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.
REWT are delivering Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL) training. SMHL training was previously quality assured by the DfE however is no longer monitored by the DfE. We are still listed on their website as a course provider.
This training is now offered as bespoke training so if you are interested in training an SMHL in your school please email REWT@redbridge.gov.uk so that we can discuss details further.
We have been running our SMHL training since 2018. Between 2018-2024, we trained over 60 SMHLs across over 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.
Level: Intermediate
Cost: Can be discussed as part of the bespoke training offer
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 be able to access ongoing support from the REWT team including supervision sessions/workshops and networking opportunities.
Supervision topics have included:
- Sensory Wellbeing
- Race and Equity
- Supporting Young Carer's
- Cultural Barriers to Mental Health
Online workshop topics have included:
- 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.
Who will be delivering the training?
All of our REWT SMHL trainers are highly experienced, and each training session is facilitated by a mixture of Assistant Educational Psychologists (AEPs) and Educational Psychologists (EPs).
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.
Training dates
Please note that trainees must attend both days of training.
We do not have any dates planned for the 25-26 academic year however if you are interested in training please contact REWT@redbridge.gov.uk and bespoke training dates can be discussed with you.
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
REWT will always ask for dietary requirements of all attendees prior to the training taking place to ensure needs can be met where food is provided. We will always ensure there is access to drinking water.
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
