For schools
Clinical mental health support in your school
For SENCOs, pastoral leads, and multi-academy trust leaders.
Begin an enquiry
Blip works with schools through two routes: a named clinician on-site on a regular retainer, and videoconferencing triage and intervention for pupils who can be seen safely that way.
This is not a counselling service. Blip is a clinical mental health service, delivered by NHS-trained registered professionals, operating to the same clinical governance, safeguarding, and outcomes standards as our community pathway. Schools do not provide clinical oversight. Vivien Beni, RMN, Blip’s Registered Manager, retains clinical accountability at all times.
What the retainer gives you
Named clinician
The same person every week. Pupils do not begin again with a new face each term.
Fast triage
Triage within two working days of a school referral.
SENCO briefing
Care plan outcome shared with the SENCO within five working days, with pupil and parent consent.
EHCP contribution
Blip attends EHCP reviews as a clinical contributor and provides written summaries in the local authority format.
Safeguarding
Any concern disclosed in a Blip session is reported to the school DSL the same day, or immediately where the threshold for emergency action is met.
Separate safeguarding log
Blip holds its own log alongside the school's. Both can be requested by the local authority or Ofsted.
Most common referral
Emotionally based school avoidance
EBSA is the most common referral Blip receives from schools. It is a clinical condition, not a behaviour problem. It needs a clinical response.
Blip works with the pupil, the family, and the school at the same time. Where a young person is below 50% attendance, Blip can hold the clinical work while the school manages its attendance procedures. The two do not have to conflict.
Conditions accepted: generalised anxiety, social anxiety, OCD-spectrum presentations, depression, emotional dysregulation, neurodevelopmental-related anxiety, and trauma-related avoidance.
SEND support
SEND and EHCP interface
Blip’s occupational therapist provides sensory and functional assessments that can contribute to EHCP evidence. Blip attends EHCP review meetings as a clinical contributor where agreed in the retainer. Clinical summaries are written in the format required by the local authority.
Blip does not replace the educational psychologist. Where a formal cognitive or learning assessment is needed, Blip refers on.
EHCP evidence
Sensory and functional assessments from our occupational therapist, in the format required by the local authority.
Review attendance
Blip attends EHCP review meetings as a clinical contributor where agreed in the retainer.
Clear scope
Blip does not replace the educational psychologist. Where a formal cognitive or learning assessment is needed, we refer on.
Referrals from schools go to referrals@blip.org.uk. A school referral form is available on request. Triage within two working days of submission.
Discuss a school retainer
Use the enquiry form or email enquiries@blip.org.uk. We reply within one working day.