Counselling in Schools Service

What is the Counselling in Schools Service?

Why have counselling/art therapy in your school?

Like most of us children and young people can find that their ability to concentrate and/or their behaviour is affected when they are trying to deal with difficult issues. Allowing them a safe, confidential space to explore these issues can enable them to achieve their full potential both personally and academically.

What are the benefits of providing counselling/art therapy for pupils?

For pupils the benefits can include:

• improved self-esteem
• reducing the risk of exclusion
• improvements in behaviour and/or attendance
• improved peer relationships
• better attainment/achievement.

Who can we work with

The service works with children and young people aged 5-19 years (up to 21 years with care leavers) within educational establishments across Hertfordshire. If the child/young person is not attending school/college, arrangements can be made to see them in an alternative, appropriate space, where possible.

We are a traded service meaning funding is needed in order for the work to go ahead. The majority of work is funded by schools direct, however depending on the circumstances of the child or young person, alternative funding may be available to support the work. If funding is an issue please contact the Safe Space team to discuss possible options available – 01992 588796. We provide free CRISIS support to schools when there has been a serious incident.

The features of the service

Counselling in Schools provides the following features

Provisions available:

• counselling (including use of play therapy skills)
• *art therapy
• group work
• reflective supervision for staff
• training

*Please note that due to a high volume of demand for art therapy currently, this provision is only available in limited areas of the county. Please contact the Safe Space team to check availability before making a referral for art therapy.

Guaranteed quality assurance

• all our Counsellors are qualified to Diploma level and beyond and Art Therapists to Masters level
• all our therapists have a valid Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• all Counsellors and Art Therapists access regular clinical supervision
• all Counsellors are accredited or working towards accreditation with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Timely access to emotional health and wellbeing support

We aim to respond to initial enquiries within five working days. The time taken to set up the service within a school will depend on the size of the contract and the capacity within the service at the time of the request. If we are unable to provide support we will where possible offer suggestions for alterative services that may be beneficial.

What are the benefits of buying in the Counselling in Schools service?

• over twenty years of experience in delivering therapeutic provisions in school settings
• Hertfordshire wide coverage
• experienced staff with a range of therapeutic tools e.g. play therapy skills
• experience of providing therapy to children / young people with additional needs
• annual or Short-term contracts to allow consistency / flexibility of provision
• ability to respond quickly in a crisis
• ability to follow a child or young person through educational establishments in
  Hertfordshire e.g. Primary to Secondary to support transition
• established policies and procedures for implementing service provision and maintaining quality assurance
• service delivery supports a range of local strategies Children and Young People’s plan and Emotional Health and Well-being (CAMHS) strategy for Hertfordshire
• links with universal, targeted and specialist services to provide support to child /young person and schools where appropriate i.e. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Service aims

• to deliver quality assured therapy to support the emotional and mental health and well-being of children and young people in Hertfordshire.
• offer a safe and confidential space for the client to explore any issues they may be having; work through them by developing positive coping strategies; supporting them to find their voice and enable them to build strong relationships at home and school.
• to empower children and young people to find their own way of dealing with their thoughts and feelings
• to keep the child/young person at the centre of the service and the work we deliver

Counselling in Schools information booklets

For more information about the Counselling in Schools service, please see the leaflets below: