Psychological Services

Psychological Service

The following explains how the Psychological Service can help children, young people and families in the Scottish Borders area, and how to contact the service.

The service is available, free of charge, for children of Scottish Borders from birth to nineteen years of age who are enrolled at school unless they are too young to do so.

Services

The Psychological Service helps children and young people of all ages who have additional support needs.

We advise children, parents and staff in schools on child development, additional needs and education in general. We can give support when difficulties arise. Help may involve any or all of the following:

Advice to parents and teachers
Working with other professionals
Psychological assessment
Individual work with children
Advice to the authority on children’s needs

The psychologist works together with the important adults in a child’s life, such as teachers and parents, to find joint, practical solutions to any difficulties.

The Psychological Service is provided by Education & Lifelong Learning in Scottish Borders Council. The team of psychologists is based at Council Headquarters, and is led by the Principal Psychologist. Some key features of the service are as follows:

Work with children and parents is carried out in schools, in pre-school, in homes and in the community.
All schools have a named psychologist who visits on a regular basis. Much of the work of the service is about giving advice to staff in schools.
Psychologists also work with doctors, social workers and other professionals as well as parents.

We receive referrals from a wide range of people. These come mostly from staff in schools, but we also receive referrals from:

Parents
Young people themselves
Doctors and therapists
Social workers
Reporter to the Children’s Panel

Parents can contact the service directly. It is better to discuss the matter first with school staff, particularly if it is an educational problem that is causing concern. The referral of any child or young person should be made with the knowledge and agreement of the parents. Where they are old enough, and able to express an opinion, young people themselves should also have an opportunity to state their views about a referral. After 16, the choice is generally their own.

Confidentiality & practice

All psychologists are bound by a strict code of conduct, laid down by the British Psychological Society, which respects confidentiality and the basic human rights of the individual.

In law, the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 clearly states that, in all cases, the wellbeing of a child is paramount.
The psychologists in Scottish Borders hold these basic principles central to all work that they undertake.

Additional support needs and support services

A new law, the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, took effect from 14 November 2005. There is more information available in the Additional Needs section.

Getting in touch with a psychologist

You can speak with the teachers at your child’s school and ask the headteacher to make contact on your behalf. You can contact the service direct at Council Headquarters via: