Workshop outlines & presenter bios

Session Synopsis

Exploring what professionals can do to support children's and young peoples mental health online.

This interactive session will look into helping children and young people manage their mental health and wellbeing online. We will look into apps and how they hook children and young people in, critical thinking, influencers, body image, how you can help children manage difficult content online, peer on peer abuse and you get lots of resources and ideas to take back to your setting.

Speaker Bio

Simon covers all of Northamptonshire and different parts of the country working with schools, social workers and Northamptonshire Police around safeguarding children online and mental health. He talks passionately about safeguarding children and young people and his own experiences of mental health.

X @NCCcybersafe | IG @NCCcybersafe

Session Synopsis

This is an informal session looking at different ideas and suggestions to support the well-being of senior leaders and staff. It will be from a personal perspective and will offer an opportunity to listen to ideas and to reflect on practice and culture in your own settings.

Speaker Bio

I am an Executive Headteacher in three small primary schools around Oundle and have been in senior leadership positions in both primary and secondary settings. I am also a Visiting Fellow on the NPQH course run by the Northamptonshire Teaching Schools' Hub and a Early Headship Mentor.

Unity of Titchmarsh, Warmington and Nassington Schools

Session Synopsis

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.

Suicide is the biggest killer of people aged 35 and under in the UK. We believe that many suicides are preventable. We work with communities across the UK, engaging them in our mission to prevent suicide in children and young people. We engage them through our resources and training, learning with them and galvanising them to help save young lives.

For the conference, Jennifer will be delivering a SP-ARK presentation, which is an introduction to suicide prevention. The key objectives are to:

• raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention.
• promote PAPYRUS – what we do, how you can help and how we can help you.
• develop HOPE for a suicide-safer community.
• to explore how to start conversations and move towards safety planning.
• signpost and discuss the features of our Schools Guide.
• understand the importance of self-care.

Speaker Bio

Jennifer Simpson is a Community Development Officer for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. She delivers training on suicide prevention to a range of organisations and individuals with the aim of creating suicide safer communities. As part of her role, she also spends time in communities across the Midlands, raising awareness of the charity and their HOPELINE247.

Prior to joining PAPYRUS, Jennifer was a primary school teacher and PSHE Lead for 8 years, tasked with developing a curriculum to support academic learning, but also promoting the mental health and wellbeing of the pupils in her school. In her current role she works regularly with schools, colleges and universities to equip them to support both staff and students who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.

• PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide
• Instagram: papyrus_uk
• X: @PAPYRUS_Charity
• Linked In: PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide
• https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

Session Synopsis

With the term Behaviour Curriculum increasingly being included in DfE guidance it has become timely to consider how we decide on the behaviours we value as a school and then consider how those 'valued behaviours' are taught. If teaching means learning and learning means progress, we need to formalise how we measure progress around the behaviour change.

Speaker Bio 

I am often described, by family and friends, as obsessed with peoples wellbeing. As the founding director of Therapeutic Thinking Ltd. my role is to influence those institutions that impact on the wellbeing of others, and ensure we create systems and environments based on a therapeutic understanding of behaviour. After a career as a practitioner working with young people and trauma, I have now been an advisor and consultant for well over a decade. I am uncomfortable with the idea of being an expert and prefer to think of myself as a sponge that has absorbed the best of what practitioner do.

• therapeuticthinking.co.uk

Session Synopsis

A look at how the early help system can support children and families where there are mental health and well-being concerns that are impacting on the whole family

Any other information to share?

This session will be delivered jointly between Northamptonshire Childrens Trust and the Mental Health Support Team

• Northamptonshire Childrens Trust
• www.nctrust.co.uk

Focussing on how safeguarding supervision can promote staff mental health and wellbeing.

Session Synopsis

Why does safeguarding supervision matter and what difference does it make to children, young people and your organisation? In this workshop, we will explore some of the rationale and research behind the development of a strong and sustained supervision culture, focusing on how safeguarding supervision can promote staff mental health and wellbeing.

Working in safeguarding can create levels of anxiety in professionals. Stress and a sense of being overwhelmed can be transferred between children, families and the staff working with them. The personal toll for staff working with emotional trauma without sufficient support can be significant.

Stress is endemic in schools, with senior leaders particularly affected. Many highlight a real need for more support, and the employer’s duty of care includes the provision of clear guidance and a reflective space which can help to reduce such stressors.

Supervision is a cornerstone in leading a strong safeguarding culture resulting in better outcomes for children, a high-quality safeguarding approach from professionals, alleviating staff demotivation or disillusionment and reducing staff absence through stress and mental health difficulties.

Key Note Speaker Bio

Sharon is an experienced practitioner having worked in leadership roles in secondary education for 17 years. Her breadth of experience encompasses working as a Designated Safeguarding Lead, Inclusion Manager, Senior Mental Health Lead and Designated Safeguarding Lead for children in care in a range of educational settings. She is also experienced in leading and supporting school pastoral teams. She has worked intensively with parents and carers as a Triple P practitioner.

Prior to entering the education sector, Sharon worked in social care for 18 years, supporting and developing services for vulnerable adults and young people in the community.

She currently works for Safeguarding Network supporting DSLs in supervision as well as delivering staff training and contributing to the development of resources to support safeguarding in education settings.

• jackie@safeguarding.network
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safeguarding.network
• X: @Safernetwork
• Linked In: https://linkedin.com/company/safeguardingnetwork
• https://safeguarding.network

Session Synopsis

MHST are a service coming into education settings to support children , young peole and their families and education staff regardung mental health. This workshop will explore how the whole school approach can be valuable to reduce mental health stigma, raise awareness and improve access for the right support for children and young people. How can we work collaboratively to support education settings and ultimately support children and young people.

Session Synopsis

What I have learned as an educator and teacher through navigating the complexities of supporting a wonderfully unique daughter.

When my daughter was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and complex SEMH needs in January 2021, it completely transformed my understanding and experience of both neurodivergence, and the challenges that school presents to so many of our young people. This session will share my journey and will reflect on the lessons I have learned as an educator and teacher by seeing school through the lens of a parent of a beautifully complex child.

From navigating the EHCP process, to battling against emotionally based school avoidance, to fighting daily for the school environment to be made more equitable for my daughter, I hope that this session will both challenge and inspire you to make a difference for the families that you work with. I will cover practical tips and guidance in relation to successfully securing an EHCP which is both personalised and fit for purpose, as well as offer some provocations to prompt your own thinking and reflections about the classroom and school environment you create.

Speaker Bio

I have been an educator for over 20 years and am in my eighth year of Headship, having moved to Kettering Science Academy in September 2023 after leading Kingsthorpe College in Northampton since September 2016. Prior to this, I was responsible as an Assistant Principal and Vice Principal for learning and teaching, standards, and Post 16. This came after a successful tenure as Head of English where my leadership was used as a best practice case study in Ofsted's national Excellence in English good practice report published May 2011.

My drive as an educational leader comes from my belief that everyone wants to feel accepted, to feel seen, and to feel included. As such, creating the conditions and climate for everyone to feel as if they belong underpins my uncompromising expectation of the best for every learner - both children and staff.

I am passionate about developing practice and systems that allow all children, regardless of need, to experience success in a mainstream secondary school - a school where my own daughter would flourish.

Any other information to share?

Whilst I am a secondary school educator and leader, the session will be applicable to colleagues from all settings, as well as colleagues from other sectors.

• Company name: Kettering Science Academy
• X: @beautifullyfra1
• Linked In: linkedin.com/in/jennie-giovanelli-3368a2279

Session Brief

This session is for all staff to understand how to support colleagues with the menopause

Session Synopsis

What is the menopause and who experiences it?

• The physical, emotional and behavioural impact of the menopause
• Reasonable Adjustments for the menopause
• Case studies
• External support and further resources

Speaker Bio

Amy is a freelance mental health trainer for schools and colleges. She is the author of ‘Supporting staff mental health in your school’ and has also written content for TES and Impact Journals. She is a Leading Diversity advisor and fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. She is an associate for Diverse Educators providing workshops and keynote sessions. Amy also provides wellbeing coaching for ITT students nationally.

Any other information to share?

Trigger warning- suicide is mentioned in this session.

• X: AmySayerAS

• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysayer/

• Website: https://amy-sayer.com/

Session Brief

Supporting Young People with Eating Disorders in Schools Develop your understanding of different types of eating disorders, presentations and challenges What can schools do to help? Consider specific strategies, adjustments, personalisation, improve attendance and performance

Workshop Bio

At The Children’s Hospital School, we are committed to supporting schools and other partners through a regular CPD programme and a bespoke training offer which can be delivered in your setting to small groups or whole staff teams.  We are a member of the National Association for Hospital Education and work in collaboration with a number of teaching school hubs across the region. 

Any other information to share?

• Website: www.childrenshospitalschool.leicester.sch.uk