Welsh Government make the emotional and mental well-being and resilience of our children and young people a stated national priority. This status should bring with it a commitment to: provide adequate and ring-fenced resource for our schools to become community hubs of cross-sector and cross-professional support for emotional resilience and mental well-being. Schools cannot shoulder this responsibility alone - the support of other statutory and third sector agencies, most notably health, is essential; ensure that emotional and mental health is fully embedded in the new curriculum; ensure that everyone who cares, volunteers or works with children and young people is trained in emotional and mental health awareness, to tackle issues of stigma, promote good mental health, and enable signposting to support services where necessary. This should include working with professional bodies to embed training in initial qualifications and continuous professional development; and publish every two years an independent review of progress in this area. This process should involve children and young people throughout.

Whole school approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health September 2018 Cabinet Secretary for Education and Cabinet Secretary for Health announce they will convene a Joint Ministerial Group on Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health, with membership drawn from: Secondary and primary school head teachers Education Consortia Association of Directors of Education Wales Estyn NHS Mental Health Chief Executive Public Health Wales Children’s Commissioner for Wales NAW Chair, Children, Young People and Education Committee DECIPHer Association of Directors of Social Services Senior Policy Officers from across Welsh Government Supported by a Stakeholder Reference Group of c.40 partner organisations Programme of work developed including Framework guidance for schools on adopting a whole school approach

Existing activity Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Together for Children and Young People Together for Mental Health School counselling CAMHS school in-reach School nursing framework School curriculum

School Counselling bulletin 2017/18

CAMHS School in-Reach Pilots Schools have welcomed the opportunity to involve other staff in training to build capacity (not just teaching staff) promoting consistency for and in schools by building relationships and networks e.g. School nurses, counsellors. Schools have welcomed the support from the practitioners when referrals are needed to CAMHS.   Consultation, advice and guidance sessions have been warmly received and schools welcome having access to experienced practitioners. Information sharing has improved across agencies. Training is going well, with engagement from schools, and training evaluation showing staff are motivated and passionate about this aspect of the service.

Coproduction Co-production means working with and involving individuals, their family, friends and carers to make sure care and support is the best it can be.   Co-production acknowledges that people with ‘lived experience’ of a particular condition are often best placed to advise on what support and services will make a positive difference to their lives. The key features of co-production are: Value all participants as equals and assets and everyone has a contribution to make. Reciprocity and the impulse to give back. Outcomes focus on achieving the outcomes that matter to individuals, rather than on the process of delivering services.

Thank you