Wellbeing and Mental Health in Schools (WAMHS) project

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Why did we start the WAMHS project? 

Schools were reporting higher numbers of students experiencing difficulties managing their emotions, making the most of their learning and life opportunities at school, and coping with the stresses of life both in and out of school.

Research shows that positive health and education outcomes are closely related. School staff may be one of the first to notice emerging mental health difficulties. In its recent Green Paper, the Government stressed the importance of schools and mental health services working more closely together to make sure that children and young people’s wellbeing is supported, and that those who need help with their mental health can get it when they need it. 

WAMHS is a school-facing project. 

The WAMHS Project supports schools to nurture an environment where children and young people can learn about all areas of life. WAMHS focuses on building academic, social, and emotional resilience and coping skills in students and helping them to identify and access additional support if needed. The project is also based on further developing knowledge and skills in education staff so that they are more confident and feel more able to support students, and their families, who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.

What is WAMHS?

The Wellbeing and Mental Health in Schools (WAMHS) project is an initiative led by the CAMHS Alliance with the support of the Children and Young People’s Integrated Commissioning work stream in City and Hackney.

This innovative service aims to improve mental health and well-being support for children and young people in schools, colleges, and specialist and alternative provision education settings in City and Hackney.


Objectives of the WAMHS Programme

  • The school environment supports well-being (supporting schools to be mentally healthy settings)
  • Supporting the personal, social, and emotional development of all children in schools
  • Supporting schools to be inclusive places/ increase inclusive practices
  • Promote cohesive and cooperative linked working between schools and mental health services
  • Increase capacity within schools to identify early and meet the wellbeing and mental health needs of all pupils
  • Engagement with parents and the external world

The recent history of WAMHS

The WAMHS project started with a one-year pilot phase in September 2018 and was initially piloted for 15 months in 50% of state-maintained schools in City and Hackney (39 schools participated in the pilot phase).

The impact of the pilot phase was evaluated by Public Health City and Hackney, and the results of the evaluation were used to support extending the offer to remaining eligible schools in both boroughs. 


In September 2019 the Universal WAMHS Offer was approved by the commissioning board and a further 30 schools became part of the WAMHS project.

From April 2020 there will be 69 schools out of the total 80 in City and Hackney that will be part of the WAMHS project

The Mental Health Support Team

Also in September 2019, City and Hackney became a Trailblazer site for a new initiative from the Government Green Paper on children & young people’s mental health. 

Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), under senior supervision, will be able to offer focused evidence-based support to young people and their parents/carers when young people are experiencing difficulties with their emotional well-being that might best be managed within a school setting.

The MHST will work with groups of young people, parents, and where it might be helpful, with parents alone or with their children.

MHSTs will work with the first phase (2018-2019 participating settings) of WAMHS schools this year, with a possible rollout to the second phase WAMHS schools at a future time.  

You can find full information about the MHST here. 

How is the WAMHS programme set up?

Schools and education settings in City and Hackney participating in the WAMHS project have:

  • A senior member of school staff as their Designated Mental Health Lead coordinating mental health and emotional well-being in the school.
  • A Wellbeing Framework Partner, a senior, skilled education professional from Hackney Learning Trust who supports each school to review their current wellbeing and mental health provision and develop an action plan across a number of areas to improve the support systems for mental health and wellbeing in school.
  • An allocated CAMHS Worker in School (CWIS), a specialist mental health practitioner from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

WHAMS framework image


WAMHS partnership roles

  • DHML (Designated Mental Health Lead) who will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team in the school
  • CWIS (CAMHS Worker in School) who is allocated from one of the services, and spends between 1 day per month to 1 day per week at school
  • WBF (Wellbeing Framework Partner) is a senior leader from the Hackney Education School Improvement Team, who supports processes and relationships. 
  • EMPH (Emotional and Mental Health Practitioner) provides early intervention to groups (and some 1-1 in secondary) of children and parents.

School facing - The role of the allocated CAMHS Worker in Schools

The role of the allocated CAMHS Worker in Schools is to provide expert knowledge and support for the school which may include:

  • Attending regular planning meetings in schools to support holistic thinking around student well-being, mental health, and need
  • Provide training to increase staff awareness and knowledge in the early identification and support of students’ mental health difficulties
  • Supporting the development of skills in managing the impact these difficulties can have in a school setting
  • Consultation to support further understanding of needs of students and advise and support schools’ staff in how best to respond to student need

Whilst the CWIS will not be providing ongoing individual mental health support to students, they will support involvement with appropriate external services so schools feel confident in referring students if needed and if agreed with the student’s parent/carer.


Young people and parent facing - The role of the Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs)

Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), under senior supervision, will be able to offer focused evidence-based support to young people and their parents/carers when young people are experiencing difficulties with their emotional well-being that might best be managed within a school setting.

The MHST will work with groups of young people, parents, and where it might be helpful, with parents alone or with their children.

Where can I get more information about WAMHS?

If you are a parent and your child attends a state-maintained school in City & Hackney it is likely that they are already or will be part of the WAMHS project from 2020. You can find out more by asking your school directly and getting in touch with the school’s Designated Mental Health Lead who will be closely working with the MHST (Mental Health Support Team)

If you are a professional you can contact the WAMHS management team with your query and we will aim to respond within 5 working days: at elft.wamhs@nhs.net

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Page last modified: 03/01/2024