SAFE counselling service

The counselling service continues to offer a service of face to face and virtual counselling sessions to children aged 12-18 years. Key points:

• Counselling sessions held via WhatsApp video and MS teams; young people are at home or a private room at school for the session. Schools have been very supportive of these arrangements
• 50 young people receiving weekly support
• Current time frame to access counselling is two months, prioritising urgent cases considered
• 6 counsellors offering weekly sessions.

Counselling service in schools

• Counselling is an important resource for the students, particularly since lockdown
• Take up has been consistent throughout and it provides the young people with a trusted space each week where they can feel heard and explore their difficulties with confidence
• Teachers have found this service helpful knowing there is an in-house counselling service and the availability for consultations on individual cases, especially with potential safeguarding concerns
• Good relationships have formed with schools, eg. Northolt High, which helps with the smooth running of the service.
• When safeguarding issues come up, there is a clear procedure to follow and students that have raised concerns in the past have felt very supported with the structures that are in place.

Referral process: from SAFE via the front door. Email: ECIRS@ealing.gov.uk