Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL) Training

Senior Mental Health Lead's in schools were previously known as Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Designated Senior Leads (DSLs). 

Training

A two-day face-to-face training course for Senior Mental Health Leads, helping support you to implement a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

Level: Intermediate 

Cost: £1200 (free when covered by the DfE grant, see below for more information)

Course Code: SMHL112

REWT are delivering Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL) training. Our course has met the quality criteria to deliver grant funded SMHL training, assured by the Department For Education (DfE). 

We have been running our SMHL training since 2018. Between 2018-2024, we trained over 60 SMHLs across 50 primary and secondary schools. Our SMHL training programme has proved to be highly successful, and our evaluative data highlights the strategic change and evidence for progress by all of our SMHLs. 

 

What does the training cover?

By the end of the two-day intermediate level course, Senior Mental Health Leads (SMHLs) will be able to:

• Put together a plan for a whole school approach to positive mental health and wellbeing
• Be well equipped to lead on mental health and wellbeing, celebrate their existing processes and celebrate good practice already taken place in their school/college
• Develop knowledge of early intervention and preventative activities for mental health
• Have good knowledge of local provision, be informed about the most up to date, evidence-based best practice for positive mental health
• Be able to incorporate positive mental health into the school curriculum to raise mental health awareness in their school/college
• Examine how the parents, children and young people (CYP) and staff voice will help to shape the whole school approach
• Understand the prevalence of mental health needs in their local area, develop knowledge of mental health outcome measures and barriers to accessing support for mental health e.g., cultural barriers and stigma

After the two days initial training, SMHLs will access half termly supervision sessions (face to face) and termly online workshops, be paired with another SMHL on your cohort, access networking events and have a 6 month review visit. This creates more opportunities for SMHLs to problem solve around complex cases, receive further training, network and to share good practice.  

 

Who will be delivering the training?

All of our REWT SMHL trainers are highly experienced, and each training session is facilitated by a qualified Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist (EP) alongside Assistant EPs. 

Claudia Noel-Michael is REWT's lead SMHL trainer and will be present at each training day. Claudia is a Senior Specialist Educational Psychologist (EP) and Coordinator of Redbridge Educational Wellbeing Team (REWT).  Claudia has been an EP for 17 years and worked across 3 different local authorities. Claudia has a range of specialisms, but is particularly interested in supporting schools to make mental health and wellbeing a priority.  

Our REWT SMHL trainers keep abreast of current theories, research and interventions for positive mental health and wellbeing, carry out regular reviews of research, articles and resources. Our trainers work closely together, constantly updating their knowledge and sharing between them.

 

What happens after completing training? 

Our SMHL training course provides an excellent opportunity for continuous professional development through review meetings, conferences, consultation and supervision. We offer half termly supervision sessions which include peer networking, collaboration and interactive learning. We also offer termly online workshops.

Each supervision session brings the SMHLs together to share good practice, to learn from each other and to problem solve around different areas of need.  These regular supervision sessions also mean that the SMHLs form a network who build supportive relationships with one another.

Supervision topics include:

• Sensory Wellbeing
• Race and Equity 
• Supporting Young Carer's
• Cultural Barriers to Mental Health 

Online workshop topics include:

• Understanding and Working with Refugee and Asylum Seeker CYP
• Understanding the Impact of Gambling on CYP
• Understanding the Impact of ACEs

We are open to hearing what topics our SMHLs feel would be useful to have further input on through supervision. 

 

Training dates

Please note that trainees must attend both days of training. 

Our upcoming training dates are as follows:

Autumn Term

• Day 1- Thursday 26 September 2024 (9.30am to 5pm)
• Day 2- Wednesday 9 October 2024 (9.30am to 5pm)

Spring Term

• Day 1- Thursday 23 January 2025 (9:30am to 5pm)
• Day 2- Wednesday 26 February 2025 (9:30am to 5pm)

Summer Term

• Day 1- Wednesday 4 June 2025 (9:30am to 5pm)
• Day 2- Wednesday 25 June 2025 (9:30am to 5pm)

Spaces are limited so please get in touch if you are interested. We will be confirming all training dates for the new academic year soon so please check back. 

This SMHL training course is funded by the Department for Education. If you are an eligible state funded education setting you can apply for a DfE grant to cover the cost of the SMHL training. You will need to quote our course code, SMHL112, when completing this application. Find more information about the funding and grant from the Department for Education.

 

If I have already completed Redbridge training previously as a DSL, do I need to do this training?

As an existing DSL/SMHL, you do not need to attend this training course. However, if you feel that you would like to refresh your knowledge and practice you are welcome to attend. 

 

Accessibility

Redbridge Educational Wellbeing Team (REWT) is committed to making its training accessible in accordance with the PSED. This accessibility statement applies to all training provided by REWT.

All training attendees will be asked directly for any reasonable adjustments required for them to participate and to maximise their learning. We will do our best to fulfil any requirements such as dietary needs (cultural, religious or health), the need for a private room for prayer, handouts in advance of the training, or in alternative forms such as large print, the need for a high backed chair or back support, wheelchair access etc. Where resources are available other reasonable adjustments may include provision of auxiliary aids, word related equipment e.g. screen reader, specialist software, interpreter, etc. Where the training is online we can also provide additional support with logging on to online training platforms.

REWT will always aim to be flexible with timings of events to aid those with caring responsibilities, child care, medical appointments etc. We ensure that any training lasting longer than 2 hours will have multiple short breaks built into the training day. Where the training lasts a full day, an appropriate amount of time for lunch will be built into the training day.

REWT carefully consider the venues for in person training events. Some considerations include:

• Parking/disabled parking access
• Accessible route from car park to entrance
• Accessibility of the building for those with a mobility impairments
• Availability of a lift/alternative to stairs
• Accessibility of toilets in the venue
• Access to a private room (e.g. for prayer)
• Knowledge of emergency exit arrangements

For training events where lunch is included, REWT ensure that there is appropriate space for all attendees to sit while eating. At larger events where this may not be possible, we consider the types of food served (e.g. foods that can be eaten without cutlery). REWT will always ask for dietary requirements of all attendees prior to the training taking place to ensure needs can be met. We will always ensure there is access to drinking water and also aim to provide other refreshments throughout the day e.g. juice, tea, coffee.

Where training materials are used, delegates will always receive a digital copy of the training materials after completion of the training. Delegates can also request for the materials to be in an alternative format e.g. large text, text in a different colour etc.

If you have any worries about the accessibility of our face to face training please do contact us so that we can discuss your options.

If you have any further questions or would like to book a training place, please email REWT@redbridge.gov.uk