Mental Health First Aiders and training
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. In the same way as learning physical first aid, MHFA teaches people how to recognise the crucial early warning signs of mental ill health and feel confident to guide someone to suitable support if appropriate.
You can become a Mental Health First Aider by attending a two day MHFA course which will enable you to be a point of contact, able to reassure and guide someone in need to appropriate support. It does not require you to provide any kind of specialist support.
For more information email [email protected].
Mental Health Awareness Training
One in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our life. This short training gives a broad overview of mental health and some practical skills for recognising, supporting and signposting someone concerned about their mental health.
Schwartz Round
Please note that Schwartz Rounds are not currently running.
What is a Schwartz Round?
Schwartz Rounds provide a structured forum where all staff, clinical and non-clinical, come together regularly to discuss the emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare.
The purpose of Rounds is to understand the challenges and rewards that are intrinsic to providing care, not to solve problems or to focus on the clinical aspects of patient care.
Rounds can help staff feel more supported in their jobs, allowing them the time and space to reflect on their roles. Evidence shows that staff who attend Rounds feel less stressed and isolated, with increased insight and appreciation for each other’s roles. They also help to reduce hierarchies between staff and to focus attention on relational aspects of care
The underlying premise for Rounds is that the compassion shown by staff can make all the difference to a patient’s experience of care, but that in order to provide compassionate care staff must, in turn, feel supported in their work.
Watch a Schwartz Round
https://www.pointofcarefoundation.org.uk/our-programmes/staff-experience/watch-schwartz-round/
Additional information
https://www.pointofcarefoundation.org.uk/our-programmes/staff-experience/about-schwartz-rounds/
Team time
Team Time has developed from Schwartz Rounds in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. It is shorter and is focussed on a particular team or area.
It is a 45 minute reflective practice run and facilitated online and provides a safe opportunity for people taking part to share experiences of their work.
See Point of Care Foundation for more information or contact Caroline Scott on (0191 454 8888) or [email protected]
Team work via Clinical Psychology
Support is available to think through team issues and to implement projects or strategies to increase psychological safety, team connectedness and support or reflective practice. Input is also available to provide team based education or learning sessions around psychological wellbeing issues. For an initial discussion contact Dr Helen Harding on [email protected]
Going Home checklist
The Going Home checklist is a poster which can be used to encourage reflection and mindfulness at the end of a working day. If you’d like to display in your area of work, click to download the PDF here.
National support for you and your team to stay well together
A range of national materials from NHS People to support you and your teams with advice for maximising team coping and healthy support for each other are available – this includes advice and guidance, bite sized training and direct coaching support. Part of this resource focuses on support to decompress well and process events at the end of a shift at work. Click here to access the support.