Despite a significant expansion of mental health support programs in Nottinghamshire schools since 2019, the demand for mental health support workers continues to rise, according to reports.
Mental health support teams have been crucial in providing assistance to children and young people dealing with needs that may not reach the threshold of a diagnosable mental health problem, including low mood, anxiety, or behavioral challenges. Comprising senior clinicians, therapists, and practitioners, these teams conduct individual sessions, group sessions, and parenting classes.
Presently, mental health support teams are operational in 104 schools in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Another 45 schools are set to benefit from these services starting in September 2024, with an additional 15 joining in January 2025. The annual cost of the program amounts to £2.3 million, representing a substantial increase in funding for children and young people’s emotional health and well-being services locally.
While the mental health teams have experienced exponential growth since their inception in 2019, current support only reaches 45% of schools within Nottinghamshire. The NHS acknowledges the ongoing demand and states that the waiting list for schools applying for support remains.
The Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in Schools program is overseen by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Recent years have seen a significant expansion of the program, with 15,599 parents and children supported in 2023, compared to 8,661 in the previous year. NHS documents reveal a waiting list for schools seeking support, and the program will be discussed at Nottinghamshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee on February 20.
Although the aim is to minimize waiting times for young people requiring support, workforce capacity can impact this. Mitigating programs are in place to ensure that no child or young person waits without support, including a “waiting well” program used for those waiting more than six weeks. The average waiting time for treatment is currently 7.83 weeks.
By January 2025, there will be 14 teams across the city and county, with nine in Nottinghamshire. The goal is to support 46% of schools in Rushcliffe and 87% in Newark and Sherwood by 2025. In contrast, 12% of schools in Bassetlaw, 29% in Mansfield, and 24% in Ashfield are expected to be covered by mental health teams.
NHS England selected areas eligible for extra support based on deprivation data, eligibility for free school meals, child protection plans, children in care, and the number of safeguarding assessments. Each team typically covers a population of around 7,000 to 8,000 children and young people aged five to 18 across various educational settings, aiming to support approximately 45% of schools and 72,000 children and young people across Nottinghamshire by January 2025.
