Who’s who: Communication and Wellbeing Staff
The descriptions below explain the roles of Communication and Wellbeing Staff who help children and young people communicate and maintain emotional wellbeing at school. They support your child to express themselves, manage emotions, and build positive relationships, tailored to their individual needs.
Please remember that each professional’s responsibilities may vary slightly depending on their role and your child’s individual needs. If anything is unclear, you can visit our advice pages or contact the professional directly. They will be happy to explain how they can support you, your child, and your family.
Art / Play Therapist
Art/Play Therapists help children express emotions and realise their rights without the need for language skills through play and creative activities in safe environments, such as educational settings.
Key responsibilities:
- Providing play-based therapy to address emotional needs.
- Collaborating with parents and professionals for comprehensive support.
- Tailoring therapy sessions to the child’s specific needs.
Their work with children:
- Art (drawing, crafting) for emotional expression.
- Play (games, toys) to explore feelings.
- Creative projects (storytelling, role-play) for growth and resilience.
These methods aim to improve wellbeing, school engagement, and emotional development.
Children’s Rights Officer
Children’s Rights Officers (CROs) help ensure children’s rights are respected and protected in school. They create a safe, fair, and supportive environment where every child’s voice is heard.
Key responsibilities:
- Promote children’s rights based on the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child)
- Support schools to improve policies and practices
- Advise staff on children’s rights during decision-making
- Raise concerns and advocate for change when systems are unfair
Their work with children:
- Help children understand their rights in school
- Listen to children’s views and help them share them with adults
- Support participation in meetings or decisions affecting them
CROs ensure children’s rights are understood, respected, and reflected in school life.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) support children and young people who may be experiencing emotional or mental health challenges. CAMHS is part of the NHS and may work with families and schools when extra support is needed.
Key responsibilities:
- Listen to children and young people and help them make sense of what they are experiencing
- Provide additional emotional and mental health support when difficulties feel overwhelming
- Work alongside families and other professionals to discover the right support for each child
Their work with children:
- Offer talking and therapeutic support to explore thoughts and feelings
- Support families and school staff to better understand how to help the child
- Share advice and guidance to support wellbeing at home and in school when appropriate
- Support children’s emotional wellbeing so that pupils can take part in learning and everyday life
CAMHS’ support aims to promote emotional wellbeing and help children and young people cope with everyday life and learning.
For further information on what involvement CAMHS might have with your child, you can visit the Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) page CAMHS: What to expect, and the Scottish Government webpage Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Guidance / Pastoral Care Teacher
Pastoral Care Staff (sometimes called Guidance Teachers) support students’ welfare, personal development, and transitions throughout secondary school.
Key responsibilities
- Working with pupils and with school staff to understand when a pupil may be finding it difficult to fully participate in learning
- Providing a point of contact for families in relation to safety and wellbeing, school attendance, and strategies to support inclusion
- Contributing to support planning and reviewing support for pupils, as part of a wider team
- Supporting pupils during key changes, like starting S1, choosing courses, or returning to school after an absence
- Hold one‑to‑one review meetings to listen to pupils’ experiences and develop an understanding of them as individuals
Their work with children
- Discuss worries, goals, and social issues
- Help plan subject choices, further education, or careers
- Support students during exams or personal challenges
- Encourage resilience, self‑management, and positive relationships
- Support pupils to share their views and take part in decisions about their learning and school experience
Pastoral Care Staff play a key role in supporting attendance and have a central role in coordinating support to respond to absence, working in collaboration with other staff and services.
Outreach Worker
Outreach Workers support children and families by building relationships and helping to reduce barriers to learning and engagement. They usually become involved early on, offering practical and emotional support before issues become more serious.
Key responsibilities:
• Build relationships with children and their families
• Identify barriers affecting wellbeing or engagement
• Provide practical support at home, school or in the community
• Work with school staff and other services to find solutions
• Help families access wider community support
Their work with children:
• Getting to know the child and building trust
• Supporting confidence, wellbeing and social skills
• Helping children feel more settled in school
• Encouraging positive relationships with peers and staff
• Supporting engagement with learning
Outreach workers may be employed by the local authority or by charities. They often work closely with schools and may be based in a school or local area.
Outreach workers aim to provide early support, helping children and families feel more confident and connected to school and other services.
School Counsellor
School Counsellors offer a confidential space for children to talk about their feelings and experiences at home or at school that may impact their wellbeing and ability to learn.
Key responsibilities:
- Listen to personal issues and supporting the child to express and process their emotions
- Support the child to identify patterns in their behaviour and understand the agency they have over its impact on their education
- Promote and encourage positive relationships inside and outside of school
- Collaborate with art or play therapists and signpost to external sources of support.
Their work with children:
- Helping pupils overcome anxiety, stress, and personal challenges
- Providing one-to-one or group counselling
- Building confidence, interpersonal skills and resilience.
School counsellors help create a safe, inclusive environment where all students can thrive.
Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT)
Speech and Language Therapists (SaLT) support children with speech, language, communication, and eating or swallowing difficulties, helping them participate fully in school life.
Key responsibilities:
- Assess how children understand and use language and communication
- Plan and deliver tailored therapy, tracking progress
- Advise staff and families with strategies, tools, and ways to make the school more accessible
- Support transitions, such as starting school or moving classes
Their work with children:
- Work individually or in small groups to improve communication, support safe eating, and reduce anxiety
- Use play, stories, and visual tools to support understanding and expression
- Provide therapy for speech, language, grammar, vocabulary, and social communication
- Help children join learning and social activities in ways that work for them
SaLTs help children connect with others and take part in school using the communication style that suits them best.
You can find out more about the role of a Speech and Language Therapist on the Speech and Language UK website.
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