MAST stands for the Multi-Agency Support Team. It is a team of professionals linked to or working in Minster College to support Young People and their families to reach their full potential.
MAST meets on a regular basis to think about how we can support young people in creative and positive ways.
Who is in MAST?
The MAST team is made up of many different professionals working with young people and families. These are some of them and this pack contains information about what each of them does.
Pastoral Managers Social Worker Assistant Attendance Officers Community Youth Tutor Senior School Nurse/Team Leader Connexions Personal Advisers Skill Force Relateen Education Welfare Service School Sports Co-ordinator Looked After Children Coordinator Skill Force Stay Project AM Group Neighbourhood Crime Investigations Team (NCI) Sheppey Youth Action – Work Experience Programme Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) Educational Psychologist
Pastoral Managers
There are nine Pastoral Managers in Minster College, who are responsible for the pastoral care of the students in their school of learning.
Effectively contributing towards increasing attendance at school and working with students and parents to improve behaviour at school are some of the ways the Pastoral Managers support our aim ‘Every Child Matters’. Pastoral Managers actively engage with students, parents and teaching staff in a multi agency setting promoting personal, social and moral development of the students in their care.
Social Work Assistant Guy Morgan Teri Stewart
We offer a friendly and confidential service to young people and parents. By listening, advising and supporting in their educational, emotional and social needs. Our aim is to promote the self-esteem of young people, helping them to develop personnel and interpersonal skills, which will enable them to respond to others needs by communicating openly. We are here to work alongside young people and families either on a 1-1 basis or in groups, this can be in school or we can visit you at home.
We want to develop a good working relationship with families, foster carers and other key professionals We’re here to support families in practical ways, discussing your options in order to meet your goals.
You can catch us at Student Services or by speaking to your Pastoral Manager.
Attendance Officers Christine Hook, Clare Davies and Hayley Crittenden
The role of the Minster College School Attendance Officers is to liaise with parents and guardians with regards to absenteeism and truancy, using truancy call and manual systems and to monitor students of concern at all times. Also to refer and liaise with the Education Welfare Service, Social services, Welfare call and all relevant agencies within Minster College. To produce reports within the school and for government/county requirements. Pay on behalf of government 16+ students who receive EMA payment.
May also be present at the School Attendance Panel Meeting.
Community Youth Tutor Mark Worf
I am based in Student Services and my role as the Community Youth Tutor (CYT) is to organise various aspects of extra curricular and pastoral support for the young people. Examples of the types of activities the CYT is involved in are:
Mentor Groups Stay + Projects (Male and Female) AM Programmes (Male and Female) Lunch time ‘themed’ drop ins Swale Youth Forum School Councils Support of Minster Library Support of the 4yp Sexual Health Service Detached Youth Work in Warden Bay, Sheerness, Harpes Estate & Lapwing Estate Multi-Agency Meetings Swale Youth Diversionary Group Meetings Participation in the Swale and Canterbury Youth Service Team
As can be seen these activities are a mixture of school based and non-school based programmes etc.
Senior School Nurse/Team Leader (Swale School Health Team) Allison Leigh
The role of the school nurse is to support young people in school, at home and in the community with the objective to maximise your health and wellbeing. The aim is to encourage young people to grow and develop into healthy adults by making optimum lifestyle choices and be able to access health care services.
Services offered to Minster College: Work with multi-professional team to support and provide advice on health related issues Offer confidential 1-1 drop-in service to pupils to support and advise them on chronic health conditions, emotional and physical development and sexual health Sign post students and staff to appropriate organisations Assist in the planning and delivering of health promotion activities within the classroom setting within the PHSE/Citizenship programme with support from teaching staff Offer immunisation programme to pupils
The school nurse can be contacted via student services or direct on the above contact details and will accept referrals from staff, parents and pupils. Telephone: 01795 871936 Email:
Connexions Personal Advisers
Tamsin Parker Personal Adviser (Intensive Health)
Sian Nixon & Robyn McCormick Personal Advisers (Guidance)
Connexions Kent & Medway is a new service for young people, providing information, advice, guidance support and personal development services for all 13 - 19 year olds, and young people up to 25 with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities. The service is delivered by a number of specially trained PA’s based in Schools, Colleges and Connexions Access Points. At Minster College we provide two types of Connexions Support:
How you find us: Tamsin – Student Services Robyn and Sian – To be confirmed www.connexionskentandmedway.co.uk
Local Connexions Access Point: 1st Floor Bell House, Bell Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 4DH Telephone : 01795 439397
Skill Force
Skill Force is an innovative scheme which uses the world class team building and problem solving skills of former Armed Forces personnel and others to deliver Key Skills training to young people. At the core of Skill Force are enthusiastic, highly motivated instructors determined to help young people make the best of their opportunities. These young people achieve better results, have raised self esteem and significantly improved life chances. As an organisation, Skill Force is determined to set the highest standards, respond quickly to change, and provide a challenge to everyone involved.
Team Leader: Darren Hughes Team Instructors: Carl Davies, Cindy Strike, John Lewis, Richard Morgan
Skill Force began working with Schools and Colleges in Kent as of Sept 2004. As well as Minster College the Team operate in 3 other locations.
Sittingbourne Community College Community College Whitstable Senacre Technology College
The two year course is delivered to students in year 10 and 11. The course is a Key Skills based programme, which offers an alternative to the full National Curriculum, The Students work with Skill Force for one full day per week. Approximately 100 Kent Students are currently taking part on the course which consists of the following.
Asdan Bronze / Silver & COPE Duke of Edinburgh Award Junior Sports Leader National Navigator St John Young Lifesaver Wider Key Skills Career Planning
Relateen Relateen Counsellor - Yvonne Whitnell
Relateen is a confidential service for young people (10-18 years) who are worried about the breakdown of their parents’ relationship. The breakdown in an adult relationship can affect children. Despite the efforts made to protect young people from the adults’ distress, upsets in the family can worry them a great deal. Family trauma is experienced by young people in different ways. Some deal with it quietly within themselves and others become angry. Relateen Counsellors are trained to work with young people and can help them to come to terms with all the upsets and changes in their life. Yvonne works in Student Services every Wednesday, you should book an appointment through your Pastoral Manager.
Education Welfare Service Claire Asiedu 01795 418722
The role of the Education Welfare Officer is via school referral (attendance office has the form) regarding poor attendance of students. The Education Welfare Officers role will also be responsible for possible court action on attendance matters, once other avenues have been explored.
School Sports Co-ordinator (SSCO) Kerry Loan
The role of the SSCO is to help raise standards in PE and school sport in Minster and its family of middle schools. This is achieved by: Co-ordinating school sport activities and within Minster and its family of feeder schools Developing extra-curricular opportunities within school and increasing links with local community clubs Ensuring the implementation of the Family Development Plan which aims to complement and enhance the physical education programme within Minster Working to include all young people, in a physical education and sports programme
Looked After Children Coordinator Mr D Meaning
Designated teacher for Looked After Children (LAC). Responsibilities include: To liaise with Social Services and Looked After agencies regarding individual Looked After Students. To liaise with other members of Student Services and the school on individuals and general strategies. To contribute to the development of student Personal Education Plans To audit Looked After Children attending Minster College.
Stay Project Mark Worf – Community Youth Tutor Sharon McNaboe – Community Development Manager
The Stay + Project has been running in various guises for approximately 15 years at Sheerness County Youth Club. The Project currently runs on Tuesdays for a boys only group (B-Stay+) and Thursdays for an all girl (G-Stay +) and normally lasts for 10-12 weeks. Both projects are aimed at students who are experiencing difficulties with school such as poor attendance, low self-esteem or disruptive behaviour. The aim is to try and help the young people over come these difficulties through a mixture of social education, life skills, activities and group work. Flavours of the types of thing that build up the project are: Relating to teachers Communication skills First aid Health and Safety Video work Presentations Arts and Crafts Team building exercises Visits to the fire station and gym Guest speakers from; Sexual Health, Drugs and Alcohol Education Agencies and Crime Prevention At the end of each programme there is a presentation day, to celebrate the young peoples achievements, where the participants are presented with a record of their work in the company of teachers, parents and colleagues. Attendance on is voluntary on behalf of the young people but subject to the normal school rules. The participants complete an evaluation sheet each week and their attendance / behaviour are monitored by the programme staff.
AM Group (Anger Management) Mark Worf - Community Youth Tutor Social Worker Assistant
The young people who take part in these groups have all been referred through the MAST (Multi Agency Support Team Meetings) and have difficulty in dealing with school staff, other young people or family members. The aim of the group is to: Help young people come to terms with their behaviour and take responsibility for it Identify some of the possible reasons and triggers for that behaviour Identify outcomes of their behaviour Develop strategies to deal with situations in a way that results in positive/ neutral rather than negative outcomes for them An emphasis is placed on trying to keep the work in these groups as realistic and practical as possible rather than being theoretical, so that the young people can not only relate to the course but also see a potential end product. Most of the work is carried out within group work settings but some one to one support is provided as and when necessary. Attendance on is voluntary on behalf of the young people but subject to the normal school rules. The participants complete an evaluation sheet each week and their attendance / behaviour are monitored by the programme staff.
Neighbourhood Crime Investigations Team (NCI)
The NCI team works closely with Minster College hosting a regular police surgery for its students. The team holds four hour surgeries at the School between 10am and 2pm every Tuesday. The aim is to: Cut down crime in the local community To assist the school in investigating any major crime within the school To improve relationships between young people and the police To liaise with and support students who have asked for support To liaise with Support Staff in the School There is not a lot of crime at the school, but within the Island community it has been noticed that there has been a rise in youth–on-youth violence which needs to be addressed. Sheppey Youth Action Work Experience Programme Sharon McNaboe – Community Development Manager Sheppey Youth Action and Minster College are working together to provide an 11-week scheme for 4 young people in year 10 and 11. The programme aims to help young people to work in the community, with the community building self-value and social skills to help the young people in school and in society. The group meets in the Sheerness Youth Club every Friday at 9am to review the previous and to plan the current week’s work. Transport is provided and Sharon McNaboe works with the young people for the 12 week period. Weeks 1 to 4, the young people are placed at local charity shops, Island Partnership and SCAD in Sheerness. Work covered in these 4 weeks includes: Health & Safety Knowledge of the charity and its needs Preparation of shop merchandise Customer relationships and communication skills Administration Week 5 to 8, the group will be at R.S.P.B. Elmley Reserve: issues covered: Health & Safety - Renewal of information displays in bird watching hides Application of weather proof paint to exterior of bird watching hides Clearance of tidal debris from Salt marsh and sea walls Weeks 8 to 12 Each young people will be placed in an independent placement where the issues and work they may deal with will vary. The young people have a choice in where they are placed. These placements are: The Freedom Centre The Crawford Centre Westminster Weenies At the end of the programme students will receive a certificate and references to show the achievements they have made while on the programme.
Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) Mrs G Simmance
The SENCO is the person in the school responsible for coordinating assistance for students with Special Education Needs. They can arrange assessments and Support Plans for helping young people to achieve their full potential in the school.
Education Psychologist Mrs J Marriott
The educational psychology service promotes learning, attainment and the healthy emotional development of students, through the application of psychology. This is a statutory service provided by the local authority and they can work as independent consultants for parents and other agencies. The service assesses the educational need of students and advises on how those needs can be met, focusing on early identification and intervention. Referrals to the Educational Psychologist are received via the SENCO. More information can be found on www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/ete/agencies/psychology/
IEC 
Pastoral Managers