Mental health training for schools’ pastoral and safeguarding leads
Seminar in London aimed to inform and support those in schools with responsibility for children's mental wellbeing
Safeguarding and pastoral leads from Jewish schools attended a seminar on children’s mental health this week, which featured “heavy and difficult” discussions.
The workshop helped to signpost where external help was available, including organisations such as Arts Therapies for Children, Heads Up Kids, Camp Simcha, Jami, Noa Girls, Norwood, JW3 Gateways and Jewish Women’s Aid.
Attendees received training from Annie Chappell, a trauma informed specialist, who shared insights and advice about taking care of the practitioners’ own mental health and wellbeing in these challenging roles.
Organisers said: “The nature of their work means that safeguarding and pastoral leads often work in isolation and this seminar was the first step in providing a community and network to support the invaluable work they do.”
The half-day was coordinated by Partnerships for Jewish Schools (PaJeS) and the Jewish Leadership Council, with PaJeS having been formed as a division of the JLC ten years ago.
PaJeS’ wellbeing manager Julia Alberga said the workshop was “an opportunity for school safeguarding leads to feel part of a wider network and to learn new skills in a safe and collaborative space”.
Rivka Benarroch, assistant head (Behaviour and Pastoral) at Hasmonean High School, said the benefit was in “networking with other colleagues, especially meeting face to face, sharing similar concerns, stories and best practice”.
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