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We provide early intervention mental health support for children and young people with an identified special educational need and disability (SEND) need, an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) or who are on the pathway to gaining a diagnosis and/or an EHCP, within schools across Hertfordshire and West Essex.
The SEND MHST does not cover mainstream schools. You can find more information about mental health support teams in mainstream schools.
The SEND MHST is not an emergency service. If you feel unsafe you can contact 111 for mental health advice and support.
In the situation of medical emergency dial 999 or go to the nearest A&E department.
- How the service is provided
- Who is eligible for the service
- Making a referral
- Useful information
- Location
- Contact us
How the service is provided
The service offers early intervention mental health support in areas such as:
- worry management
- anxiety
- low mood
- behaviours that pose a risk to the individual’s safety, wellbeing or quality of life
- emotional regulation.
We are a multi-disciplinary team, with a range of experienced clinicians across both mental health and SEND support. We work in partnership with schools, children, young people and families to explore the right early intervention support, and deliver a short-term intervention either individually, as a group, or through supporting the school to develop a whole school approach to mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Who is eligible for the service
A child or young person would need to meet the following criteria to access the service:
- attend a Hertfordshire or West Essex school with an attached MHST - You can find a list of schools and colleges with an MHST and referrals into the teams can be made via the school.
- young person and parent consent to the intervention
- child and young person has a diagnosed SEND need or is on the pathway for diagnosis.
- mental health need is mild to moderate, or meets ‘getting advice and/or getting help’ under the i-Thrive model.
Making a referral
Referrals are completed and received by schools to access the service.
Please discuss with the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO), Mental Health Lead, or Link person within the school to explore a referral to the service.
The referral will be considered by the team. If the MHST is not the most suitable service to support needs, the service will signpost or support further referrals, as appropriate to need.
Referrals maybe added to a waiting list, depending on service capacity and need.
What happens following your referral
The referral will be fully assessed, and if all criteria for the SEND MHST is met, the family will be contacted to begin the process of working together.
There is a requirement for full parental involvement and it maybe appropriate to work with parents, schools and the system around the child, rather than the child directly to achieve a positive outcome, and fully support the mental health need.
Questionnaires will be used at the beginning and end of the MHST intervention. To evidence if the MHST support has made any positive changes to the child and the family.
Useful information
Enquiries from schools about joining the SEND MHST or mental health lead training can be sent to the EMWiE (Emotional, Mental Wellbeing in Education) team at SchoolsMH@hertfordshire.gov.uk
More information about mainstream schools' mental health support teams is available.
Read the latest Emotional & Mental Wellbeing in Education magazine.
Location
Groups and workshops will be held within the child or young person’s school.
One-to-one support with parents or children and young people can be face-to-face within schools or virtual, as appropriate and in line with patient choice.
Contact us
Email: hct.mhst@nhs.net
Phone: 01727 732031
