Mental Health in Schools Team
MHSTs are new teams designed to help meet the emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people in education settings. They are made up of senior clinicians and higher-level therapists, and Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs).
In 2020, NHS England confirmed that Sunderland had been allocated funding to set up a MHST in education settings. The MHST will provide a range of mental health support to pupils aged 5-18 years old, parents and carers and education setting staff. The support will include resources, group work (including assemblies), and 1:1 work with individuals, and the full range of support will be considered and co-produced with young people and their families and education staff.
Hill View Infant Academy won a bid to become one of only 8 schools in the Sunderland area accessing this service.
How the MHST and Hill View will work together?
The MHST will work within the emotional wellbeing and mental health support structures that already exist at our school, such as counselling, educational psychology, education setting nursing, pastoral care, educational welfare, VCSEs, the local authority provision and NHS children and young people’s service (CYPS).
Individual staff from the MHST will focus on a cluster or group of education settings, building a relationship with them, particularly focused on the senior mental health lead in the education setting. (Mrs Luisa Gibson)
Our Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) is called Andrew. If you feel your child would benefit from support from Andrew and Luisa in school then please get in touch using the email opposite.
Hi my name is Luisa Gibson and I am Hill View Infant Academy’s appointed Family Liaison Officer.
My role is to provide support to parents/carers with any issues that you may have supporting your child either in school or at home.
I work to promote parental involvement in school, can signpost to agencies out of school and support children in school. I can provide information and advice to parents and investigate any concerns raised.
I work with you, the teachers and senior leadership team to help support your child to learn and enjoy their school days. Should you have any queries or concerns I am here to support you, I aim to provide a caring manor and an understanding listening ear.
To speak with me about anything at all please contact the school office or via email at shvlgibson@hvi.org.uk
I am available to contact via the school office and will aim to be on the school yard at collection times throughout the week.
