A number of key issues had been identified by the Kelso Locality Integration Team including:
- professional concern and judgement that there were issues regarding the emotional and mental health needs of young people in the area
- there appeared to be an issue relating to stress levels of a number of young people across the range including high achievers
- particular aspects of concern were body image, self-esteem, expectations, stress and self-harm.
In order to look at these issues a Working Group was established with a range of partners including:
Scottish Borders Council
Education Department
Kelso High School Rector
Locality Integration Manager
Social Work Department
Family Support
NHS Borders
School Nurse
Nurse Co-ordinator
Health Promotion
Andrew Lang Unit (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
Penumbra
Police
Learning from elsewhere
Through the Working Group it was agreed to look at examples of other school counselling services in Scotland. After some research using the Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit website, the School Counselling Service in East Renfrewshire Council was identified as having a model which was of interest to the Working Group. Information about the East Renfrewshire project and others can be found on the mapping exercise page.
A study visit was arranged to the Counselling Service in East Renfrewshire to look at the model used and processes and procedures in place. As a result of the visit elements of practice which could be transferred to the Kelso situation were identified.
The development of a counselling service within Scottish Borders Council fits strategically with:
- Bright New Futures – for Borders Children and Young People – Strategy for Children’s Services in Scottish Borders
- Scottish Borders Mental Health Strategy.
A bid was made to Children’s Change Group to develop a school counselling service at Kelso High School. The bid was successful and the Working Group moved into the commissioning stage.
As the work had to be put out to tender, the Working Group involved a Contracts Officer to help with the specification. The whole tendering process was required to be robust in order to be fair and transparent, particularly with partner agencies bidding to provide the service.
The Working Group was involved in the selection process with particular school interest as the school would be hosting/housing the project.
Through the tendering process NHS Borders Psychological Services was identified as being the most suitable provider of the school counselling service.
