The Mental Health Support Team – supporting young people with emerging or mild to moderate mental health needs

Organisation
Brighter Futures for Children

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented many challenges to families, children and the professionals who work with them. Among these, the rising prevalence of mental health difficulties in young people has been well documented in the media. It can be assumed that the latest wave of social restrictions may exacerbate mental health needs further. Providing support to those young people with emerging or mild to moderate mental health needs may prevent those needs from escalating and requiring support from acute services later. With this in mind, please see below for a short guide to the Mental Health Team in Reading – a service with the capacity to support these young people during the pandemic.

The Mental Health Support Team (MHST) supports children, young people (and their parents) with emerging, mild or moderate mental health difficulties that may affect day to day life. The service can offer:

  • Interventions for referred children and young people (and/or their parents) on roll at 16 schools in Reading (Blessed Hugh Faringdon, Prospect, The Wren, Cranbury College, Battle, Churchend, English Martyrs, Manor, Meadow Park, Moorlands, Oxford Road, Park Lane, Ranikhet, St Michaels, Southcote, Wilson)
  • A multi-agency Partnership Hub meeting or consultation to explore support for any child with mild to moderate mental health needs. The Partnership Hub is open to all schools in Reading. Families and professionals do not need to attend one of the 16 trailblazer schools to access this support.

For more information, please visit the MHST page on the Brighter Futures for Children website.

How to make a referral
  • If a child is on roll at one of the 16 trailblazer schools, professionals or families can refer directly using the online referral form: https://gateway.mayden.co.uk/referral
  • If you have identified or are concerned about emerging, mild or moderate mental health needs in a child or young person who is not enrolled on one of the MHST Trailblazer schools, then please contact Kya Bartley, the Triage Coordinator for the MHST, to explore support from the Partnership Hub. She can be contacted via her email address: Kya.bartley@brighterfuturesforchildren.org.