Supporting your child’s future
Providing services and facilities to our local communities
Itchen College offers a range of pastoral support for students. When they arrive at College, each student is placed in a tutor group, usually with a member of staff who teaches them, and will get to know them and provide individual guidance and support. In addition, the Student Support office (E27) provides an open access “one stop shop” offering the following support for students on a daily basis:
Itchen also provides additional support for students with mental health and wellbeing issues. We also have strong links with external agencies who support young people. We regularly signpost students to agencies such as CAMHS, No Limits, Solent Mind, Breakout, and External Counselling Agencies.
Each service at College offers a different type of support, and it is essential that students access or are referred to the right service. This information aims to ensure that any student needing additional support can access the appropriate type of help in addition, where applicable, to the services provided by the NHS or external agencies. This guidance can help a student to have greater self-awareness of their needs, and enable a teacher or parent to signpost the student to access the right support. Our aim is to make the most effective use of the help available and to maximise the impact of the support offered. This is always in addition to those services provided by the NHS after referral from your GP.
To access any of the support, please see Debbie Finch in Student Support (E27) or, email dfinch@itchen.ac.uk
We can support students with:
We are proud of the inclusive nature of the College, and our Student Support and tutor team are keen to support students of all backgrounds and abilities. This includes helping many Looked After Children and Care Leavers to succeed in their education. The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Care Leavers and Looked After Children is Debbie Finch (dfinch@itchen.ac.uk), who will be happy to answer any questions and provide further information.
It is important that the student knows how to access support and that they feel confident enough to do this. If a student is happy to refer themselves for support, it is helpful if they understand which form of support they may need and how they might benefit.
If the student is confident enough to self-refer, they can do this by contacting Debbie Finch (Lead Safeguarding Officer) (dfinch@itchen.ac.uk) in Student Support (E27). If a student does not feel comfortable to access the support themselves, they could talk to their tutor, or a teacher, who could offer to go with them or talk to Student Support on their behalf. In this case, Student Support may contact the student for further information, in order to maximise the level of support provided. If a teacher or tutor has any safeguarding or wellbeing concerns about any student, they can contact Debbie Finch to discuss.
Student Support will then refer a student to the appropriate support and contact them when they have an appointment. There is a waiting time for every service other than the No Limits open access Health and Wellbeing drop-in. For three days a week the counsellor will also offer drop in’s over the lunchtime period. Each area of support aims to see referred students as soon as possible, but waiting times can vary depending on the time of the year and the demand for each service.
Should you have further questions please contact Student Support.
Below are some useful links that students and parents/guardians may find useful:
MENTAL HEALTH TRIAGE TEAM – For emergency support at any time – southernhealth.nhs.uk/help-crisis Call 111 OR Text Free to HANTS 85258
NO LIMITS – Free & Confidential Information, advice, counselling, advocacy for children and young people under 26 and their families. Drug and Alcohol Misuse – www.nolimitshelp.org.uk advice@nolimitshelp.org.uk – 023 8022 4224
HAMPSHIRE YOUTH ACCESS (HYA) – Provides counselling, advice & support to children and young people aged 5-17 in Hampshire. Young people are eligible to use the service if they are registered with a Hampshire-based GP – www.hampshireyouthaccess.org.uk enquiries@hampshireyouthaccess.org.uk – 023 8214 7755
KOOTH ON LINE COUNSELLING – www.kooth.com – monitored by trained wellbeing practitioners & counsellors
CATCH 22 – Hampshire 24/7 – County wide service offering specialist substance & alcohol misuse treatment for young people under 18 – 247hants@catch-22.org.uk 0845 459 9405
BREAKOUT YOUTH – Support for young people aged 11-21 who identify as LGBTQ – www.breakoutyouth.org.uk – enquiries@breakoutyouth.org.uk – 023 8022 4224
YELLIOW DOOR – Preventing & responding to Domestic & Sexual Abuse – www.yellowdoor.org.uk info@yellowdoor.org.uk 023 8063 6312
SOLENT MIND – Helping you get the support and information you need – www.solentmind.org.uk 023 8020 8920
SAMARITANS – Need to talk – Samaritans are available 24/7 – www.samaritans.org jo@samaritans.org 08457 90 90 90
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT – CRUSE Bereavement Care – www.cruse.org.uk 0844 477 9400
Winstons Wish – www.winstonswish.org – 0845 2030 405
Simon Says – www.simonsays.org.uk – 023 8064 7550
MOTIV8 – www.Mtiv8South.org.uk – Improve life chances of young people, reduce anti- social behaviour and disengagement with education and employment.
TALKING THERAPIES – OVER 16’S – They can help if you’re struggling with things like feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Hampshire – Call us: 023 8038 3920 Email us: info@italk.org.uk Visit us: www.talkingtherapiesHIOW.nhs.uk
Please find below our careers offer.
Please also visit our careers page for support on future careers options Careers Page Link
HE and Careers Information, Advice and Guidance Offer
Prevent is part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy and aims to prevent people from being terrorists or from supporting terrorism.
At Itchen, we have made the Prevent policy widely known to both students and staff through talks during tutor sessions to posters on display in classrooms, corridors and the Student Centre.
If you have any concerns about someone being connected to terrorism or extremism, please speak to Adrian Waters (awaters@itchen.ac.uk). The College’s Prevent Policy is available for parents to download through the college website.
Adrian Waters
Position: Director of Student Support
Debbie Finch
Position: Designated Safeguarding Lead and Careers Adviser
Nicola Parnell
Position: Work Experience Co-Ordinator
Lucy Prout
Position: ‘SUN’ Progression Mentor
