FROM DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES RE: MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

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Sent on behalf of Tolis Vouyioukas, Corporate Director, Children’s Services Directorate

Dear Colleagues,

Support for the individual well-being and mental health of teaching staff is part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Information shared during our daily conference call with headteacher representatives has highlighted that whilst schools’ internal support networks for teaching staff have remained strong, there would be value in providing a specific service to support school leaders.

We are pleased to share that we have established a School Leaders’ Well-being Support and Advice Line, which will begin operating from today.

Contact Number: 01296 383 219

How does it work?
The Well-being Support and Advice Line is a confidential helpline staffed by Buckinghamshire’s Educational Psychology Team. The helpline is intended to provide school leaders with a safe and confidential space in which they can talk through the challenges, stresses and frustrations of operating schools and settings during this unprecedented situation. The Educational Psychologists are professionally trained in listening to and supporting individuals through pressurised and emotionally-fraught situations. There is no time limit for calls, and there will be no formal notes recorded from discussions unless requested and agreed in advance by both parties. The value in making use of the Well-being Support and Advice Line may be in having the opportunity simply to talk through circumstances and concerns, and equally the Educational Psychologists can also provide information or resources should individuals have specific well-being questions and issues that they wish to raise.

Although many conversations through the helpline will stand alone, more regular contact can be established if both parties feel this would be appropriate and beneficial. Furthermore, where necessary the Educational Psychologists can provide guidance in terms of accessing more intensive medium- and long-term support.

Who is it for?
The helpline is intended for senior staff working in Buckinghamshire schools and educational settings, including headteachers, deputy and assistant headteachers, SENCOs and other members of each senior leadership team.

When will it operate?
The Well-Being Support and Advice Line will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
It will be in operation throughout the school holidays (excluding public holidays) as well as during term-time.
Conversations outside of the usual operating hours are possible by arrangement – please use the email address eps@buckinghamshire.gov.uk to contact the Educational Psychology Team.

Are there alternative ways to seek support and advice?
If individuals would prefer to make contact via electronic means, or if the operating times are not convenient, then please send a message to eps@buckinghamshire.gov.uk, which will be picked up and responded to by members of the Educational Psychology Team. Arrangements for further contact can then be made, whether that is an out of hours telephone call, video call or an email-only exchange.

Alternatively, questions can be raised directly with the Educational Psychology Management Team:

Tim Jones.     Principal Educational Psychologist                    Tim.Jones@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Jenny Feeney. Senior Educational Psychologist – Aylesbury  Jenny.Feeney@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Shami Rait. Senior Educational Psychologist – Chiltern and South Bucks Shami.Rait@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Keith Willsher.  Senior Educational Psychologist – Wycombe Keith.Willsher@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

In addition, Buckinghamshire Council’s SchoolsWeb pages offer the latest advice for educational settings: https://schoolsweb.buckscc.gov.uk/covid-19-corona-virus-latest-advice/

Public Health England have also published general guidance regarding the mental health and well-being aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-aspects-of-coronavirus-covid-19

We hope that the School Leaders’ Well-being Support and Advice Line will be a helpful resource during this unusual and unsettled period of school operation. If you have any questions or would like further information then please do contact the educational psychology management team as per the details given above.

Please take good care.

Tolis Vouyioukas
Corporate Director
Children’s Services Directorate
Buckinghamshire Council

01296 383 104
tolis.vouyioukas@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury HP19 8FF