Student Wellbeing
Student Wellbeing Vision
At Townley, the wellbeing of every student is the foundation for reaching their full potential. Establishing positive relationships between students, parents/carers and staff enable us to establish an environment that supports healthy emotional and mental health. We strive to ensure that students have access to support from staff and outside services to equip the individual student to develop skills over time to overcome difficulties and celebrate their successes.
Each of the tabs below opens a section with further information, on how to get support and information:
How to Reach Out (Inside School)
Speak about your concerns with:
- Someone at home
- A teacher
- Your House Tutor
- Your Learning Manager or Assistant Learning Manager
- Student Hub
Whisper Tool
Whisper is our school’s confidential system for reporting problems at school. Please see page 19 of your school planner or google hub for further information.
How to Reach Out (Outside of School)
Townley Grammar Safeguarding Team
Helpful Contacts
Whisper Tool
TGIS Keeping You Safe
Wellbeing Ambassadors
The school has trained Mental Health First Aiders – as well as student Welbeing Ambassadors – that promote the importance of students talking about their concerns, anxieties and worries and work to ensure that these worries are heard.
Our Wellbeing Ambassadors wear a Wellbeing Ambassador badge to be easily recognised by other students. The training enables students within the school community to support other students and educate them regarding dealing with mental health stigma and support the school pastoral framework.
The students have given assemblies to the rest of the school regarding their role as Wellbeing Ambassadors and what it entails. They have helped students identify when they need support and direct them to the right areas such as Student Hub and the pastoral team. They lead on whole school awareness days and deliver ad hoc sessions within their form groups. There are two student Wellbeing Ambassadors in every form group Year 7-11. They are fully trained by Bexley Public Health advisors.
Providers / Organisations we work with: MHST
Bexley MHST are the Mental Health in Schools Team, an NHS provision that hopes to help young people and parents by providing early intervention and preventative support. They are actively trying to reduce stigma and increase accessibility to mental health services. MHST aim to help prevent serious, long-term mental health difficulties from developing in the future by providing education and guided self-help interventions at an early stage.
They work with numerous schools in the area, and can only take referrals from schools they work with. As they grow as a service they can expand into more schools – which has allowed them to bring their services to our school. For adolescents the core offer is 1:1 guided self-help for low mood and anxiety, as well as workshops and group interventions within the school. Should you be interested in exploring this as an option for your child please email the safeguarding team in the first instance via safeguarding@townleygrammar.org.uk
Anti Bullying Ambassadors and Bullying Awareness Champions
Aim to change the attitudes, behaviour and culture of bullying by building skills and confidence to address different situations, both online and offline. At Townley Grammar School we utilise a mix of training from The Diana Award and Kidscape. They lead on whole school awareness days and weeks. There are two Anti Bullying Ambassadors in every form group Year 8-11.
Further resources and guidance can be found here:
https://www.antibullyingpro.com/
IMAGO - Bexley Young Carers
Last term we welcomed to our pastoral community, Imago.
Imago Young Carers delivers a support service to anyone aged 8-18 living in Bexley who is taking on caring responsibilities for a family member with a long-term illness, disability, mental health or substance misuse issue.
Imago Young Carers will enable Young Carers, aged 8-18, to receive some respite from their caring responsibilities, socialise with their peers and receive tailored support and information. We provide social groups for Young Carers called Chill Clubs.
For further information, please contact the Imago Young Carers Hub:
Phone: 0300 111 1110
Email: hello@bexleyyoungcarers.org.uk
The Imago YC Hub is available for you to call Monday to Friday 9-5pm to talk about Young Carers’ needs and can provide information, advice and signposting.
School Counselling
School counsellors provide 1:1, weekly safe spaces for students to discuss their concerns, build resilience, and develop coping mechanisms. School counselling is available to all young people, it averages as 6 sessions. They work within ethical guidelines, including confidentiality and safeguarding, and may collaborate with parents and staff. If the counsellor feels the young person needs more than 6 sessions they will let us know. At the end of the six sessions Granville Consultancy provide a written report which is stored on the young persons MyConcerns and hard copy of safeguarding files stored in the safeguarding office should the young person move educational establishment, the safeguarding file will be transferred to the new establishment. The student is recorded on the SEN register for the period of the counselling as Social Emotional Mental Health support. There is no cost for the school counselling. Should you be interested in exploring this as an option for your child please email the Learning Manager in the first instance who will Liaise with Safeguarding to complete a referral.
Granville - http://www.granvilleconsultancy.org.uk/
The school also utilises the services of CAMHS, Early Help and the School Nursing service where appropriate for students.
Telephone numbers:
Bexley CAMHS: 0203 260 5200
Greenwich CAMHS: 0203 260 5211
Bromley CAMHS: 0208 315 4430
Bromley Y: 0203 770 8848
Lewisham CAMHS: 0203 228 1000
CAMHS Crisis Line: 0203 228 5980
Oxleas Crisis Line (24/7 advice and support): 0800 330 8590
Web based self-help tools and advice across boroughs:
Bexley: www.bexleyvoice.org.uk
Greenwich: www.KOOTH.com
Bromley: www.bromley-y.org
Lewisham: https://www.together-uk.org/service-finder/lewisham-wellbeing-hub/
How parents/carers can help
Early intervention is key to us all being successful in supporting young people showing signs of poor emotional or mental wellbeing.
Warning signs of an issue might include:
- Increased isolation and being socially withdrawn
- Changes in mood, eating or sleeping patterns
- Physical signs of harm and talking about self-harm or suicide – look out for changes in how they dress
- Secretive behaviour
- Use of drugs and alcohol
- A dip in academic progress or increased lateness or absence from school
- Expressing feelings of failure and self-doubt
In times of need, we would encourage parents/carers to:
- Spend time listening and try to be understanding of the child’s needs
- Make sure the child knows they can talk to you anytime about anything
- Encourage family time and positive social interaction with trusted family friends
- Show the child affection and give them space to be peaceful
- Seek advice from professionals and do not be afraid to ask for help
There are some excellent support materials and guidance available on line for parents/carers. A few we would recommend are as follows:
Health and Sexual Health
Bexley Sexual health
Bexley One Stop Shop
Every Wednesday
12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Central Library
Townley Road
Bexleyheath
DA6 7HJ
Mental Health, Wellbeing and Bereavement
Papyrus - a young person's suicide prevention charity. They provide urgent support through HopeLine 24/7 0300 102 2470
www.papyrus-uk.org Text: 88247 and Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Out of Hours Avenues of support:
Immediate danger:
If you believe a child is at immediate risk you should call 999. You can also report crimes at https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/
Urgent mental health concerns:
If you are worried about your own or a child’s mental health and there is an immediate risk of harm, go to A&E at your nearest hospital or call 999
Concerns about a child (under 18):
If you want to talk to a social worker, regarding a particular young person you can contact the borough in which the young person lives. If you are concerned that by calling you may be put in a difficult position, you can make a referral anonymously. Please find contact details for Bexley below.
Bexley Children’s Services are available to members of the public, if you are worried about a child you can:
- call Children’s Services at the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (Mash) on 020 3045 5440 and speak to a social worker. If you’re worried you’ll be put in a difficult position, you can speak to them anonymously. The opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
- if it’s out of hours, call 020 8303 7777 or 020 8303 7171 - drop in and see them at Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, DA6 7AT
The following are other avenues to support children who are worried about themselves or another child.
Kooth – Free, and anonymous mental wellbeing support https://www.kooth.com/login
Samaritans – No judgement. No pressure. Here for anyone who needs someone. 116123 jo@samaritans.org www.samaritans.org
Childline – a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. 08001111 www.childline.org.uk
Papyrus - a young person's suicide prevention charity. They provide urgent support through HopeLine 24/7 0300 102 2470 www.papyrus-uk.org Text: 88247 and Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
NHS - Mental health for children, teenagers and young adults. Find advice and support about mental health for children, teenagers, students and parents. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/
