Mental Health
Supporting someone with mental health needs can be a rewarding part of our role, however for some it can sometimes feel daunting.
Our mental health training supports understanding of:
- the emotions and challenges for someone experiencing mental health difficulties
- the different presentations and behaviours that may be displayed
- how we can misunderstand how distress can be presented
Most importantly, training will help you to know what you can do to support someone.
Our training programmes aren’t just about new knowledge but also to confirm and build on staff’s current knowledge and skills.
As well as the nationally recognised mental health courses such as MHFA and KUF awareness, we create bespoke courses that can be tailored to your organisational needs. Read more details about each course below.
Knowledge and Understanding Framework (KUF) Awareness
The Knowledge and Understanding Framework (KUF) was created as a joint commission by the Ministry of Justice and the NHS England, to create training that targeted the workforce development of those who work with people living complex emotional needs or a diagnosis of personality disorders.
There are 3 versions of KUF training we can support with. 1-Day KUF, for non-clinical Staff, 2-Day KUF for those who work with people who have had experience of offending and a 3-day KUF, suitable for clinical staff or those who work within settings supporting people with mental health needs. Windmill Training are the Kent, Surrey & Sussex regional providers of the funded 2-day OPD KUF course, for those working in a criminal justice setting.
Course Aims
The KUF focus is to reduce and challenge the stigma those living with complex emotional difficulties (CED) have experienced by exploring what may have happened to someone who has CED or diagnosis of a personality disorder and how staff can support them. The training days encourage reflection and interaction to develop practice and support relational working.
Course delivery
Each course can be delivered online or face-to-face and consists of a mixture of slides, practical activities, group work and reflection time.
The 2 and 3 day courses do not run on consecutive days.*
*Days can be negotiated but usually at least one week in between each training day.
Course content
This KUF course covers knowledge, theory and practical skills in the following areas;
1-Day KUF
- Stigma
- What shapes us?
- Trauma, neglect and adversity
- How the past affects the present
- Understanding emotional responses
- Relational working & skills development
2-Day KUF
- Stigma
- Defining personality difficulties
- The offender personality disorder pathway
- Understanding complexities of the work
- Development of complex emotional difficulties
- Attachment theories
- What shapes us?
- Trauma, neglect and adversity
- Formulations
- Reactions and responses
- Emotional containment
- Supportive organisations
- Interpersonal dynamics
- Reflection
3-Day Multi-agency KUF
- Stigma
- Defining personality difficulties
- The offender personality disorder pathway
- Understanding complexities of the work
- Development of complex emotional difficulties
- Attachment theories
- What shapes us?
- Trauma, neglect and adversity
- Working with the Power, Threat, Meaning Framework
- Internal working models
- Meaning behind behaviours
- Self-harm
- Formulations
- Reactions and responses
- Emotional containment
- Supportive organisations
- Interpersonal dynamics
- Reflection
Participant numbers
Online: minimum of 6, maximum of 12 participants.
Face-to-face: minimum 8, maximum of 18 participants.
Are you eligible for a funded place?
The 2-day KUF was created for those who work primarily with offenders. This includes prison and probation officers, forensic staff and supporting staff such as some charity workers who work with offenders.
If you are interested in this course or not sure if you qualify for the funded places, contact us today.
Enquire about KUF Awareness Training
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
The aim of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is to encourage individuals who can act as Mental Health First Aiders, using practical measures to assist those experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis, while also promoting overall wellbeing.
Employers recognize that for a team to perform optimally, fostering an inclusive environment that supports employee wellbeing is essential. The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course is perfectly suited for employees at all levels who wish to become certified MHFAiders®, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify signs of mental distress, initiate supportive conversations, and guide individuals towards appropriate help.
Course aims
MHFA training encourages a healthy workplace that values employees’ mental and physical health equally. Qualified Mental Health First Aiders benefit from ongoing support from the MHFA community and the MHFAider Support App® for three years.
Course delivery
The courses can be delivered online or face-to-face
- MHFA and Youth MHFA courses are 2-days each which can be delivered on two consecutive days; one day each week or over four 1/2 day sessions.
- Youth Champion course is 1-day training.
- MHFA Refresher 1/2 day training.
Course content
All MHFA courses cover knowledge and helpful practical skills the following areas;
- defining mental health
- the impact of stigma
- what impacts our mental health
- depression
- anxiety
- self-harm
- suicidality
- listening skills
- boundaries of MHFAiders
Extra areas are covered in specific courses
MHFA (2-days)
- first aid after traumatic event
- personality disorders introduction
- psychosis
- eating-disorders
- recovery
Youth MHFA
- eating disorders*
- resilience for young people
*briefly in MHFA Youth Champion training
Participant numbers
Online: minimum of 6, maximum of 12 participants.
Face-to-face: minimum 8, maximum of 16 participants.
What MHFA courses are available?
- Adult MHFA
This is a two-day course for those who work with adults, or support people in the community or at home. Open to staff from all industries from, supportive healthcare to construction.
- Youth MHFA
This is also a two-day course with the focus on young people aged 8-24 (although we have worked with those involved in nursery care). Especially suitable for educators, youth workers (including coaches) and parents.
- Youth MHFA Champion
This is a one-day course ideal for those organisations, working with young people, who may have a more organisational supportive role e.g. administration, teaching assistants or domestic staff. The Youth MHFA champion can be a key assist to Mental Heath First Aiders.
- MHFA Refresher
MHFAiders® are required to update their training every 3 years with this refresher.
Suicide Prevention Skills
Suicide can be a difficult subject to think about, but an important topic to discuss.
The care and support someone can provide to a person in crisis can be invaluable, just providing an emotional safe space is often validating and reassuring for someone in distress. There are naturally many questions people will have about how to support someone who is suicidal e.g., ‘what if I say the wrong thing?’ The key skill in suicide prevention is listening, something we can all offer.
Course aims
This training expands how you can support someone who is suicidal, explores empathic conversations and promote staff self-care after a suicide discussion.
Course delivery
The training is 3 1/2 hours delivered face-to-face or online. Each course has a mixture of slides, videos, activities, and group work.
Course content
- Suicide warning signs and risk factors
- Suicide risk assessment
- Conversation techniques
- Signposting
- Self-care
Number of participants
Minimum 6: maximum 12*
* maximum number for online courses is 9
Who is Suicide Prevention Training for?
- This course is most suitable for all staff, particularly those who work in a community setting including third sector and charity organisations.
- For immediate support for someone feeling suicidal contact the Samaritans at Jo@samaritans.org or 116 123, 111 option 2 NHS service or 999.
Bespoke Training
It may be your team needs something other than MHFA or KUF awareness training, if so we are happy to design a course to suit your team and client needs.
We will discuss with you core aims, course length and staff needs so the course fits in with any training needs analysis or staff development plans.
An example is our one day Mental Health Awareness course originally developed to train NHS staff working at the 111 service. It introduces key aspects of mental health illness, supportive approaches and signposting. Or our half-day Suicide Intervention Skills created for call handling staff supporting vulnerable people.
Course topics
Some of the topics that may be helpful in a bespoke training session are:
- Common mental health diagnosis
- Personality disorders
- Suicide
- Self-harm
- Wellbeing
Programme design
This will depend on the length and type of training, however a 1-day course can typically take between 2 and 6 weeks from initial conversation to design completion.
Costs
Again this will depend on the type of course and supporting information, however if the course is similar in content to one of our other courses, there may be no additional charges.
Bespoke Training
- Are you seeking a specialised course for managers or a particular client group? Found out how we can help.
- Contact us about developing personalised mental health training for your organisation.