CAT Minutes 22/02/2017
Introductions
Went around table and everyone introduced themselves because there were new members. Vikki explained the purpose of the group and what we want to achieve and briefly went over rules.
Marina – Inclusion Facilitator
Marina explained to the group that her role is to listen to the views and feelings of children and young people and help them pursue a better life. She does this by using a person-cantered approach and therapeutic interventions to support the participation of children and young people with a range of needs which may relate to their emotional well-being and learning. Marina explained that she is fairly new to her job role and she wanted to know the groups thoughts and opinions on how she can work effectively with young people in school and what is helpful and what isn’t. The group ideas are as followed:
Being pulled out of class is embarrassing for the young people because other young people ask to why they are being pulled out of the lesson
There should be more communication between teachers and workers
Exit cards can be useful to use but sometimes if the teacher is not aware of the card this can become an issue.
A card with a good and bad side is useful because one school had a system in place where a young person can discreetly show the teacher and the teacher will come up with a reason to why the student needs to leave such as asking them to get something from another room for them. This doesn’t draw attention to the fact that the young person needs to leave and looks like it is the teacher’s decision so this doesn’t get questioned by other young people.
Another school had a ‘Rug Room’ which is a quiet room, with relaxing wallpaper, sensory carpets, colouring books, and things within the room to help calm down a young person. The group really liked this idea.
Some schools do not have a school counsellor, this may be good for some young people
Schools that do have a school counsellor need give suggestions and follow up give that young person to see how they are doing instead of just leaving them to it.
If the school is deciding on making changes to the school or classrooms, students should be made aware because this can make a young person anxious if they come in and lots of things have changed.
In one school there was a worker who wasn’t a teacher and he remained neutral, if a young person swore at a teacher he wouldn’t say ‘oh don’t say that about a teacher’ he would respond with ‘you are allowed to think that but try not to say it to the teacher’
Young people feel that school councillors are not keeping confidentiality and will tell teachers what the young person has been saying.
Teachers have been speaking about other student’s problems.
The group felt that schools just worry about statistics and grades, they don’t believe pupils can get C grades if they have difficulties.
The group mentioned that a worker/teacher etc. need to show emotions and not have a straight face all the time because this puts them off talking to someone if they do not show any emotion.
CEWG (Children’s Emotional Wellbeing Group)
Julia had just been to a CEWG meeting and explained that West Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital A & N staff would like to have the Mental Health Training.
Logo
The group picked the 2 images below to be their group logo. The group suggested that one of the logos could be for black and white documents and the other for coloured documents.
Planning Event
What’s the aim?
The aim is young people coming together to raise awareness on mental health and emotional wellbeing and to get young people’s views that can be passed on to higher up professionals.
When to have it?
The group has agreed that the summer holidays would be a good time to have the event because it will give them plenty of time to plan and prepare the event.
Where to have it?
The group had come up with the idea of Trinity Park or The Mix to hold the event
Who can come?
The group felt the following people who could come are mainly decision makers and this will get their thoughts and ideas across easier.
Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT)
Mind
Social Groups – other young people groups in the area
Michael Scott Chief ExecutiveNSFT
Sue Cook
Gordon Jones
Activity ideas
The group have mentioned the following ideas for possible activities.
Graffiti Wall
Ask people to write on paper if they have experienced mental health issues or if family members have then collate numbers
Professionals to write pledges or postcards
Question time with professionals
DJ workshop – make a song about mental health
Art workshop
Writing/poetry workshop