National Overview and information on The Place2Be Edinburgh Hub Web: Tel: 020 7923 5500 Email: [email protected] Supporting.

National Overview and information on The Place2Be Edinburgh HubWeb: www.theplace2be.org.uk Tel: 020 7923 5500 Email: [email protected]

Supporting troubled, unhappy children in schools The Place2Be

© The Place2Be, 2007 2

The PLACE2BE -

its relationship to other emotional/mental well-being programmes

in Scotland

Maximal mental illness

Minimal mental illness

Minimal mental well -being

(languishing)

Optimal mental well -being

(flourishing)

Work of The Place2Be

Referral &

Assessment

The Place2Talk (Unique, universal self-referral drop-in service)

Working with schools: Circle Time, The Place2Think

Engaging with Communities

Working with other agencies

Working with Parents: advice and support

Group Work

One-to-One

© The Place2Be, 2007 4

Why children come to The Place2Be

• Abuse

• Anger

• Anxiety

• Bereavement and loss

• Bullying

• Changes to family structure

• Depression

• Eating disorder

• Erratic and dangerous behaviour

• Learning/communication disability

• Loneliness

• Low self-esteem

• Neglect

• Parental illness, substance abuse, or criminality

• Relationships with siblings

• Self-harm

• Socio-economic disadvantages

• Transfer to new country

• Transfer to new school

• Trauma

• Underachievement

• Victims of war

• Withdrawn behaviour

Maggie’s Story

When she was 10 Maggie was the victim of bullying.

She did talk to her Mum about it but was adamant that she didn’t want Mum going to school and talking to the teachers. She feared that telling would only make the bullying worse.

So Mum Sonia suggested Maggie go to The Place2Be. ‘I knew the service was running in the school’ says Sonia ‘and I felt it would be a discreet means of support for my daughter’.

‘The Place2Be really helped’ says Maggie. ‘My Place2Be counsellor spoke to the girl who was bullying me and said she should go to The Place2Be too. They found out why she did it (but they never revealed that to me) and helped her stop being a bully. So she got something out of is as well and by the end of the year we had actually become friends’.

‘It was such a positive experience’ says Sonia ‘I’m so pleased I was able to stand back and let me Maggie sort it out herself with all the proper support from The Place2Be’.

© The Place2Be, 2007 5

The need in Edinburgh statistics from the Spring 2007 school term

In the last school term alone 106 referrals were made by teachers, parents or external agencies highlighting children in need of support. Reasons for referral included:

• Peer isolation/withdrawal

• Difficulties at home

• Support with transitions within school

• Bereavement

• Parental mental health problems

• Neglect

• Change in behaviour – more attention-seeking for example

• Change in home circumstances – parental illness, new baby

• Externalising behaviours – confrontational, aggressive, challenging authority

There were 10 Child Protection forms and 20 Notes of Concern submitted to the designated members of school staff. Issues arising were domestic abuse, alleged physical abuse, bullying and parental chaos (including drug/alcohol abuse).

© The Place2Be, 2007 6

The Place2Talk in Edinburgh Children go to The Place2Talk with a huge range of home and school based problems. The most common of which reported by SPMs include: difficult peer relationships, managing feelings, coping with bereavement, bullying, complex family relationships, parental separation, and school problems such as exams worries, and managing disappointment. Children also go to support a friend.

Ceana’s Story9-year-old Ceana went to The Place2Talk because she needed to tell somebody that she had been cheating in class spelling tests.

Ceana was able to voice her anxiety and said that being under pressure to do well with her schoolwork made her feel like she was drowning. It was as if the ground disappeared beneath her.

Ceana attended The Place2Talk regularly and gradually began to feel more secure. Ceana’s teacher reported very positive changes - she was able to ask for help more often and no longer needed to cheat.

No. of children in Edinburgh accessing The Place2Talk

372398

537554

608

775766

823

1,137

994 1,005

1,152

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Place2Talk different children Place2Talk total no. of visitors

The Place2Talk*Please note Autumn 2006 data unavailable for Forthview Primary, Canal View Primary and St Francis RC Primary

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Place2Talk different children Place2Talk total no. of visitors

Spring 05

Summer 05

Autumn 05

Spring 06

Summer 06

Autumn 06

© The Place2Be, 2007 7

‘The Place2Think’: Supporting the whole school community

“Good quality help and support was provided for pupils in The

Place2Be, where qualified counsellors and trained

volunteers provide therapeutic and emotional support tovulnerable individuals.”

Comment from HMIE report Burdiehouse Primary School

“There is never enough time to give, especially to those children who need it most,

the quiet ones, the sad ones, those who always sit alone, those who only show their feelings when they've lost their temper. We knew that we couldn't do it alone.’ – Head

teacher

‘The Place2Be has touched the lives of the

whole school community.’- teacher

‘The Place2Be for the children and A Place for

Parents complement one another. I cannot imagine one service now without

the other. My one hope is that all schools should be

able to access your service as of right.’

- Head teacher

“The Place2Be fits well within the current policy environment in relation to both education and

mental health and well being…the ethos of The Place2be fits

especially well with the whole school approach”

MVA Evaluation of The Place2Be Edinburgh Hub

on behalf of Scottish Executive, NHS Lothian & Edinburgh City Council

‘The Place2Think’ is an important and integral part of The Place2Be

service in the school:

• Builds a broad understanding of children’s needs

• Enhances the emotional literacy of the whole school environment

• Creates a supportive environment for the child

• Provides an opportunity to think together for the benefit of the

child and adult member of school staff

© The Place2Be, 2007 8

Where to find The Place2Be 113 schools, 12 Hubs, 37,000 children

Edinburgh

Blyth

Durham

NottinghamManchester (Hub opens January 2008)

Harlow

Medway

London HubsBrentCroydonEnfieldGreenwichSouthwarkWandsworth