MHL network meetings
MHL network meetings
Our Mental Health Lead (MHL) Network Meetings are online sessions designed specifically for our community of schools. Held once each term (approximately one hour), these meetings provide an informal information-sharing platform where schools can receive updates from the Mental Health Support Team (MHST), share good practice, and collaborate with colleagues across the county.
Following feedback from schools, Network Meetings are delivered separately for Primary and Secondary settings, ensuring that content, discussions, and resources remain relevant to the unique challenges and opportunities within each phase of education.
The meetings are an opportunity to stay informed about MHST developments, explore practical approaches to supporting pupil wellbeing, and contribute ideas that help shape future service delivery. Schools are encouraged to raise agenda items, share examples of effective practice, and identify common challenges for discussion.
Please note that these meetings are not intended for discussing individual pupil cases. Specific case discussions should be directed to your school's MHST Link Worker. However, we welcome discussion of generic themes, concerns, barriers, and ideas that may benefit the wider school community.
Following each meeting, attendees will receive a summary email containing any relevant links, resources, guidance, and information discussed.
What to expect
Across both Primary and Secondary meetings, sessions typically include:
- Service updates from MHST leads, including developments, waiting times, and locality information
- Updates on actions from previous meetings
- Spotlight sessions promoting MHST interventions, resources, workshops, and tools available to schools
- Good practice sharing between schools
- Creative problem-solving discussions to explore common challenges and identify practical solutions
- Opportunities for consultation, discussion, and questions
- Signposting to specialist services and wider support available for children and young people
- Information, resources, and guidance that support the development of a Whole School Approach to mental health and wellbeing
Typical agenda
- Welcome
- Service updates from MHST Leads
- Actions from previous meeting
- Referral Waiting Times and Locality Updates
- Spotlight Session
- Creative Solutions Discussion
- Q&A and Open Forum
- Date of Next Meeting
Primary network meetings
Primary network meetings focus on the needs of younger children and the role schools play in promoting early intervention and emotional wellbeing.
Areas of focus
- Supporting early intervention and prevention
- Developing and embedding a Whole School Approach
- MHST workshops, groups, and classroom support offers
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health in younger children
- Sharing effective practice from Primary settings
- Collaborative discussion around emerging needs within Primary schools
- Practical, age-appropriate strategies that can be implemented within school communities
These sessions provide a supportive forum for Primary Mental Health Leads to connect, learn from one another, and explore solutions tailored to the Primary environment.
Secondary network meetings
Secondary network meetings focus on the more complex and evolving mental health needs often experienced during adolescence, while supporting schools to respond effectively to emerging challenges.
Areas of focus
- Adolescent mental health themes, including:
- Self-esteem
- Exam stress
- Life transitions
- Emotional resilience
- Emerging challenges for teenagers
- MHST interventions, workshops, and group offers within Secondary schools
- Reviewing referral processes and support pathways
- Exploring creative and practical solutions to challenges faced in Secondary settings
- Sharing effective practice from Secondary schools
- Collaborative discussion around emerging needs within Secondary education
These meetings place a strong emphasis on discussion, reflection, and collaboration, helping schools address the increasingly complex needs of young people while strengthening whole-school wellbeing approaches.
Why attend
By attending MHL network meetings, you will:
- Stay informed about MHST developments, services, pathways, and guidance
- Receive updates on referral trends and waiting times
- Gain practical tools, resources, and ideas to take back to your school
- Learn from the experiences and successes of other schools
- Access a supportive professional network of fellow Mental Health Leads
- Influence future Network Meeting agendas through your feedback and suggestions
- Contribute to shaping future MHST delivery and support offers
- Strengthen your school's Whole School Approach to mental health and wellbeing
Our MHL Network Meetings are designed to be supportive, informative, collaborative, and responsive, ensuring Mental Health Leads feel connected, confident, and equipped to support the wellbeing of children and young people within their school communities.
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