Salus Intensive Mentoring Service is a programme that provides intensive mentoring to children and young people aged 10 to 16 years across Kent. The service is funded by Headstart and Kent Reconnect.
It is aimed at those not accessing specialist services but experiencing increased anxiety, poor mental health or social isolation due to the pandemic. Salus uses a strengths-based approach to supporting children, young people, and their families. It deploys a range of evidence-based approaches and tools (such as the FRIENDS resilience programme) and facilitates the development of a trusted relationship with a mentor. Salus works to understand individual needs and create an action plan to deal with these with the young person and their family.
Mentors provide approximately six to eight weeks of direct support, with each young person having a conversation about their resilience and complete a self-reflection assessment before referral. As a result of the resilience support offered, children have been able to manage their anxiety better and develop their confidence. Salus were finalists in the CYPN awards in the ‘Mental Health & Wellbeing’ category.