Summary
Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) is a three-year DCSF Pathfinder programme aimed at supporting the development of innovative models of therapeutic and holistic support in schools for children and young people aged 5 to 13 at risk of, and/or experiencing, mental-health problems, and their families.
The West Midlands had three pathfinder sites in Phase I - Shropshire, Wolverhampton and Coventry - and has five pathfinder sites in Phase II - Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Walsall, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire.
The remaining Local Authority areas - Solihull, Staffordshire, Birmingham, Stoke and Sandwell - have been invited to submit plans for Phase III which will come on board in March 2010.
Each Pathfinder has individual delivery plans to provide
- capacity building of staff in universal services via e.g. mental health awareness training and consultation,
- support for parents and carers through e.g. parenting support groups, information sessions and use of websites, and
- targeted interventions to children, young people and their families.
Interventions include e.g. implementing group and individual work using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches. Other Pathfinders are focusing on transition, addressing issues to do with body image, loss and bereavement and domestic violence. There are many emerging examples of work to integrate a range of services which have a role in promoting Children’s Mental Health e.g. through participation on project steering groups and joint training and development of care pathways.
Regional support for Pathfinder is commissioned via the National CAMHS Support Service and delivered through NHS Regional Development Centres.
The West Midlands RDC Lead for TaMHS is Sallyann Sutton.
Aim of TaMHS
To improve Mental Health and Well-being outcomes for children, young people and families and delivery of comprehensive CAMHS, through targeted support to young people and families identified through school clusters.
Objectives
- To engender partnership working and liaison systems across Children’s Centres, Extended Schools, Early Years and CAMHS.
- To support the development of a plurality of providers of services supporting children’s emotional health and well-being.
- To support the development of clearer needs-led care pathways to include seamless, effective and appropriate transitions between services.
- To encourage joined-up working across EHPWB and the care pathway.
- To share learning and support the further roll out of TaMHS and best practice models.
- To provide a support and challenge role to phase two Pathfinders and phase one Pathfinders who are showing experiencing serious difficulties.
- To facilitate regional 'share and learn' days at least twice and in accordance with direction from the national TaMHS team.
- To evaluate project plans when requested to be submitted to DCSF and support pathfinders to do this.
More information
- To find out more about TaMHS visit; http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/healthandwellbeing/mentalhealthissues/tmhsproject/tmhs/
Selected Information regarding Phase II of Targeted Mental Health in Schools is available below:
- Annex A, TaMHS Roll-out Criteria (.doc)
- Annex B, TaMHS Research Project Background (.doc)
- Annex C, TaMHS Project background Information (.doc)
- TaMHS Roll-out Letter to Local Authorities (.doc)
WMRDC TaMHS Contact: Sallyann Sutton