Our Vision
Our Vision
The vision of the Educational Psychology Service in Argyll and Bute is to promote the wellbeing and development of all children and young people using the knowledge and evidence base of child psychology.
This is done by working directly to support children and young people, including:
Consultation with parents, carers, and staff.
Observations and collaborative assessment.
Direct assessment.
Individual and group interventions.
Each year, in excess of 500 named children and young people gain support from the EPS with direct interventions to address a range of needs. Approximately 50% of this caseload are reported to have a mental health component, and this has been a consistent over time.
The EPS plays a lead role in authority-wide strategic and planning groups, including the Trauma Strategy Group and Suicide Prevention Strategy Group. The EPS also leads the mental health strand of the Children’s and Young People’s Service Plan.
The EPS has a number of current strategic areas of development aimed at early intervention and prevention, including:
The EPS supports the delivery of counselling in schools in collaboration with TCS to ensure an effective partnership approach to meeting the needs of children and young people between the ages of 10 and 18.
This provides a compilation of mental health resources for young people and those working with young people, including materials for parents and carers.
This programme aims to support schools in becoming nurture and relationship-based communities within the wider authority's trauma response framework.
This programme delivers training to school pastoral teams and their identified HSCP and third-sector partners within their school communities to develop understanding of non-attendance, the importance of information gathering and the process for developing appropriate interventions to support pupils and families.
The EPS provides training delivery and on-going support for Seasons for Growth Companions who run group work sessions in schools. This specifically provides support for children and young people who have experienced grief, loss, or change.
Research from consultations with LGBTQ+ young people about what supports their mental health has been undertaken in order to produce a guidance document for schools. Work is continuing through the LGBTQ+ forum.
Training Delivery
The Educational Psychology Service provides significant training to schools and their partners on a range of issues around wellbeing and mental health. The EPS has also developed a podcast and an online series of webinars for professionals to support their understanding of nurture, trauma, and mental health.
