Young people in Cumbria will soon benefit from funding for new teams, to work with primary and secondary school pupils to support their emotional wellbeing needs.
There are already two teams in Cumbria – one in the Carlisle area and the other in Barrow-in-Furness and the latest funding support from NHS England and Improvement and the Department for Education means two more teams will be developed in north Cumbria.
An existing team in Morecambe Bay, which includes south Cumbria, will be joined by an additional team.
The teams are made up of mental health professionals trained to deliver an early intervention response directly with pupil populations, and also alongside school staff to develop a whole school approach.
Around 8,000 pupils can be supported by each team.
The teams also include the new role of emotional wellbeing practitioners. The new national role has been developed for this approach and means teams will recruit and train individuals to provide the specialist support.
Dr Amanda Boardman, GP lead for safeguarding, mental health and children for NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “The team being developed in Carlisle is working with children and young people in primary and secondary schools, special schools and the Pupil Referral Unit.
“We are delighted about the opportunities this will bring, and we are pleased that we are helping to develop and shape these new roles. When we have our teams up and running, more than 50 per cent of school age children in north Cumbria will have access to these teams. It is a fantastic development.”
All the new teams will be in place from autumn 2023.
In north Cumbria, the second team will work with schools in Allerdale and Mayfield special school.
The location of the third team will be decided working with partners in Morecambe Bay and will work in the remaining special schools that are not covered by the original teams that are already in place, as well as a new cohort of schools.
Dr Lauren Dixon, Barrow GP and GP executive lead for integrated care at NHS Morecambe Bay CCG, said: “We’ve already seen the positive impact that mental health support teams bring to schools in our local area so the news that we’ll be able to recruit another team into Morecambe Bay is brilliant.
“For many children, lockdown restrictions have been particularly difficult, so providing support for their mental health is vital and we would encourage them and their families to seek help if needed.
“Having teams in schools means that children with mental health needs get help at a much earlier stage and our CAMHS services can then focus on those who need the specialist
input they provide.”
