Senior Mental Health Lead Training

Leaders in the field of education and children and young peoples’ mental health at Leeds Trinity University have developed an evidenced-based, Department for Education (DfE) funded, Senior Mental Health Lead training course.

This course will introduce you to the educational policy and practice context linked to developing whole setting mental health provision. You will learn about the principles of a whole school or college approach to mental health which underpin the DfE learning outcomes for role of the Senior Mental Health Lead.

Course Structure 

The course will enable a transformative response around developing whole setting mental health provision to meet the ever-changing needs of children, young people, and their families. The focus of the course is to support Senior Mental Health Leads in meeting the needs of their whole school community, so the skills and resources required to audit the whole school or college community are embedded throughout the course, with an optional remote workshop also available to further develop this work.

The programme will focus on the developing practice and leadership needed to address the school improvement agenda across the eight principles of whole setting mental health provision, set out by Public Health England. The course will be structured with these principles in mind, which include:

• Leadership and management
• Identifying need and monitoring impact of interventions
• Targeted support and appropriate referrals
• Staff development
• Creating an ethos and environment
• Enabling student voice
• Working with parents, families and carers
• Curriculum, teaching and learning

Key theories and contemporary research in relation to children and young people’s neurological and psychosocial development are explored throughout the course, with considerations around applying this in practice to promote children and young people’s well-being and positive mental health.

Accreditation

An opportunity to accredit this course, gaining 30 credits at either Level 6 or Level 7 is offered, depending on your current qualification level. You will have access to full academic support from our staff and University services such as our Library and Academic Mentors. For both Level 6 and 7, you will complete a work-based portfolio linked to your activity in your setting developing a whole school approach to Mental Health. This is a work-based award and recognises the work our students undertake in practice.

To undertake the accreditation, you will need to have the following:

• Work-place support needed (by a letter from your setting)
• For Level 6 - level 3 qualification or equivalent work-based CPD portfolio, plus English GCSE 4 or better (or equivalent)
• For Level 7 - undergraduate degree
• You can still undertake the award as CPD and not undertake the accreditation.

Upcoming Course dates

Applications for 2024 entry have now closed. The next intake will be March 2025. Applications for 2025 entry will be made available soon.

Optional online workshops

There are optional remote workshops provided to further develop provision in settings related to relational and restorative practices. Trauma-informed and attachment-aware theories and practices are explored, with concrete examples and evidenced-based strategies.

Workshop 1: Audit and Action Planning in Practice

Workshop 2: Developing a Trauma-informed Whole School Approach

Workshop 3: Developing a Relational Behaviour Policy

How to Apply

Applications for 2024 entry have now closed. Applications for March 2025 entry will be made available shortly.

This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.

Grant process and contact information

The DfE have announced a £1,200 grant for Schools and Colleges in England (not independent) and this is designed to cover the cost of training for ONE person on an approved mental health lead training course, with some left over to cover costs etc. (our courses cost £800 for example). The DfE have now stipulated that Schools and Colleges can access a second grant if their first Senior Mental Health Lead has left their setting prior to fully embedding the whole school approach model.

The application process:

1. When applications for March 2025 open, you can apply for the grant, via:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/senior-mental-health-lead-training-grant-funding.
2. You need a DfE login and it will ask for your organisation (your School/College)
3. You receive an email with a 10-12 digit code confirming your application.
4. Pay your provider’s invoice.
5. The DfE will email you when it is time to apply to receive the grant, this will involve uploading our invoice to the DfE within six weeks.
6. Please make sure you are booking onto a Leeds Trinity University course, see the links above. You will also need to complete our University application form which you can find in the link above.

If you have any queries regarding this training course, please email the Programme Lead, Hannah Woods at: h.woods@leedstrinity.ac.uk