Needs Based Areas

You probably have a whole setting approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health. Taking an i-THRIVE approach just builds on this work. i-THRIVE is structured around needs-based areas and as you consider these, reflect on the questions provided to see how i-THRIVE can work in practice within your setting.

Thriving:  This is when a child/young person understands the who, what, why and how of their everyday needs. This is the aim of any person, organisation or service involved with a child/young person. 75 % of children are thriving, so they are resilient and can manage daily challenges.

•  Do you work collaboratively with other professionals in supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of children / young people, such as freely sharing resources and good practice? If not, how can you make this happen?​
• Do your policies reflect children’s and young people’s emotional wellbeing, mental health and the impact it has? Are they underpinned by healing practice?​
• Does the organisation website have a dedicated area for wellbeing for children / young people? Are they aware of it? Is usage monitored and is it regularly updated?Is good emotional wellbeing celebrated with parents/carers and the community? Are those children / young people who are always thriving acknowledged?

Seeking Advice: 7.5 – 10% of young people are seeking advice and they may find this independently, or they may need an adult to show them where to find it, or even actively sit by their side and show them websites etc. We will be asking all future providers of services to work together to make sure that advice and information is consistent and accessible.

 

• Are staff confident in talking about emotional wellbeing and mental health with children/young people? Do they know what to do if a child asks for support in this? Are staff aware of resources and support available for children/young people? 
• What model of peer support/lived experience do you have in place?
• Do parents/carers and professionals know of the advice and guidance your provide? Are they aware of your organisations offer?  Are communications clear and jargon free?

 

Getting Help: When a child/young person needs goal-based support, they recognise they need help and are willing to have someone to help them reach their goals through receiving advice and guidance at each step. 15% of Children and young people might need this type of help at any time.

• Do you work with children / young people to determine the outcomes they would like to achieve, and do you evaluate the effectiveness of support offered by your organisation to achieve these outcomes?
• Are parents/carers aware of how to access support for their children/young people? Do parents/carers receive feedback about intervention sessions? Are they able to feedback on the help provided?
• Do you ask parents/carers what works well at home and seek to find ways to reproduce these approaches in the organisation?

 

Further Support: When a child/young person has had a significant ongoing or unexpected challenge in their life they may need evidence-based specialist support to get back on track and rejoin activities in their normal day to day lives. 1.5% of children and young people  will need further support and often will have tried help from their school or communities, but felt that further support is required.

• Do staff regularly meet to discuss children/young people you are worried about, and would you know who to speak to? Is information relayed to key staff involved with that child/young person?
• How do you determine the needs of the child/young person for ‘Further Support’?
• How do you support a child/young person whilst they are waiting, receiving and exiting an external service?
• How do you support parents/carers whilst their child/young person is waiting, receiving and exiting an external service?

 

Getting Risk Support: This area of need impacts 1.5% of young people. This is where managing risk and managing mental health is the ultimate priority to keep the child, and those around them, safe. Some children’s mental health does not improve, and their care needs to be managed with multi-disciplinary and multi-agency support. These children and young people need to sit in a holistic system where everyone takes responsibility to support them.

• Who do you  contact for support for a child/young person in crisis?
• What support is in place for staff who are supporting a child/young person in crisis?
• How do you support a child/young person through a period of crisis?
• What support is in place for parents/carers who are supporting a child/young person in crisis?
• Do you liaise with parents/carers about the individual signs and behaviours which may indicate the child/young person requires immediate support?