Mental Health Support Teams support children and young people with emerging, mild or moderate mental health difficulties such as low mood, worries and anxiety, which may be affecting their day-to-day life. These teams operate in selected schools across Berkshire. There is a different service offer across the East and West of Berkshire
In the East of Berkshire, the Mental Health Support Teams are managed by Berkshire Healthcare CAMHS.
The East MHSTs help pupils on roll at selected primary and secondary schools in Bracknell, Slough, the Royal Borough of Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead (RBWM). This includes pupils on the roll of Virtual School for Children, looked after children, and young people who are not in employment or education (NEET). Each of these schools has an assigned educational mental health practitioner (EMHP).
Depending on the age of the child or young person, we'll either work directly with them or with their parents. We also work with school staff and offer support on different levels, with the aim of developing and supporting a whole school approach to mental health.
We offer evidence-based brief interventions directly that can last up to eight sessions, as well as advice on where to find the most appropriate support when we are unable to offer direct help.
For those in primary school, our team of education mental health practitioners typically offer parent-led and guided self-help interventions Helping Your Child with Fears and Worries and Incredible Years Parenting Programme.
For those in secondary school, our education mental health practitioners typically offer individual one-to-one informed cognitive behavioural therapy.
We also offer workshops/group work (such as Exam Stress and Transition), consultations, parent drop-ins, staff briefings, and PPEPCare workforce training as a part of our Whole School Approach to Mental Health.
Bracknell
Royal Borough of Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead (RBWM)
Slough:
Our educational mental health professionals provide regular consultations to schools. This is where mental health leads can bring any case they feel may be appropriate for our team. We will advise where to find the most appropriate support if we are unable to offer direct help.
If the child or young person attends an MHST school, referrals are made by an education professional within the school.
If the child is over 16 a self-referral or referral by parent/ carer can be made using the MHST referral form. Please speak with the mental health lead within the school who will be able to provide a referral form and support on how to complete it.
Completed referral forms for the EAST should be sent to: CAMHSGettingHelpEastReferrals@berkshire.nhs.uk
If the child or young person does not attend an MHST school, a referral can be made into the Getting Help Team.
General email (East): CAMHSGettingHelpEast@berkshire.nhs.uk
Phone: 0300 2473002
In the West of Berkshire, the MHSTs are managed and run by the three local authorities. There is a CAMHS clinical lead working in each team and they are supported by the CAMHS Service Manager for Getting Help in the West.
To view the schools covered by the MHSTs in the West and find out more about the service offer please visit the local authority websites:
Wokingham: Mental Health Support Team (MHST) for children and young people (wokingham.gov.uk)
Reading: Mental Health Support Team | Brighter Futures for Children
West Berkshire: Mental Health Support Team - West Berkshire Council
For information on how to make a referral to the MHSTs in the West of Berkshire please visit the relevant local authority website:
If you feel you need to speak to someone urgently please visit our urgent help information to decide who is the right person to speak to.
For safeguarding concerns about a child or young person, please contact the local authority:
Bracknell Safeguarding: 01344 352005
RBWM Safeguarding: 01628 683150
Slough Safeguarding: 01753 875362