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Compass MHSTs – a commitment to excellence

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Read a round-up of our most recent MHST staff stories.

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Hundreds of students engage in Peer Wellbeing Project across North East Lincolnshire

Nearly 400 school students in North East Lincolnshire have so far benefitted from a Peer […] Continue reading

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Cartoon Sam’s Positive Mental Health journey for young children in school

Assistant Educational Mental Health Practitioner, Emma Turton at our Barnsley Compass Be MHST, is receiving […] Continue reading

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Compass workers share expertise across our MHSTs

Compass ensures knowledge, know-how and experience is shared across all our services. In this video, […] Continue reading


Compass Changing Lives welcomes three new Centres of Excellence

Compass Changing Lives’ three new wave eight Mental Health Support Teams were welcomed by their […] Continue reading

Comprehensive suite of workshops for CYP and school staff

Staff at Compass Be have developed original workshops for primary and secondary school children and young people.

Barnsley MHST service Compass Be staff deliver suite of workshops for all

Staff at our Barnsley MHST Compass Be have developed a series of different workshops for […] Continue reading

Promoting friendship skills for young people

A successful series of events about friendships and relationships has been delivered by Compass Changing Lives staff in Derbyshire.

Sue Berry, Assistant Director in charge of Compass Changing Lives, said: “The sessions aim to encourage positive wellbeing in young people and educate them on friendship skills in order to reduce the potential negative impacts that friendship difficulties can have on mental wellbeing.

“This, in turn, aims to reduce the need for more intensive support later on for young people.”


New branding will help us change lives in Derbyshire

Compass Be’s Kirsty speaking in school assemblies

Kirsty Taylor, the Healthy Relationship Practitioner for Compass Be, has been delivering assemblies to secondary schools across Barnsley to increase awareness about how we can help.

Kirsty said: “Visiting year seven students in their secondary school, following workshops from the previous academic year is providing a consistent and reliable approach.”

And she added: “It’s all about building trust and showing we are here to consistently support the students.”

Kirsty spreads the message of mental health and wellbeing in school assemblies

Kirsty Taylor, the Healthy Relationship Practitioner for Compass Be, has been delivering assemblies to secondary […] Continue reading


Compass changing lives logo Compass Changing Lives gearing up for New Year launch

A range of events have been held to introduce the new Compass Changing Lives service […] Continue reading


New 5 Ways to Wellbeing campaign available for all services

Staff in all of Compass’s services have been given access to a new awareness campaign based around the Five Ways to Wellbeing, with the stresses and strains of the Christmas season in mind.

The Compass campaign includes a downloadable teachers’ pack with interactive challenges, a pack for young people, posters for schools and social media posts.

The assets and packs and social media are available to download at U:\One Compass Comms Group Resources\Campaign – 5 Ways to Wellbeing Dec Jan 2022

Although, Christmas was the impetus for the work, the festive season is not referenced anywhere in the campaign so it is hoped it will remain useful all year round. The campaign is already being used in services and is being offered to people attending the Positive Effect DfE Senior Mental Health Lead training.

Cliff Edwards, Marketing and Communications Manager, said: “This is designed to be used by all services within Compass any time they like. It can be adapted. We’re not precious if managers prefer to change bits to make them more relevant for their stakeholders.”

The assets were created in conjunction with C4H Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead Helen Rogers and Health and Wellbeing Trainer Danielle Grant. Lisa Gale, Assistant Director Operations (North), helped with messaging. The design work was done by Laura Sutcliffe, C4H’s Marketing and Digital Communications Officer.


Where she belongs: Melanie welcomed back with open arms

Melanie Simcoe, formerly of Compass BUZZ, is now loving life at Compass Bloom after a four year break.

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Melanie makes a Compass comeback

Recently recruited Supervising Practitioner at Compass Bloom, Melanie Simcoe says she’s so glad to be […] Continue reading


Andrea thinks creatively in her quest to support a child with anxiety

Compass GO… Supervising Practitioner Andrea Paxton, has helped to support an anxious child, who is unable to return to school after surgery, by using craft techniques.

Andrea said: “I love that we are able to adapt our work to suit each individual child and the impact this can have is just amazing. I love my job!”

Andrea’s crafty ways of helping children

Compass GO… staff have been getting creative as they introduce craft sessions as one of […] Continue reading


Lancashire trainees ready to make the next step

Romy Kale at Compass Bloom says she “can’t wait” to become fully qualified.

She said: “We’re now nearly done with our course and so a couple more weeks and we’ll be finished – we’ll be qualified education mental health practitioners.”

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Bloom TEMHPs ready to qualify soon, says Romy

Compass Bloom Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (TEMHP) Romy Kale says she “can’t wait” to […] Continue reading


Chance for our staff to join teachers in discussions on Whole School Approach

Staff are being invited to join an online discussion with teachers on aspects of the whole school approach to health and wellbeing.

Rose Kearns, Business Development Assistant Director, says: “Positive Effect would like to extend the invitation to this Community in Practice MS Teams event to anyone involved in Compass MHSTs or those that are supporting settings to develop a whole school approach,

“We believe… all will benefit not only from the lessons learnt from the speakers but by hearing different perspectives.”

Compass staff invited to join online event with teachers

Staff in Compass are being invited to join a once a term webinar which is […] Continue reading


Building professional relationships within the community in Lancashire

“These events are the foundations of strong relationships that put children at the centre of what we do” – Eve Allen, Compass Bloom Team Leader

Compass Bloom team meets community partners to help coordinate support for children and young people

Members of the Compass Bloom team have met professionals from other local services to ensure […] Continue reading


Anti-bullying week messages of hope

Reaching out to children in Anti-bullying week

Our Heathy Relationships Practitioner at Compass Be has highlighted the importance of “reaching out for […] Continue reading


Andrea highlights true friendship qualities during anti-bullying week talks

Compass GO… Supervising Practitioner Andrea Paxton has visited a primary school to raise awareness of […] Continue reading

Compass Be, Phoenix and Positive Effect work together to produce a new bereavement package

Click the link to read how our staff use our4 collected experience and knowledge across Compass.

Compass services work together to produce new bereavement package in response to teachers’ survey

Compass Phoenix has launched a new webinar package to help school staff support children and […] Continue reading


Our Senior Mental Health Lead Training receiving great feedback.

Training Officer Danielle Grant, who conducts our Senior Mental Health Lead training courses, says: “The Compass course has been developed in conjunction with our MHSTs to reflect the Compass whole school approach audit and action planning process. It costs £795. This leaves the school with £405 to spend on staff backfill to enable the SMHL to attend the course, or – as we encourage them to do – on wellbeing initiatives!”

Read all about this work we do. There’s also a great video giving you more information.

Compass Positive Effect Senior Mental Health Lead Training DfE grant assured Compass Positive Effect’s Senior Mental Health Lead Training offers on-going support

Over a hundred school and college professionals are now able to access regular follow up […] Continue reading

Derbyshire contract beginning on 1st January

Rachel Bundock, our CEO, welcomed the award of a new contract to provide MHST services in Derby and Derbyshire.

She said the organisation’s wide experience has helped it develop a unique model.

Rachel added: “We are absolutely delighted to be delivering this incredibly important service and we recognise the trust placed in us to do our very best for the children and young people of Derby City and Derbyshire.

The new service will employ 88 people.

Read more below.

Compass text based logo Compass is awarded Derby and Derbyshire MHST contract

Compass is to launch a new service providing mental health support teams (MHSTs) in Derby […] Continue reading


Contract extension for GO…

Compass GO MHST’s contract has been extended until 2024. The commissioner spoke highly of the team and their ‘can do’ attitude and the continuing praise and positive feedback about the service she receives from professionals and wider stakeholders

All systems GO! Our NE Lincs MHST gets contract extension

Compass GO MHST’s contract has been extended until 2024 to provide essential, preventative and early […] Continue reading


compass Bloom staff at launch event Leyland Compass Bloom launches in Lancashire

Compass Bloom launched with an event at its Leyland hub attended by local partners, our […] Continue reading


Compass Be out and about for World Mental Health Day

Compass Be works with others to promote the messages of World Mental Health Day

Compass Be joined with Branching Minds Barnsley, Chilypep and other local mental health providers at […] Continue reading


Compass Go marks World Mental Health Day with new podcast series

Compass Go Deep Dives into mental health issues with new podcast

As part of #WorldMentalHealthDay2022 Compass GO launched the first episode of a new podcast, ‘Compass […] Continue reading

Thompson treats his colleagues during busy Black History Month

Be Team Leader, Michelle Eyre, said: “Through the month of October, Thompson has been raising awareness for BHM working with CYP in educational settings which included delivering workshops and awareness stalls.”

BHlack History Month event Thompson leads the way in Black History Month

The team at Compass Be enjoyed a Black History Month lunchtime celebration, where Thompson Charuma, […] Continue reading


Compass Bloom activities summer events Bloom staff out and about to raise the service profile

Compass Bloom trainees and supervising practitioners attended a total of 29 events across Central and […] Continue reading


Compass Be logo Our Barnsley MHST is named Compass Be, after branding exercise

Compass Be is the new name for Barnsley MHST, chosen by children and young people […] Continue reading

We asked three colleagues at Compass Be how they like their jobs…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-fGv6Jj8yck?feature=oembedJade – Supervising Practitioner, South Area, Compass Be

https://www.youtube.com/embed/M8MYwTWaBq0?feature=oembedMichelle – Team Leader, Compass Be

https://www.youtube.com/embed/7xbLA_2KWfA?feature=oembedLauren – Trainee, Compass Be


Jeff project logo Compass GO! in prestigious project to create wrap around support for children and young people

Compass GO is playing a pivotal part in a new initiative called ‘The JEFF Project’, […] Continue reading


Positive Effect and Compass GO! combine to provide vital training for partners in JEFF Project

Staff in two areas of Compass worked together to provide much needed training for partner […] Continue reading


Lauren Lauren and Hannah inspire at Grimsby careers fair

Compass GO colleagues attended the ICare careers event in Grimsby Town Hall which was put […] Continue reading


Go provides tailored workshops for college students

A series of carefully tailored mental health and wellbeing workshops was delivered to over 400 […] Continue reading


Compass Bloom is the new brand for our MHST services in West and Central Lancashire – thanks to trainee Romy!

Lisa Gale, Compass Assistant Director Operations (North), said: “Compass Bloom really hits the mark and it is even more special knowing that one of our own workers, Romy Kale, was inspired so much by our ethos to come up with the name.”

Now, read more…

Romy’s proud the Compass Bloom name she thought up has been chosen

It was the clear favourite after the consultations with children, young people and staff and […] Continue reading


Autism in schools project forging ahead in North East Lincolnshire

A total of ten schools have so far taken part in the Compass GO… Autism […] Continue reading


New branded SPOC launches in Barnsley

Branching Minds Barnsley – joining up mental health and wellbeing support for local children and young people

A new collaboration between local mental health support teams (MHST) and our child and adolescent mental health services […] Continue reading


Life’s a beach for GO! team

The beach event at sunny Cleethorpes was created and organised by eleven team members at Compass GO…

The idea was for local families to be able to take some time out and come and join the team in a range of free and enjoyable activities which included shell painting, making nature collages, making friendship bracelets, playing rounders, building sandcastles and egg and spoon racing.

Read more below…

‘Cleethorpes Summer Beach meet’ created waves for wellbeing

The sun shone brightly for 150 children, young people and their parents/carers who attended the […] Continue reading


And our GO! getters were also out and about in Immingham…

Compass GO… first ever ‘Immingham Wellbeing Summer Event’ was a great success!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came along to the first ever Compass GO… […] Continue reading


Holistic approach for families invited to drop in sessions in Grimsby

“The drop-in is a safe place to come along for a natter, relax and ask any questions that you may have as well as finding out more about any additional support that our service can offer parents/carers”

Read more here…

Emotional Wellbeing Support Drop-in service launched in North East Lincolnshire

Compass GO… in North East Lincolnshire have set up a series of support drop-ins to […] Continue reading


Real time results for families as our staff deliver Triple P courses in Barnsley

Read all about it! How our workers in Barnsley created that inter-generational change we strive for, delivering a new dimension to our offer.

sad black girl sitting at sofa Barnsley Mental Health Support Team running positive parenting programme for parents of anxious children

Workers in our Compass Barnsley MHST service are running special courses to help parents support […] Continue reading

Thompson tells of tears and triumphs as we give Positive Parenting tips in school sessions in Barnsley.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=g_nK-wxNIbs%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Let’s GO! Lincolnshire staff give up their Saturday to attend Pride event.

Workers wanted to reach out to young people who may be attending the Cleethorpes and Grimsby Pride event. Little, unspoken interactions made it all worthwhile.

Compass Go staff at Cleethorpes and Grimsby Pride Team GO the extra mile to show they care for LGBTQIA+ young people

Compass GO! staff happily gave up their Saturday recently so they could show their support […] Continue reading


NEL’s Sam Walters on his LGBTQIA+ specialist theme role


Heartrending effects of cyberbullying being tackled by Kirsty in Barnsley

Kirsty Taylor, Healthy Peer Relationship Practitioner in Barnsley MHST, devised, developed and is now delivering an hour long workshop to schools in Barnsley to help young children deal with life online. Here, she tells us about the project. and below the video, you can read how she went about it.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/WW-ZKWQXuWA?feature=oembedKirsty explains how she acted upon what the children were telling her.

“There have been many challenges discussed during sessions – some young people reported that social media effects their sleep, appetite, confidence and sometimes pressures them to be a different person.”Kirsty Taylor

Kirsty in class Kirsty’s sessions combat social media apps’ sad and isolating effects

New workshops directly aimed at combating the isolating and fearful affects of social media apps […] Continue reading


SilverCloud online CBT package being prepared for Harrow

The SilverCloud package is to be launched this financial year in Harrow. Meanwhile, Barnsley and Compass GO MHSTs already use the package.

SilverCloud virtual, any-time CBT platform to roll out to Harrow service

The SilverCloud virtual CBT platform, which is established at Compass GO and in Barnsley MHST […] Continue reading


Lancashire team bring in experts with lived experience to speak about autism

team at Lancs autism event Lancs staff learn more about autism

Staff in our West and Central Lancashire Mental Health support Teams brought in experts on […] Continue reading


Getting children to talk about mental health

Isabelle mental health stigma workshop Emma and Isabelle break down the stigma of mental health

Workers at Compass Barnsley Mental Health Support Team have been delivering Positive Mental Health Class […] Continue reading


Faazia and her Lancashire colleagues are loving their university days

Read how they’re being “captivated” by powerful, insightful and emotive lectures at Edge Hill.

Faaiza with ducks Lancashire MHST staff relish their training at Edge Hill University

Compass trainees in Central and West Lancashire MHST are studying for their Postgraduate Diploma – […] Continue reading


lancashire MHST naming options Blooming brilliant brand ideas for our West and Central Lancashire MHST

Children and young people in West and Central Lancashire are being consulted in an on-going […] Continue reading


New support group for parents and carers launched at Barnsley MHST

BARNSLEY MHST has successfully launched new support group The Climb after months of preparation. The […] Continue reading


New activity campaign up and running in NE Lincolnshire MHST

Our Compass GO MHST service is North East Lincolnshire has launched a new awareness campaign […] Continue reading


MHST workers at stall at barnsley awareness week MHST staff “grow together” in awareness week campaign

Our Compass Barnsley MHST team supported schools with a Children’s Mental Health Awareness (CMHA) Week […] Continue reading


New MHST staff get a warm welcome in chilly Chorley

A total of twenty-five members of staff who have joined Compass’s new MHSTs in Central […] Continue reading


Helping a bereaved child through Christmas and New Year

Our Barnsley Mental Health Support Team Bereavement Counsellor, Helen Scouller has these thoughts to help […] Continue reading


“I didn’t feel left alone when things got difficult…” – case study.

A young person speaks about how they were helped by the Compass Go… Mental Health […] Continue reading


How we helped an anxious young person find her confidence

Compass Go case study by Jamee-Leigh Benson, Supervising Practitioner How was the person previously? The […] Continue reading


Shaun tells us what he loves about his job at Compass Go…

by Shaun Walton – Education Mental Health Practitioner Shaun says: It’s so refreshing to work […] Continue reading


Bereavement counselling service launches in Barnsley schools

Children and families in Barnsley who are mourning the death of a family member or […] Continue reading


I love working at Compass Go…

Niki Sullivan, Education Mental Health Practitioner, tells us how she feels about her work. Compass […] Continue reading


This job is very rewarding

Sophie Flett, an Education Mental Health Practitioner at Compass Go… our North East Lincolnshire MHST […] Continue reading


At Compass, they listen and that helps bring out the best in you

We asked Jamee-Leigh Benson, Supervising Practitioner, Jamee-Leigh Benson about her role in the Compass Go… […] Continue reading


70 attend compass webinar on how to bring the whole school approach to life

A tried and tested model for creating mentally healthy schools by using the whole school […] Continue reading