The Designated Mental Health Lead Planner: A Guide and Checklist for the School Year

by Clare Erasmus

Overview

This planner provides detailed guidance on what a Designated Mental Health Lead needs to do, when they need to do it, and how they can achieve the best results. It gives a clear focus and checklist for each week, including spaces to add your own to-do list, and encourages reflection on the outcomes and impact of your actions on pupils' attainment and wellbeing. It also encourages a focus on your own development and self-care, with space to record what you are currently reading or listening to and one thing you are grateful for that week.

In addition to the termly and weekly plans, the book provides short briefs on key aspects of the role, including how to work effectively with teachers, the HR team, the DSL, governors, the pastoral team, Mental Health Support Teams and parents. It is an invaluable resource for all DMHLs tackling the 39 academic weeks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781787755444
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	08/19/2021
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.77(w) x 9.53(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

Clare Erasmus is the Designated Mental Health Lead Advisor and Head of the Digital Technology & Communication Faculty at Brighton Hill Community School. Clare has worked with a range of mental health experts often sitting as an advisor on behalf of schools. She has given keynotes at many national mental health conferences and is regularly invited to deliver university. Clare has collaborated with staff, students and mental health experts to help create an award winning, bespoke Mental Health and Wellbeing app for her school with PSHE styled podcasts called BHCS My World.

Table of Contents

Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Section 1: Briefs
Working with HR and Teachers to support their own mental wellbeing
Working with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Supervision
Working with the Governors and looking at polices and governance
Working with the Pastoral Team
Working with parents
Inputting data and tracking outcomes
Working with the Mental Health support Teams and external agencies
Suggested Training for the DMHL
DMHL Self Care and Wellbeing
Section 2: Planner
An Introduction to the Year Planner
Year planner
Term plans
Weekly planner
? Term 1
? Term 2
? Term 3
Conclusion
National awareness days
Recommended Reading list
Appendices
Appendix 1: suggested training/INSET suggestions for staff including interventions
Appendix 2: A-Z of suggested wellbeing actions to ensure self-care and nurture
Appendix 3: Suggested Outcomes for Interventions
Appendix 4: Referral and Individual mental health care plan template
Appendix 5: Engaging the family in #FamilyMH5aday (Family Mental Health 5 Day)

Editorial Reviews

Clare Erasmus is a trail blazer in supporting the mental health of both students and staff. This is a work book for the whole year as well as a much needed guide to the breadth of support available to schools. This is essential to aid recovery after Covid and this book is a much needed lifeline for both new and existing DMHLs.

Vivienne Porritt

Clare has a wealth of experience and expertise in mental health that this book captures to provide the perfect balance between operational and strategic guidance not only for DMHLs, but also for other senior leaders, headteachers and governors who take seriously the challenge of creating a culture of care, mental health and wellbeing in their schools.

Patrick Ottley-O’Connor

A comprehensive and most importantly, highly practical guide for Mental Health Leads from one of the UK's leading experts. An invaluable resource that deserves to be read widely, and revisited often.

James Hilton

Through a passion to provide the most effective model to support all schools' mental health provision and grow a deeper understanding of what is required of all staff, not only the DMHL, this book outlines every necessary area we as leaders need to focus on. The step by step, well written, and easy-to-read guide is supported at every stage with concrete evidence derived from research and great practice.

Christalla Jamil

Clare has a wealth of experience and expertise in mental health that this book captures to provide the perfect balance between operational and strategic guidance not only for DMHLs, but also for other senior leaders, headteachers and governors who take seriously the challenge of creating a culture of care, mental health and wellbeing in their schools.

Patrick Ottley-O’Connor