A MEMBER of staff at Heathfield Knoll School in Wolverley has gained a counselling qualification to help her to support students, colleagues and parents.

Head of wellbeing Teresa Stooksbury updated her first aid in mental health qualification with charity MIND, allowing her to give advice and support to anyone feeling depressed, struggling with their sexuality, self-harming, having suicidal thoughts or suffering from eating disorders.

The qualification took Mrs Stooksbury six months to complete and means she can better counsel staff, parents and pupils in areas where they may be struggling - for example bereavement, depression, divorce, sexuality, friendship issues and abuse.

She also recently completed a three-day intensive first aid at work course with St Johns Ambulance, covering basic first aid to those more life-threatening procedures.

Mrs Stooksbury said: "I have an open-door policy for all pupils, parents and staff to come and have a chat and cuppa."