Learning Mentor Support
Positive Mental Health and Well-being Policy
Learning Mentor Support Positive Mental Health and Well-being Policy At Courthouse Green we are proud of the support we are able to offer to families. We have a team of four dedicated workers ensuring that we are able to overcome any barriers to learning.
LEARNING MENTORS
Miss Halfpenny Miss Dolan Miss McGuckin Mrs Owen
We have a team of learning mentors, who work with children in school to support their learning when things may be a little difficult for whatever reason. They each have their own specialisms but all work to support children through difficult periods and are particularly good at helping out when children are feeling low in self esteem; they are experiencing friendship issues; they are lacking in confidence or may be distracted from their learning because of issues at home. Miss Dolan works to improve the attendance and punctuality at school and may contact you when we consider that low attendance is adversely affecting your child’s learning. She has different ways to support you while getting things back on track for children including initiating Early Help support plans. She will also works alongside our Early Help Assessment Coordinator from the Park Edge Family Hub – Sarina John. At Courthouse Green, we also take great pride in recognising achievement, and Miss Dolan will provide many opportunities throughout the year to congratulate excellent attendance and punctuality for individual children and class groups. All our learning mentors will work with families to improve some situations that may have become unmanageable for a while. They are able to access avenues of support for many families on a daily basis and will help with all manner of circumstances. Please do come in and discuss anything with us, we are happy to help wherever we can and there is no judgement from our team, just truthful conversations about how we can get things back on track for our families.
Miss Halfpenny is our Pastoral Support Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead for the school. She also oversees the work of the Learning Mentors. She works with the learning mentors to ensure that any of our families that need support, can get it. Please speak to any of the mentors or Kate if you would like support for your family or with parenting.
How we help…
The team are trained in using the ‘Signs of Safety’ tool to identify what strengths are already present in the family set up and build on these to make a plan that lessens the worries for parents and professionals. We do this with families so that the process of identifying the help that is needed is dictated by you, not us. Your family – your plan.
Sometimes, the help needed will be beyond our expertise and we will request other services for you but this will always be with your consent and only as a part of the agreed plan.
Are there any exceptions to this?
If Miss Halfpenny or any of the deputy safeguarding leads feel that a child is at significant risk of harm, then they will speak to you about a referral to social care so that the support you need is put in place urgently. We fully recognise that sometimes things become overwhelming for families regardless of previous circumstance and we want to ensure that the support you need is there to help you get back on track.
On very rare occasions, the decision will be made to refer into social care without consent, this will be because a child tells us that they have been harmed or have witnessed a parent in danger. We would not gain consent in this instance as we must follow government safeguarding procedures and allow social care and/or the police to investigate the matter. Similarly, if a child is very worried about something that could potentially cause significant harm to them or a family member and we can’t get hold of a parent or safe adult straight away to discuss this, we may refer in without obtaining your consent.
Where to contact if you are worried about the immediate safety of a child –
Children’s Social Care, Coventry - 02476 788555 (8.30am - 5pm) or 02476 832222 (5pm – 8.30am and weekends). You can also call in to school to discuss your concerns with Miss Halfpenny or Mrs Malam if you believe a child to be in immediate harm. The following agencies are able to offer support or information to families who may be experiencing difficulties, click on the logo to take you to the agency website:
Gingerbread: We provide advice and practical support for single parents. Expert advisers answer our helpline, this website is packed full of useful information and we offer training too. We also campaign to improve the lives of all single parent families. And because we’re a national charity, it’s all free.
Kidscape is committed to keeping children safe from abuse. Kidscape is the first charity in the UK established specifically to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse. Kidscape believes that protecting children from harm is key.
Citizens Advice Bureau: Advice on your rights; debt; housing and other legal matters.
Step Change: A team of debt experts help over 410,000 people a year across the UK to overcome their debt problems, and get their lives back on track.
Foodbank: Today people across the UK will struggle to feed themselves and their families. Redundancy, illness, benefit delay, domestic violence, debt, family breakdown and paying for the additional costs of heating during winter are just some of the reasons why people go hungry. Please do not feel embarrassed by this, contact Kate at school who can both distribute foodbank vouchers.
Change Grow Live CGL: We understand that substance misuse affects not just the individual, but the whole family. The impact upon the parents/carers and family of an individual’s substance misuse problems can also be significant. At CGL, we strive for a family focussed approach. Either at assessment or during treatment an individual client may find it useful to be accompanied by a family member either for support or in order for the worker to discuss their treatment with a family member.
Respect: men and women working together to end domestic violence Respect is a membership organisation. We develop, deliver and support effective services for: male and female perpetrators of domestic violence young people who use violence and abuse at home and in relationships men who are victims of domestic violence Local help if you or a friend are experiencing domestic violence and abuse In an emergency always dial 999 Refuges and Supported Accommodation·
Coventry Haven: – tel: 024 7644 4077 24 hours a day, or visit the website for more information - http://www.coventryhaven.co.uk/
Valley House: – tel: 024 7626 6280 during office hours or 0800 328 9084 for emergency overnight accommodation- www.valleyhouseassociation.org
Panahghar – tel: 0800 055 6519 24 hours a day, or visit the website for more information – http://www.safehouse.org.uk/
Coventry Mind: OFFERING ADVICE AND SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IAPT - Improving Access to Psychological Therapies For further information about any of the IAPT services, please contact : Telephone: 0845 521 6100 Email: iapt@covwarkpt.nhs.uk
