Student Wellbeing

Supporting students with their health and wellbeing

We understand that the journey through further education can bring both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. As students who are striving for excellence, it’s essential they prioritise not only academic success but also their mental health and overall wellbeing.

Here at Sir John Deane’s, we foster a sense of belonging – it is important that students feel connected and part of something bigger as part of our culture to be curious, caring and responsible. There are many opportunities for students to immerse themselves within the College culture for example, through our wide range of co-curricular activities.

Accessing Support

Students can access wellbeing support from the following:

Progress Mentor or Learning Mentor
The Safeguarding Team
Staff with Lead roles such as Diversity and Inclusion (Sian Aryee) and Child on Child Abuse, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence (Beth Jenkins) as well as Wellbeing and Mental Health Lead (Stacey Hunter)
Flourish Channel on Microsoft Teams
“Mind your Future” online platform
Counselling

Counselling

Sir John Deane’s offers a professional counselling service. Students may choose to self-refer via an internal post box, email the team directly or refer via their Progress Mentor.

The counselling team use a person-centred approach, which means they are there to listen to students, without judgement, taking the time and care to build trust, striving to provide a safe and supportive space to talk freely. As standard practice at the College, students will be offered up to six sessions, each session will last 50 minutes. If a student requires more than six sessions, the team can discuss what their next steps might be and support with any referrals.

We have professionally trained and fully qualified counsellors who are experienced in the Person-Centred Approach. They are all very experienced in this age group, supporting children and young people with a range of issues that they may be experiencing and struggling with.

All of our Counsellors are qualified members of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) or The national Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), and work in line with the Ethical Framework of their professional body.

In counselling sessions we want students to feel free to explore their feelings in a safe and secure place. The Counsellor facilitates the student as someone who is a capable and autonomous individual with the ability to resolve their difficulties, and to realise their own strengths and potential, allowing them to make change to their lives in a positive way. The student is encouraged to lead the session and we don’t give advice or tell them what to do. Instead, the goal is to create a safe and supportive space where the person feels comfortable and confident to explore whatever is on their mind.

Students can refer by asking a member of staff/mentor on their behalf
They can self-refer by email (counselling@sjd.ac.uk )
Posting a self-referral form in our post box outside the counselling rooms in College

Although the counselling sessions are confidential between Counsellor and client, all students are made aware that as counsellors we cannot promise to keep information or be told secrets which might compromise their safety or wellbeing. If our Counsellors feel a student is not safe then we will always share our intention to contact their parents/carers unless to do so could put the student at greater risk of harm.

However, we also recognise that all matters relating to child protection are personal to children and families. Therefore, in this respect they are confidential and the Principal or Designated and Deputy Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) will only disclose information about a child to other members of staff on a need-to-know basis.

Hub of Hope

A directory of mental health support and services across the UK where you can put in your postcode to access support in your local area.

Mind

Offers information and advice to people with mental health problems.

Beat

Specific support for anyone with an eating disorder.

Papyrus

Young suicide prevention.

Space

Stop and Prevent Adolescent Criminal Exploitation.

Emergency / Immediate Crisis Support

SHOUT