Getting Help (Tier 1) services and support
Other pages in this section
1. Urgent help if you are in crisis
2. The Thrive Framework and levels of support
3. Getting Advice (Universal Level) services and support
4. Getting Help (Tier 1) services and support
5. Getting More Help (Tier 2) services and support
6. Getting Risk Support (Tier 3) support
7. Online resources and other support
Tier 1 services and support for families, children and young people
Southend School Nursing Service - emotional wellbeing booklets for children and young people
The School Nursing Service accepts referrals from schools (with parental consent) and from parents/carers to provide low-level emotional wellbeing advice.
Support can be offered in a clinic, at school, over the phone, or through one to one sessions with the child or young person. They have also developed an emotional wellbeing booklet, which can be completed with the child and used to guide next steps in discussion with parents/carers.
For advice regarding referrals, call the team on 01702 534843 or email schoolnursing@southend.gov.uk
Watch a video about support from the School Nursing Service
Affinity
Affinity is a targeted early intervention project for children aged 5 to 16 who are at risk of exclusion due to their behaviour. Referrals for the service must come from the child or young person's school.
Learning Together (Trust Links)
Learning Together is a 12-week programme for young people aged 11 to 16 who are struggling to attend school due to their mental health and/or special educational needs, both diagnosed and undiagnosed.
Kooth
Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous platform for 11 to 18 year olds. It provides a range of online support including one-to-one live chat and messaging, discussion boards, goal-setting and journalling tools.
Children and Young People Counselling Service
The Mid and South Essex Children and Young People Counselling Service is led by Kids Inspire and delivered in partnership with Open Door and Renew Counselling. The service is for ages 5 to 18 (or up to 25 for children and young people with SEND). It supports those experiencing low mood, stress, anxiety or emotional difficulties, or those who have experienced trauma.
After an initial assessment, a treatment plan of evidence-based support is offered such as one to once counselling sessions, createive therapies, or emotional resillience support. See information about how to access the service.
Watch a video about support from the service.
Now's the Time for Change
Now's the Time for Change provide health based and therapeutic coaching to improve emotional wellbeing and mental health.
YWell
YWell is a free, confidential service provided by Southend YMCA. It offers mentoring to young people aged 11 and above and counselling for young people aged 16 and above. Sessions are available in person at Southend YMCA.
Trust Links
Trust Links provides a range of support for children, young people and families.
Tier 1 services and support in schools
Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)
The ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) intervention is a school-based initiative designed to strengthen the ability of educational settings to address the emotional needs of their students using internal resources.
By providing targeted training to learning support assistants (LSAs), the programme equips them with the skills to create and deliver tailored support plans.
These plans focus on fostering emotional literacy and resilience in children and young people, helping them navigate challenges such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and social difficulties within a nurturing and familiar environment.
ELSA training is delivered by the Southend Educational Psychology Service. For enquiries email the team on EPTeam@Southend.gov.uk
This initiative is available at selected schools - please confirm with your school.
Senior Mental Health Leads in Schools
Senior Mental Health Leads (SMHLs) are key figures within schools and colleges, tasked with leading and coordinating efforts to promote and support the mental health and well-being of pupils, staff, and the broader school community.
Their role has become increasingly vital in addressing the growing mental health needs of students and ensuring schools provide a supportive environment for all.
This initiative is available at selected schools - please confirm with your school.
S-Well Emotional Well-being Service
S-Well is part of the Educational Psychology Service. It was created in response to feedback from schools, parents and staff about what they needed most: earlier help, practical strategies, and a focus on resilience and wellbeing.
A team of 9 Assistant Educational Psychologists works directly with pupils, staff, and parents, offering joined-up support shaped by a 2024 needs analysis in Southend schools.
S-WELL stands out because it is psychology-led, whole-system, embedded in classrooms and staffrooms, focused on building long-term capacity, and designed to bridge the gaps between education, SEND, and health.
For more information, email the team on S-Well@southend.gov.uk
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) are a growing NHS service designed to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing needs in education settings.
The service has 3 core aims:
- to deliver brief evidence-based interventions to support children and young people with mild-moderate mental health problems
- to support schools in developing their whole school approach to mental health
- to provide timely advice to school staff and liaison with external services, to help children and young people to get the right help and stay in education
The service has 4 core principles:
- MHSTs should be additional to, and integrated with existing support
- MHSTs should co-produce their approach
- MHSTs support should be responsive to schools needs not one size fits all
- children and young people should be able to access appropriate support all year round (not just term time)
The service is currently available in selected schools only. View participating schools.
Watch a video presentation about MHSTs
Primary Schools Wellbeing Programme
This is delivered by NOW's the Time for Change. Interactive wellbeing workshops delivered in primary schools teaching children the tools of mindfulness, stress reduction and emotional wellbeing.