Sandwell Mental Health and
Wellbeing Training
There are many local and national courses available for anyone interested in learning more about Mental Health and Wellbeing.
The Recovery College
The Recovery College provides an educational learning environment for people who have an interest in, or personal difficulties with, mental health.
Our courses celebrate our successes and build on existing skills and strategies rather than highlighting problems or failures.
Suicide Prevention Training for Professionals
The aim of the training offer is to provide suicide prevention knowledge and skills to the workforce to intervene early and equip them with the skills and knowledge to have supportive conversations. It aims to encourage all staff to work together to support the communities of Sandwell, and each other, to prevent loss of life to suicide.
The training offer provided to staff working in Sandwell is aligned to the competency groups below.
- Core competencies: these are intended for everyone, irrespective of their role to have as a minimum. They focus on being aware of mental health and suicide and can contribute to a supportive culture. We believe the Zero Suicide Alliance Suicide Awareness Training is suitable for everyone as a minimum level of training.
- Enhanced competencies: these are intended for members of staff who have more interaction with at risk groups and their role allows them increased opportunity, and responsibility, to make adjustments in their practice and/or environment. We have funded Papyrus to deliver their SP-EAK training to suit this group of staff. Find out more here
- Targeted competencies: these are intended for members of staff who need a greater depth of knowledge of how to support individuals with particular mental health or emotional wellbeing difficulties. They may also advise and support other members of staff on social emotional mental health support. We have funded Papyrus to deliver their ASIST training to suit this group of staff. Find out more here
The table below provides competency groups suggestions for staff from the private, public and voluntary sector. These levels are suggestions only and staff will need to consider the amount and degree of interaction they have with individuals and their designated responsibilities to choose the appropriate training for them.
Suggested staff roles per competency group
| Core | Enhanced | Targeted |
|---|---|---|
| Caretakers/Cleaners/Facilities Staff | Probation Officers | Family Support Workers/Adults Support Workers |
| Back office and administration staff | Leisure/Sport Coaches | Targeted Youth Worker |
| Catering Staff i.e. school lunch supervisors,cafes, restaurants, pubs etc. | Neighbourhood Officers | Health Visitors |
| Contact Centre Staff | Sessional Youth Workers | School Health Nurses |
| Transport drivers incl. school transport service,taxis and public transport | Attendance Officers | Attendance Officers |
| Librarians | Community Group Workers | GPs |
| Street Wardens, Park attendants, Environmental Health Officers | Dentists/Pharmacists | Staff working in Refuges |
| Receptionists | Early Years Workers | Early Years Workers |
| School Governors | Childminders | Residential Workers |
| Senior Managers/Boards/Trustees with little direct contact with members of the publiceptionists | Teachers/Further Educations Lecturers and staff | Pastoral/ Student Support Services |
| Chaplaincy/Faith Leaders | Social Work Assistants | Safeguarding Leads/Welfare Officers |
| Security Workers i.e. at colleges, youth clubs, supported housing etc. | Foster Carers | Foster Carers |
| Connexions, Job Centre Plus and other Careers/ Employments Advisors | Day Centre Assistants | Targeted Support Services i.e. substance abuse, sexual health, mentoring |
| Volunteers with or without direct contact with members of the public | Police Officers including PCSOs (without specialised roles) | Social Workers |
| Hairdressers, nail technicians, beauticians, barbers etc. | Prison Workers | Staff working with people with disabilities/ additional needs incl. SENCO |
| Other retail staff | Faith Leaders | Staff working with refugees/asylum seekers |
Staff Competency Framework
Mental health should be everybody’s business. Therefore, this Multi-Agency Social Emotional Mental Health Competency Framework for staff working with Children and Young People in Sandwell is aimed at all staff- from caretakers to teachers, community transport drivers to youth workers, by outlining role appropriate levels of skill, knowledge and training. It aims to encourage all staff to work together to support the children and young people of Sandwell, and one another- knowing their limitations and how to escalate concerns.
This framework has separate competencies for those working with children and young people at different ages: early years, primary school, secondary school and college, with clear enhancements included where necessary for children and young people with additional needs.
The framework itself is comprised of four components:
- Groups of competencies: core, enhanced and targeted
- Suggestions of staff roles for whom each group of competencies is most likely to be relevant
- A self-assessment tool
- Suggested training options to gain the needed skills and knowledge
Implementing the framework follows three overarching steps for members of staff:
- Align to a competency group
- Complete the self-assessment
- Undertake the training
Endorsed by the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Thrive Board, we are encouraging professionals to use the framework as part of their continual professional development through appraisals and one-to-ones.
Disclaimer: When downloading the framework, we are asking professionals to provide their name, job role, the organisation they work for and email address. This is so we can monitor engagement with the framework, distribute updated versions of the framework to those who are already using it and periodically we will be gathering feedback from professionals to understand the impact on work practices.
Please fill in the form to access the Competency Framework
