Our Services

A summary of the services we can offer

Option 1

A trainee counsellor/therapist for one day per week for approx 35 weeks, seeing up to 4 clients per day for up to 45 minutes per session, or 3 clients plus the provision of a drop-in service at lunchtimes (or an alternative time to suit the school). The complexity of the referrals would be limited, and monitored by Contacts Counselling and Therapy to ensure they are within the capability of the trainee.

Included in this option:

*All clinical supervision for the counsellor/therapist

*Safeguarding training for the counsellor/therapist

*Insurance for the counsellor/therapist

*Ensure counsellors/therapists are members of a professional organisation eg BACP / UKCP

*A staff meeting for the school on a counselling related topic. If the school has not had counselling provision before there would be an additional staff meeting to introduce the concepts and ideas behind the work, and information about practical issues

*Management of the placement in conjunction with the school and managerial support and liaison for the duration of the placement, including at least one meeting with the school link person per term

*Ensure DBS is in place from the training agency

*Liaise with the training agency

*Provide additional training relevant to working with Counselling Children and Young People (CCYP)

*Evidence outcomes with:

SDQ http://www.sdqinfo.org/ and

Psychlops http://www.psychlops.org.uk/index.html

These are guidelines for both school and counsellor/therapist

*The maximum number of clients per counsellor/therapist is 4, or 3 +

drop-in

*The length of each session is 45-50 minutes

*Each client will spend a minimum 6 weeks - maximum 1 school year working with the counsellor/therapist (as assessed in supervision)

*Clients will attend weekly, usually this being at the same time and in the same place

*We feel appropriate referrals for counselling intervention would include issues such as:

Bereavement

Family break up

Peer difficulties

Bullying

Children not achieving their full potential

Special education needs

Confidence / low self esteem

Prolonged absence

Young careers

Timid / isolated

Identity issues. eg: sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, young parents, disability, issues relating to cultural diversity.

*The trainee counsellor/therapist service cannot cater for children with the following needs:

Children already receiving CAMHS support

Children with difficulties relating to sexual abuse,

Children with issues relating to adoption

Children whose families are involved in ongoing legal disputes / issues

Children who are on the Child Protection Register

Please contact Dave Greenwell, the Service Manager, to clarify suitable referrals.

Option 2

A qualified counsellor/therapist for one (or more) day(s) per week, working with up to 5 clients for up to 50 minutes per session (a half day service may be negotiated). Referrals would be expected to be made in conjunction with the counsellor/therapist to monitor their appropriateness. It may be possible to allocate a time or times to a parent or staff member.

Included in this option:

*Recruit of suitable counsellors/therapists with experience of working with Counselling Children and Young People (CCYP)

*Counsellors/therapists would work for 35 out of the 39 days/weeks of the year for either a half or full day, or parts thereof

*Counsellors/therapists would be expected to produce end of therapy reports

*Ensure DBS check is completed/updated

*Ensure counsellors/therapists are members of a professional organisation eg BACP UKCP

*Management of the counsellor/therapist in conjunction with the school and managerial support and liaison for the duration of the work, including at least one meeting with the school link person per term. NB Extra meetings with outside agencies, parents etc may have to be counted as additional hours.

*Provide additional training relevant to working with CCYP

*Evidence outcomes with:

SDQ http://www.sdqinfo.org/ and

Psychlops http://www.psychlops.org.uk/index.html

We will also seek to audit/evaluate the service through meeting clients, headteachers, governors, DLPs and counsellors.