The service is centred on the needs of children and young people to fulfil their potential, access fully life and learning opportunities offered by the school and support families, parents and teachers in their vital roles. The service will:

Remove barriers to learning and participation.
Develop the full potential of individuals within the values and ethos of their school.
Nurture the emotional and spiritual development of individual children and young people within the school and home community.
Address critical personal and social issues.
Develop new skills, knowledge, attitudes and values that assist children and young people in reaching their full potential.

Specific Services

The service offers a Holistic In-school Social Work Service –and a menu of services that encompass Individual Counselling Support for children and young people, Group Work, Family Social Work Support and School Staff Support.

A bespoke service is offered each school that can include:

Casework – Long term work with young people facing a range of difficulties which impact on behaviour and performance at school. This may involve work with families and liaison with other agencies.

Short term work (+/- 6 sessions) focusing on a specific problem with the aim of identifying skills and strategies to cope more effectively. E.g. anxiety management

Group work – On issues such as peer relationships, anger management, raising self esteem and confidence.

Home visits – supporting children and families within their own home.

In-school Staff Support – aiding stress management by looking at both personal and professional concerns.

Parenting skills – Running parenting courses and workshops for parents creating opportunities to learn new skills and share concerns and strategies. These programs can be run out of school hours to accommodate parents who work.

Bereavement work – Providing a service to the whole school community either through individual support or group work. With staff, we will look at loss issues in a broader sense, enhancing coping and classroom management following bereavement.

Drop-in service for students.

Development of Peer Mentoring Schemes – empowering children and young people through supporting others.

Consultancy – with staff regarding any concerns they may have about a young person.

Headteacher Support – confidential and professional in-school social work service.

Transition work – working on the transition to secondary school or college – in particular we are keen to develop ways to engage and sustain contact with parents plus create links between primary and secondary school communities. Vulnerable children and young people will receive consistent support through the transition period including the summer holiday