Recognising the increasing prevalence of mental health challenges in children and young people, the Leicestershire Healthy Schools Programme has allocated a significant amount of funding for schools across Leicestershire and Rutland to participate in a Youth Mental Health First Aid Programme. The training that is accredited by MHFA England will support school-staff to recognise early signs of poor mental wellbeing and improve staff confidence to provide early support.

The programme, that will be made of up of twelve separate cohorts and is free of charge, is set to Launch on 1^st November 2021. Each participant on the programme will:

• Receive the full two-day MHFA England training to become a fully qualified Youth Mental Health First-Aider (including MHFA England Certificate) valued at £300.00 per person
• MHFA Manual & Workbook
• MHFA Resources
• Attend a network session delivered by a MHFA England Trainer and a Children & Young People Officer (Public Health)
• Receive a Healthy Schools Plus award in Youth MHFA (on completion of the full programme)

This two-day course trains you as a Youth Mental Health First Aider, giving you:

• An in-depth understanding of young people's mental health and factors that affect wellbeing
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
• Confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
• Knowledge to help a young person recover their health by guiding them to further support – whether that's through self-help sites, their place of learning, the NHS, or a mix – engaging with parents, carers, and external agencies where appropriate
• Ability to support a young person with a long-term mental health issue or disability to thrive
• Tools to look after your own mental wellbeing ​

1-hour session delivered by MHFA trainer and a Children & Young People Officer (Public Health) covering:

• Recap MHFA learning
• Review school mental health policy / practice
• Discuss Whole School Approach to embed MHFA learning and in-school delivery
• Discuss challenges in school, e.g. pupil anxiety
• Share experiences of in-school delivery, e.g. short staff presentations
• Discuss opportunities to share learning to wider school, e.g. how to discuss in team meetings, INSET days
• Thorough review of local external support services
• Share case study template of MHFA being used in school (case study to be completed after the network sessions and returned in order to achieve HS Plus Award)
• Receive HS Plus Award in Youth MHFA for school to showcase their achievements and commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils with their school community

All participants that complete the full Youth MHFA Programme (including the full two-day MHFA England training, course evaluation, network session and completed case study) will be eligible to receive the Healthy Schools Plus Award for their school.

This award showcases the schools achievements and commitment to support all pupils mental health and wellbeing within the school community. On achievement of this award, the school will receive:

• a digital and paper-based HS+ Youth MHFA certificate
• an article of celebration
• recognition on Healthy Schools website
• 2-years HS+ Youth MHFA Accreditation

Please see Youth MHFA Programme process and checklist below for full details.

Please read the below Terms & Conditions, as well as the 'Instructions for delegates' document before signing up to the Youth MHFA programme using the links below. By signing up to the programme we assume you have read and accept these Terms & Conditions.

• You must provide at least 20 working days of notice to cancel your booking once it has been confirmed OR arrange a replacement within 5 working days of programme commencement. Failure to meet the terms will result in the associated costs of £300.00 being recovered from your employer.
• If you have any questions or queries about the Youth MHFA programme, please email HealthySchools@leics.gov.uk

Sign up to the Youth MHFA Programme using the links below:

• Cohort 9 (12th & 19th September 2022) - Course complete
• Cohort 10 (11th & 25th October 2022) - Course complete
• Cohort 11 (15th & 22nd November 2022) - Course complete
• Cohort 12 (11th & 18th January 2023) - Course complete
• Cohort 13 (9th & 16th February 2023) - Course complete
• Cohort 14 (22nd & 29th March 2023) - Course complete