Our approach is to offer bespoke support which benefits the individual young person in our care, meeting their needs. These mental health and wellbeing support mechanisms can include:
Our Mental health Practitioner delivers 1:1 sessions with students using evidenced based CBT strategies. Each student has a goal to work towards, and strategies are shared accordingly. The strategies are a part of the interventions of Worry Management, Cognitive Restructuring and Brief Behavioural Activation. Set topics are offered each session but can be adapted based on how student is presenting in the session and if they have other things they wish to discuss through to help their wellbeing. Support is offered outside of these set 1:1s and students know that if they are feeling anxious or low and need a check in that they can indicate this through the sign in app and a member of the wellbeing team will speak to them that day.
Delivered by an experienced member of our support team, this intervention focuses on the student regulating their nervous system and coming up with strategies for students to utilise in everyday life. This is typically done on a 1:1 basis, however small groups are also possible. Some of the activities include but are not limited to physical movement, yoga, breathwork, meditation and healthy living.
Our on-site qualified counsellor uses her SEN knowledge and experience to provide therapeutic support for any students who would benefit and wish to engage. A therapeutic relationship is fostered and maintained by working creatively with students. Once trust is built, it makes it easier for the students to share concerns as they arise. If ongoing formal counselling is required, referral to an external therapist will be suggested.
As our learners are over 16 and often experience social isolation or have faced challenges in forming and maintaining friendships, we provide opportunities for them to access relationship, sex, and health support through one-to-one interventions. These sessions are offered reactively, based on individual circumstances, and focus on topics such as friendships, relationships, growing up in the modern world, and developing confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. By nurturing these key areas, we aim to strengthen our students’ mental health and overall sense of purpose.
Our Pastoral Lead is part of the Wellbeing Team. They are able to offer different approaches and support for young people struggling to attend. For more information about the link between attendance and mental health, and the support we put in place to promote this, please see our Attendance Policy.
Evidence has shown that an effective approach to promote positive behaviour, social development and self-esteem is to couple positive classroom management techniques with one to one or small group sessions to help pupils identify coping strategies.
Inclusion College makes use of quiet and calm rooms and spaces where staff can take individual students and small groups to get ready for the day, talk about concerns and worries or to calm down if something has upset or angered them. This allows the students to have an outlet before settling into their academic sessions.
