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Hertfordshire County Council: Digital therapies for children and young people in a school setting.
Xyla is engaged with a group of schools within Hertfordshire’s Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL) service. These schools support children and young people (CYP) with special educational needs, some of whom also face coexisting mental health challenges.
These schools needed a flexible mental health service capable of addressing various conditions using clinically validated treatments. Flexibility was crucial, allowing children and young people and their parents/carers greater control over when and where sessions occur.
Highlights
54 Children and young people referred over 7 months
300+ Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) sessions
86% of children and young people
with paired scores showed a reduction in symptom severity
Approach
Xyla’s secure video digital therapy service offers the necessary flexibility to facilitate safe therapy sessions. In addition to making sessions available at the convenience of children and young people, Xyla collaborated with the DSPL service to ensure that children and young people have the option to attend therapy in an appropriate room within their school, at home, or elsewhere outside of school hours, including over weekends and during holidays.
Streamlined referral and treatment process
Identification
Schools identify children and young people needing psychological support.
Review
Xyla and the DSPL team meet regularly to select suitable children and young people for online therapy. If online therapy isn’t suitable, Xyla can support with signposting to other services.
Referral
Schools complete a secure online referral form with all necessary information and permissions.
Processing
Referrals are automatically received and reviewed in Xyla’s patient administration system (PAS).
Management
Triage, assessment and treatment of children and young people are managed within the secure PAS, including appointments, clinical notes and risk management.
Appointment
Appointments are scheduled with parents/carers via phone, with confirmation and reminders sent via text message, including a secure link to the online session
Outcomes
Providing psychotherapeutic treatment to children and young people in schools allows them to access professional support early in a familiar environment, reducing the pressure on NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Impact
Quotes from parents:
“They will really miss their sessions, they have helped so much. Before this they did not speak to any doctors or teachers and
now they do. When they have felt tense and may hurt themselves they now go and tell a teacher or speak to us both. I have respected the communication and follow ups.”
“Your sessions gave our child the confidence to find themselves and overcome a lot of challenges.
They have done brilliantly in their exams and although they have times of anxiety these are few and far between and I am so grateful to you.
Thank you also for the way you supported me. The day you spent time talking to me meant so much.”
“We just want to say thank you so much for all your help, its been so good and you’ve really made a difference to our child’s life.”
What our client said
“We have thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with Xyla to provide vital support for young people across DSPL2. The Xyla team has consistently demonstrated flexibility, professionalism and a supportive approach. Their high-quality service and the expertise of their staff have made a significant impact. Communication has been outstanding throughout and our school colleagues have expressed how valuable this support has been. It has been incredibly rewarding to offer timely, personalised support to young people. Thank you to your team”
Nichola Mansfield, Manager, Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL2 – Hertfordshire)
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