Student wellbeing is a priority at TDA and we understand the pressure of academy life can mount. We actively encourage students to talk to someone about their feelings, to put matters into perspective and release tension.
Within the academy, students are able to talk to their tutor, Head of House, Deputy Head of House or any member of staff they comfortable speaking with.
If you have concerns about your child or your child feels they would benefit from additional support there are many places that can help;
Domestic abuse - Operation Encompass
At Thomas Deacon Academy we are working in partnership with Cambridgeshire Police and Peterborough City Council to identify and provide appropriate support to pupils who have experienced domestic abuse in their home; this scheme is called Operation Encompass. In order to achieve this, Cambridgeshire’s Education Safeguarding Team will share police information of all domestic incidents, where one of our pupils has been present, with the Designated Safeguarding Lead(s) (DSL)/Domestic Abuse (DA)Lead. On receipt of any information, the DSL/DA Lead will decide on the appropriate support the child may require. The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information. All information sharing and resulting actions will be undertaken in accordance with the ‘Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Agency Protocol for Domestic Abuse – Notifications to Schools, Colleges and Early Years settings’.
General advice
www.keep-your-head.com - a website that offers advice and support on a range of issues.
www.childline.org.uk (0800 1111) - a free service that offers confidential advice and support to young people.
www.samaritans.org (Tel: 116 123) - a free service for people that feel like things are getting out of control.
www.chums.uk.com - a Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People that provides therapeutic support in a variety of ways. CHUMS has developed a unique service delivery model to ensure that children and young people are able to access a service that supports their individual needs.
www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care - a website that offers strategies for students to help them manage their own wellbeing.
Emotional wellbeing
www.kooth.com - free, safe and anonymous online mental health services for children, young people and adults. Kooth, from XenZone, is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use.
www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk - an online resource providing information to young people and professionals regarding emotional wellbeing.
www.papyrus-uk.org/help-advice/about-helplineuk (Tel: 0800 0684141 or text 07786 209697) - a service that can help young people deal with negative feelings.
www.cpft.nhs.uk - Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust provide information about specialist mental health services, as well as mental health training opportunities.
www.minded.org.uk - Are you a parent or carer who is concerned about your child? Or perhaps you just want some hints and tips on parenting? MindEd for Families has online advice and information from trusted sources and will help you to understand and identify early issues and best support your child.
Self-harm
www.selfharm.org.uk/home - a project dedicated to supporting young people impacted by self-harm, providing a safe space to talk, ask questions and be honest about what is going on in their life.
Calm Harm - a new mobile app that provides tasks to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm. Get started by setting your password so that it's completely private. You can personalise it if you wish, by choosing the background colour theme and deciding on whether you would like some company using a variety of friendly characters. Visit the App Store (ios) or Play Store (Android) to install the app.
Bullying
www.beatbullying.org - CyberMentors is all about young people helping and supporting each other online, in a safe and supportive forum, that guides people to further help, both online and in person.