There are many local and national courses available for anyone interested in learning more about Mental Health and Wellbeing.
i-act Understanding & Promoting Positive Mental Health & Wellbeing
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.
Our belief is that learning together makes us stronger and supports our recovery.
You do not need any formal qualifications or experience to attend the college. All of our courses are free of charge and open to anyone, aged 18 and over.
We offer a wide range of training courses, workshops and taster sessions which will help you to understand mental ill health, identifying what steps you should take to support others as well as yourself.
We offer a range of suicide prevention training for individuals, workplaces and communities across the UK. From our free 30-minute SP-ARK session, to a two-day ASIST course, there are plenty of ways to create a suicide-safer environment where you are.
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.
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 | Youth Justice Workers |
Librarians | Community Group Workers | GPs |
Street Wardens, Park attendants, Environmental Health Officers | Dentists/Pharmacists | Staff working in Refuges |
Receptionists | Early Years Workers | Speech & Language Therapists |
School Governors | Childminders | Residential Workers |
Senior Managers/Boards/Trustees with little direct contact with members of the public | 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 | Early Years Managers |
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 |