Schedule of talks:
View the full programme (.pdf).
Thursday:
9.15am | Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) - introducing the roll-out of the mental health support teams in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
The Mental Health School Team will explain the National Roll out of MHST, answer some questions from Google on mental health and talk through the new role of the Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP).
Imran Mohomed, Family Service Manager (Imran.Mahomed@leicspart.nhs.uk); Andy Buck (Andrew.Buck@leicspart.nhs.uk) and Marie Cahill (Marie.Cahill@leicspart.nhs.uk), Senior Clinicians/Supervisors; Mellissa-Mae Brewster (Mellissa-Mae.Brewster@leicspart.nhs.uk) and Katie James (Katie.James@leicspart.nhs.uk), Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners
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10.00am | ADHD | Youth Work
An introduction to ADHD and the work of ADHD Solutions
An introduction to this complex condition that so often impacts on mental health. How ADHD Solutions can support families, children, young people, school and other practitioners to have a greater knowledge and understanding of ADHD and learn practical day-to-day strategies to effect real change.
Speaker: Ian Hall, Training Manager and ADHD Specialist Coach (ADHD Solutions CIC) (ian@adhdsolutions.org)
Youth Work Works: Collaboration to improve outcomes for young people
Cross-sector community collaboration brings efficient and effective ways to support young people in and beyond the school day. Examples of models that work, and are easy to implement.
Speaker: Abbee McLatchie, Director of Youth Work at the National Youth Agency
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10.30am | Mental illness in classroom | Trauma-informed curriculum
Significant mental illness in the classroom and what to do about it
An overview of the common signs and symptoms of significant mental health issues that could manifest themselves in the classroom environment, including eating disorders and emotional dysregulation. How to support young people in the classroom and how and where to get the help they need.
Speaker: Hannah Wakefield, Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing (hannah.wakefield@dmu.ac.uk) and Linda Aslett, Leader of Learning, Hospital and Outreach Education (Linda.Aslett@nhft.nhs.uk).
Activ8, A Trauma-Informed Curriculum Model
At St Andrew’s College we teach traumatised children and young people who are cared for under the Mental Health Act. I’ll use our experiences to show you the model that we use so that they may learn, achieve and believe in themselves.
Speaker: Peter Rainford, Curriculum Lead, St Andrew’s College
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11.00am | Partnerships and relationships | Academic Resilience Approach
Partnerships and relationships: a whole-school approach to mental health
This session will build on the presenter’s experience as a practitioner and researcher in restorative practices in education and how this links to a whole school approach to mental health and well-being. The presenter will share her 30 years of practical experience using restorative practices in criminal justice and education settings as well as current experience teaching at the University of Northampton on the National Award in SEN Co-ordination and Educational Mental Health Practitioner courses.
Speaker: Dr Nicola Preston – University of Northampton, UK and International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School, U.S.A.
The Academic Resilience Approach and implementation in Rutland schools
Join us for an introduction to the evidence based Academic Resilience Approach - a whole school approach to mental health and well-being.
Speaker: Morag Tyler, Lyn Harte – Resilient Rutland (info@resilientrutland.co.uk) and Gabrielle Rowles – BoingBoing (gabrielle@boingboing.org.uk)
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11.30am | Whole-school approach | Self-harm | Preventing violence
Supporting the whole-school approach
This webinar gives an overview of some of the partnership working that The Charlie Waller Trust does. It will include evidence-based information, as well as practical ideas and tools to support children, teachers and parents. By advocating a whole school approach, a culture of positive mental health and wellbeing can be created, that benefits pupils, school staff, parents and the wider school community.
Speaker: Claire Poole, The Charlie Waller Trust (claire.poole@northampton.ac.uk)
A new all-age community self-harm service for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland
In this webinar, Public Health present a short introduction to the newly commissioned all-age self-harm service for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. You will find out about what the service does, how your children and young people can access it and what it means for self-harm service access locally.
Speaker: Connor Melia, Senior Health Improvement Officer in Public Health for Leicestershire County Council (Connor.Melia@leics.gov.uk)
Preventing and Reducing Serious Violence
An introduction to the local Violence Reduction Network; An overview of serious violence locally, its causes and the factors which prevent it; What works in preventing and reducing serious violence and the role of schools
Speakers: David O'Hanlon-Ribbins, Children and Families Lead – Leicestershire Police (david.ohanlon-ribbins@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk)
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1.00pm | Autism in classroom | Positive food environment
Understanding and Reflecting on the Autism Experience in the Classroom Setting
A short introduction to the experience of autism within the teaching and learning environment with a focus on useful tips and reflections. The session is facilitated by Chris, who is both a learning disability nurse and an educator, as well as having a diagnosis of autism himself.
Speaker: Dr Chris Knifton, De Montfort University (cknifton@dmu.ac.uk)
Creating a positive food environment in schools for all children
The current approach to healthy eating is that it should be a positive, enjoyable, social experience rather than a chore. There are some positive feeding practices which are good to implement on a whole school basis, and this webinar will address some of these. In addition, some children find eating in school difficult. This webinar will partly address managing children with picky eating, food avoidance, and sensory problems, to ensure that all children have access to food to fuel their brains!
Speaker: Dr Helen Coulthard, Reader in Lifespan Eating Behaviour, De Montfort University
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1.30pm | Digital media | Suicide recovery
Digital Media and Mental Health: A Digital Ethics of Care Framework
In this webinar I explore some of the key issues regarding the relationship between digital media and mental health, showcasing adolescent voices on the issue. The webinar includes some practical tips for teachers and considers the usefulness of adopting a digital ethics of care framework which respects children's rights and recognises the moral dimension of digital media use.
Speaker: Dr Michelle O'Reilly; Associate Professor of Communication in Mental Health (UoL); Research Consultant and Quality Improvement Advisor for FYPC (LPT); CPsychol (Chartered Psychologist in Health); University of Leicester and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (mjo14@le.ac.uk)
Suicide Recovery in Schools
The webinar will focus on what material is available to schools following a death, this could be for the a student, staff member, parent or anyone affiliated within a school setting. Leicestershire Police operate a real-time suicide surveillance system which aims to give information, following a potential suicide to spot the factors which occurred in the hope this can prevent further suicides in the future.
Speaker: Barney Thorne, Safeguarding Partnership Manager, Leicestershire Police (Barney.thorne@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk)
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2.00pm | Motivational interviewing techniques | Peer relationships
Promoting school wellbeing by introducing some motivational interviewing techniques into your everyday school conversations
This webinar will introduce some key evidenced based motivational techniques that have the potential to strengthen your own communication when supporting your students pastorally or in the classroom.
Speaker: Dr Tania Hart, Associate Professor in Mental Health De Montfort University (tania.hart@dmu.ac.uk)
Peer relationships in school as a mental health priority
How children and young people get on with their peers and the quality of these relationships shapes their school experience and plays an important part on mental health and wellbeing. In this session I will explore what this means for schools and discuss strategies that can be used to prioritise these relationships.
Speaker: Dr Rachel Maunder, University of Northampton (rachel.maunder@northampton.ac.uk)
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2.30pm | Healthy Schools programme | Teenage brains
The Leicestershire Healthy Schools Programme: improving health and wellbeing across the school community
In this webinar, Public Health present a short introduction to the relaunch of the local Healthy Schools programme. In the session, you will find out about the new programme structure, how the team can support your school with your health and wellbeing needs and the public health programmes available to improve practice across the whole school.
Speaker: Connor Melia, Senior Health Improvement Officer in Public Health for Leicestershire County Council (Connor.Melia@leics.gov.uk)
Teenage Brain
Ever wondered why teenagers exhibit challenging behaviours, such as mood swings, irritability, risk taking and not wanting to get up in the mornings? This webinar gives an overview of a teenage brain course developed for parents and teachers, and explains what is going on with the teenage brain and how we can support teenagers in this ever-changing stage.
Speaker: Claire Poole, The Charlie Waller Trust (claire.poole@northampton.ac.uk)
Friday:
9.15am | Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) - introducing the roll-out of the mental health support teams in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
The Mental Health School Team will explain the National Roll out of MHST, answer some questions from Google on mental health and talk through the new role of the Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP).
Imran Mohomed, Family Service Manager (Imran.Mahomed@leicspart.nhs.uk); Andy Buck (Andrew.Buck@leicspart.nhs.uk) and Marie Cahill (Marie.Cahill@leicspart.nhs.uk), Senior Clinicians/Supervisors; Mellissa-Mae Brewster (Mellissa-Mae.Brewster@leicspart.nhs.uk) and Katie James (Katie.James@leicspart.nhs.uk), Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners
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10.00am | Transition to HE | Mental health in school culture
Higher Education Here I Come
The transition to higher education can be dauting and this session focuses on how future students can be supported with this next step in their education. There will be a focus on wellbeing and personal preparation and how schools can support with this.
Speaker: Dr Eunice Lumsden - Associate Professor; Subject Leader Childhood Youth and Families; University of Northampton (eunice.lumsden@northampton.ac.uk)
Building a school culture that puts mental health at the centre of provision
Rawlins Academy has worked hard to ensure mental health is at the heart of all school provision this webinar provides an overview of the journey to date and the proposed next steps.
Speaker: Cathy Robinson, Vice Principal - Rawlins Academy (cathyrobinson@rawlinsacademy.org.uk)
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10.30am | Supervision and coaching for staff wellbeing | Exercise and wellbeing
Use of Supervision and Coaching to support staff wellbeing and functioning
The webinar will provide a brief outline of supervision and coaching approaches, in an educational context, and relate case examples to illustrate the possibilities of using these approaches to support staff wellbeing.
Speaker: Russell Postlethwaite, Educational Psychologist, Futures in Mind
Keep the class active – benefits of exercise on children’s mental health and wellbeing
This session will focus on the importance of participating in sports and exercise for mental health and wellbeing of children. It will also provide some practical tips as to how this can be facilitated in the classroom and encouraged outside of school.
Speaker: Ryan Smith, Assistant Physiotherapist at Leicestershire County Cricket Club (ryanj.smith@hotmail.co.uk)
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11.00am | Digital literacy and critical skills | Acceptance and commitment therapy alongside mindfulness
Digital Literacy and 21st Century Critical Skills
Using the internet for research - positive, negatives and developments. Assessing for bias, reliability and misinformation. Supporting young people who have or are being groomed, radicalised or coerced - signposting to key agencies and further reading
Speaker: Robert Morrow, Youth Work Specialist at the National Youth Agency (robertm@nya.org.uk)
Using an acceptance and commitment therapy alongside mindfulness to help adolescents manage emotions
Using a developmental model of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and positive psychology to help adolescents manage emotions, connect with their values, utilise mindfulness and develop healthy relations
Speaker: Dr Mike Scanlan, Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant
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11.30am | Armed forces children | Graduated mental health support | Nurturing approach
Armed Forces Children: Supporting the mental health and well-being of these amazing children
Armed Forces children are a very special breed. They are truly the most amazing group of children to work with and yet their unique upbringing can cause emotional dysregulation and trauma within their young lives. This webinar hopes to shed light on how the deployment cycle effects children and how professionals can best seek to support children who experience this.
Speaker: Anneka Bellett, Assistant Head and SENDCo of Cottesmore Academy (part of the Rutland Learning Trust) (abellett@rltschools.com)
How a Trust-Wide Graduated Mental Health Approach has Supported Our Most Vulnerable Pupils Post-Covid
MHST has provided The Mead Education Trust in Leicester with significant support within it’s Trust-wide Graduated Mental Health Support Offer. Sophie Tales discusses the significance of this model across TMET as a response to the impact of COVID on pupils’ mental health.
Speaker: Sophie Tales, Associate Assistant Principal, TMET Inclusion Team, The Mead Educational Trust (stales@tmet.uk)
The nurturing approach in primary schools
This webinar will look at some of the challenges facing children with attachment difficulties and how we can understand and support them in school using a nurturing approach.
Speaker: Penny Rawlings – Nurture Lead Practitioner for Rutland
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1.00pm | Staff resilience and wellbeing | Supporting life-limiting conditions
Staff Resilience and Wellbeing in Schools
Description: An exploration of factors and approaches that foster resilience and an examination of potential risk factors for the wellbeing of staff.
Speaker: Dr Steve Dexter (Educational Psychologist, Leicestershire Educational Psychology Service) (Steve.dexter@leics.gov.uk)
Supporting families with a child with a life-limiting condition/palliative care needs
There are 99,000 children in the UK with life-limiting conditions and nearly 800,000 people involved in their care – you may be one of them. In this webinar we will take a bird’s eye view at some of their challenges and how you can offer help – signposting and guidance where it is most needed.
Speaker: Dr Helena Dunbar Director of Service Development and Improvement at Together for Short Lives, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, De Montfort University (Helena.dunbar@togetherforshortlives.org.uk)
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1.30pm | Parental mental illness | Children and family wellbeing service
Supporting children from families where a parent has a mental illness
This webinar will discuss some of the key ways having a parent with a mental illness can affect children and young people, and how this can manifest in their engagement with school. It will set out some brief principles for helping schools to become a more supportive environment for these pupils.
Speaker: Scott Yates (De Montfort University) (syates@dmu.ac.uk) and Lina Gatsou (LPT)
Children and Family Wellbeing Service: working with schools and families to improve outcomes for children and young people
This session will provide a summary of the services available for Leicestershire families from the Children and Family Wellbeing Service. The webinar will cover the role of the Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners who provide brief, CBT based interventions for children age 8+ who have low to medium level mental health problems. The session will also provide an overview of the wider service offer including parenting support, youth work, group work programmes, and how schools can refer.
Speaker: Ellie Lowe, Service Manager, Children and Family Wellbeing Services (Ellie.Lowe@leics.gov.uk) and David Barsby, Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner, Leicestershire County Council (David.barsby@leics.gov.uk)
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2.00pm | Mental health and nature | Suicide recovery
Mental Health and Nature: Flourishing in Forest School
Developing a close relationship with nature and engaging with simple activities in the natural world have been shown to play a key role in supporting and enriching our wellbeing and mental health. Forest School, which is gaining in popularity in the UK, is perhaps one outdoor learning vehicle that can support this vital relationship with nature and mental health. The purpose of this presentation is to share some preliminary insights from my current research and interest into how Forest School supports and develops learner confidence and a motivation and interest in learning and the impact this has in fostering and enhancing our mental health.
Speaker: Dr Dave Cudworth, Associate Professor, Head of Education, De Montfort University (dcudworth@dmu.ac.uk)
Suicide Recovery in Schools (repeated from Thursday)
The webinar will focus on what material is available to schools following a death, this could be for the a student, staff member, parent or anyone affiliated within a school setting. Leicestershire Police operate a real-time suicide surveillance system which aims to give information, following a potential suicide to spot the factors which occurred in the hope this can prevent further suicides in the future.
Speaker: Barney Thorne, Safeguarding Partnership Manager, Leicestershire Police (Barney.thorne@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk)
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2.30pm | Challenging behaviours | Learning disabilities | Mental health of refugees
Challenging behaviours in children with learning disabilities
Understanding what challenging behaviours are; Understanding why challenging behaviour happens; Developing strategies to avoid, minimise, de-escalate and manage challenging behaviours
Speaker: Dr Justine Barksby, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, De Montfort University (justine.barksby@dmu.ac.uk)
Insights: Understanding the needs of refugee children and youth in the UK post-migratory context
This webinar provides insight into the mental health and service needs of refugee, children and youth in the UK post-migratory context and the needs of service providers working with these vulnerable groups across education settings. The following key points will be discussed to provide a contextual understanding of needs:
- Supporting the refugee child in the education environment: Risks and Resilience
- Early transitions and psychosocial adjustment among unaccompanied youths
Speaker: Sarah A. Hunt, BSc Applied Psychology, Ph.D. (c), Research Interest: Refugee Studies, Mental Health and Service Needs among Asylum-seekers and Refugee Parents, Children and Youth - Improving Service Response to needs in the UK Post-migratory Context