Agenda item

Naomi Trentham, Mitos Global addressed the Panel on the subject of the benefits of collaborative working, whole life approach and early intervention for vulnerable children and families. A copy of the statement can be found as an online appendix to these minutes and a summary is set out below.

‘Mitos Global is an organisation that provides training, coaching and intervention for all ages and stages, though at the moment our provision is mainly given to children between years five to eleven.

Our offering includes Emotion Coaching, speech & language therapy, sensory assessments & profiling, vocational support, neurodiversity support, and currently 12 hours per week of Alternative Education for three vulnerable students.

We operate privately direct to families, as a service through schools and as a direct provider to the Local Authority. We serve over sixty children and young people every week, from group work in schools to 1:1 therapeutic coaching for children with complex needs. We have a number on our current caseload who are either adopted or in foster care.

Where possible, we work with the whole family.’

She gave a number of examples of the complicated caseloads they have and how these have benefited from being looked at from a viewpoint of the whole family, and not solely through education based solutions.

She highlighted the need for support to be also provided for parents and carers.

She asked the Panel to ‘Imagine if all the professionals involved could work together and look at the whole family, instead of each child? If the funding was pooled and the provision broadened?

She added that ‘We recognise there are many excellent providers in B&NES and incredible LA staff on the ground – how are we different?

We work collaboratively with families, schools and other agencies, taking a whole child/whole life approach, and then we stay for as long as we can or a long as we are needed, we don’t stop when a goal has been reached, we stop when we’re no longer needed. We seek to build healthy relationships with our clients, fostering trust and connection, which we believe lies at the heart of any long term success.

Early intervention for children is better than intervention when in crisis, of course, but we believe meaningful and sustainable impact will only come when there is a focus on the whole family.’

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what funding the organisation receives.

Naomi Trentham replied that this was through a number of different means, privately, via schools and the Local Authority. She said that any revenue that is achieved through the training and development they deliver to schools and organisations is fed straight back into overall provision for clients. 

Councillor Hardman asked who should lead on helping to ensure that there are more joined up services.

Naomi Trentham replied that she did not have a direct view on that, but acknowledged that it was important for children to be attending school and a focus on their wellbeing. She stated that she felt that a single practitioner for a child / family would be best placed to join up the dots.

Councillor Lesley Mansell asked if any data was available on the long-term impact for families in receipt of their services.

Naomi Trentham replied that they were looking into whether the University could assist with a data analysis project. She added that they have worked with a mum for the past two years, one of her daughters is now taking her exams and able to self-regulate and her younger sister is now in receipt of support also.

Kevin Burnett asked how they were contacted to begin working with individuals / families.

Naomi Trentham replied that she had a good working relationship with most schools in the area and that referrals would be made via the school SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). She added that she had also made personal connections with local groups and organisations over the years.

The Chair said that she was minded to invite her to a future meeting of the Early Help Task Group so that she could share additional information with them.

Naomi Trentham replied that she would be willing to attend and support this work area as much as possible.

The Chair thanked her for her attendance on behalf of the Panel.