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Compass is leading the way in supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children, young people, and families in selected educational settings across Birmingham.
Birmingham Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) offers free, and confidential support to Children, Young People and Families with mild to moderate emotional health and wellbeing needs.
Whether it’s feeling sad, scared, worried, or experiencing challenges like anger or frustration, Compass is here to connect you with the right help.
Compass Birmingham MHST works across selected schools in the North and East of Birmingham, working directly with primary and secondary schools to ensure every child and young person has access to the support they need.
How Can We Help You
Our team of compassionate and friendly Practitioners, are here to support you in building coping skills and strategies for a range of issues, including:
- Low mood and motivation
- Anxiety and irrational fears
- Challenging behaviours like angry outbursts or frustration
- Difficulties in family and peer relationships
- Adjusting to change and transitions.
- Managing emotions effectively
Our low-intensity, one-to-one or group support sessions (typically 6-8 sessions tailored to your needs) are available for children and young people aged 5-19 who attend our partner schools.
The service is made up of Education Mental Health Practitioners, Supervising Practitioners, Trainees, and Assistant Practitioners, each bringing expertise from diverse health and education backgrounds. Additionally, we have our newly assembled Specialist Team consisting of professionals, including a Family Practitioner and Healthy Peer Relationships Practitioner and an Engagement & Equalities Practitioner to provide tailored support where needed.
Click Here to find out how we can help support your child’s wellbeing.
Schools we work with
Birmingham MHST work with a number of schools in the North and East of Birmingham to provide emotional health and wellbeing support for children, young people and families.
Click Here to see the schools we support.
Click Here to view the localities we work in.
How you can access the service
Getting support from Compass is easy!
You can reach out to our friendly team by phone at 0121227 8254 or via email at birminghammhst@compass-uk.org. We’ll start by asking you a few questions to understand your needs better, and then one of our team members will follow up with you to ensure we’re the right fit to help.
We also welcome Requests for Support for children, young people and families using this form, click here.
Contact Us
At Compass Birmingham MHST, we understand that timely support is crucial. Our office hours are Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. You can reach us at 0121 227 8254 during these times.
Please note that we’re unavailable on weekends and bank holidays.
In case of urgent concerns regarding a child or young person’s mental and emotional wellbeing Forward Thinking Birmingham is available at 0300 300 0099. Alternatively, you can contact the Birmingham and Solihull 24/7 crisis number on 0800 915 9292. In case of emergencies, please dial 999.
Your mental health matters to us, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Meet the team
Lucy Marshall
Team Leader
Hi I’m Lucy! I have a degree in Psychology and Criminology and my background is working within substance misuse in both community and prison settings with adults and young people.
Outside of work I like to read, walk my dog and spend time with family & friends.
Francis Dodd
Team Leader
Hello, I’m Fran! I’m a general nurse by background and have experience of working with adults and with children and young people. I am a CBT practitioner and have had a variety of jobs in mental health services including working in CAMHS, trauma informed work for RSVP Birmingham and bereavement counselling.
Rachel Haynes
Clinical Operations Manager
I am excited to be part of the clinical team back in my hometown of Birmingham. I have worked with children, young people and their families for over 30 years within Birmingham local authority, Staffordshire CAMHS and the University of Derby. I am an accredited CBT therapist.
Marissa Byng
Specialist Team Lead
Hi! I have over 20 years of experience working with children and families. I am passionate about supporting children, young people and their families with their challenges around mental health ensuring their voice is heard in a trauma informed way.
When I am not at work, I can be found renovating my new house or walking my dog Mylo with my two daughters. I love to be sociable and enjoy going out for lovely meals.
Joe Bertram
Schools Practitioner
Hi, I’m Joe ! My background is in Children’s Social Work and I am also an accredited therapist in Interpersonal Therapy for Adolescents (IPT-A). I am passionate about supporting children, young people and families, as well as supporting local schools in the ways that they can support their students.
Ozias Smith
School Practitioner
I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2015 and worked in London as a mental health OT/DBT Therapist before moving to the Midlands in 2024 to join Compass. I’m passionate about supporting young people with their mental health & believe that working with education providers is key to this - I’m proud to be able to continue this work with Compass. Outside of work I love to read books & audiobooks.
I always wear tinted glasses as I have a visual impairment.
Fizza Zaidi
Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist
Hi there! I have a double degree with First Class Honours in Communications. I've worked in the marketing industry for over 5 years and I'm extremely passionate about it and everything social media. I also enjoy creating short videos and reviewing everything from food to beauty products in my spare time.
Chante Spooner
Engagement and Equalities Practitioner
I have a BA (Hons) in Working With Children, Young People and Families. I have experience in a specialist school for students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health and a Pupil Referral Unit for pupils who could not access mainstream education due to their needs.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, listening to music, going out to eat and baking.
Chloe Daplyn
Assistant Education Mental Health Practitioner
I am incredibly passionate about empowering everyone, especially CYP, to lead a happy, healthy and fulfilling life. I am thrilled to be working within Compass to support even more people with this!
In my free time I like poolside coaching my competitive young swimmers (as I am also a Swimming Coach!)
Latisha Sidhu
Healthy Peer Relationships Practitioner
I have a BA (Hons) in Psychology.
I have experience working with children with adverse childhood trauma experiences, using a therapeutic approach to help CYP feel secure, loved and listened to within a care home setting.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, listening to music, going on holiday and trying new foods!
Shareen Akhtar
Families Practitioner
I hope to combine my background as a Primary School Teacher and as a Therapeutic Counsellor to support and empower families to thrive and succeed, improving the outcomes for children/young people.
Outside of work, I like to spend time with my daughter exploring the world and I love learning so I’m always on the lookout to gain a new skill.
Yve Spray
Assistant Education Mental Health Practitioner
I have experience in Secondary Education working with students with SEND and in an alternative provision for students who were struggling in the mainstream setting.
The experience from working with a variety of children, young people and their families with a diverse range of needs will assist me to support people with their mental health and wellbeing.
Aneesa Kulsoom
Supervising Practitioner
Hello! I’m Aneesa, I am an Educational Mental Health Practitioner by background and have experience working with individuals who have been in a mental health crisis. I have also worked in schools and volunteered for local mental health charities.
I am excited about working with Children and young people and schools within the area. I am looking forward to making a difference, improving emotional wellbeing of young people and families one step at a time!
Chelsie Cater
Supervising Practitioner
Hey I'm Chelsie! My background is social work with adults with physical and learning disabilities and autism, older adults and children mental health. My passion is working in children and family mental health and delivering cognitive behaviour therapy with CYPF to overcome mental health difficulties.
I have three cats at home; Mario, Harley and Davidson and I like to spend time with friends and family doing fun activities!
Monique Joseph
Trainee Education and Mental Health Practitioner
Hi my name is Monique!
I’m very passionate about promoting positive mental health, creating safe and inclusive spaces and empowering young people to be the best version of themselves. I’ve worked as a Specialist Psychological Practitioner and a Personal Mental Health Champion supporting people with a range of mental health difficulties.
My interests include, travelling, dancing, meditation, art, watching movies and going to concerts/events.
Helen Forbes
Trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioner
Hi I’m Helen! I’m really pleased to part of this team. I have been an Art teacher in Secondary Education for the past 14 years. This enabled to me to support many young people with wide range of difficulties through their love of Art. I’m now really looking forward to developing my own skills and supporting and empowering young people further.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and friends, listening to music, taking photos, reading and watching a good boxset.
Clare Jones
Trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioner
I have worked in Primary Education for over 17 years and have loved the challenges of working with varying needs and abilities, watching them grow and become confident individuals.
In the last 18 months, I completed my BSc Open University Degree and I also trained as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, delivering individual and group interventions to support pupils with emotional health and wellbeing.
Ashleigh Baker
Trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioner
Hi, my name is Ashleigh. I used to work as a residential care worker and as a mental health practitioner. I’m passionate about supporting children and young people with their mental health supporting to give them the best outcome in life.
I have a dog named Frank and a cat named Pumpkin. I enjoy spending time with friends and family and visiting new places.