The National Educational Leaders in Mental Health Certification for University Leaders

Mental health difficulties are on the rise and the role of academic staff in meeting the mental health needs of both staff and students has increased beyond recognition in the last couple of years, combined with the impact of the pandemic…

In a university, there are so many different leads and departments, it can be hard to get training to help you meet this need, or indeed develop an informed approach to leading on mental health and wellbeing.​

This course can be delivered to teams at a single university, if so we recommend at least one from each faculty (or equivalent), or the course be delivered to key staff in a faculty or academic department – for example faculty lead, academic lead, student support lead, admin staff lead, student representative and department leads. This approach allows the learning to be tailored to your needs. Likewise, the sister course (Mental Health Aware Leadership) can be delivered to non-academic departments too.

Without taking away from any knowledge your teams may already have, the reflective course is designed to help identify and begin to implement ethos change, covering:​

  • Auditing and action planning
  • Leadership in mental health
  • Ethos
  • Values and Beliefs
  • Reactions to mental health difficulties & unconscious bias
  • Workplace wellbeing
  • Student wellbeing
  • Common mental health difficulties
  • The role of a leader in mental health

Each module is delivered through reflective activities, leading onto actions related to your role. There are then follow-up activities for your staff to do between the seminars to ensure there is immediate impact.

In addition, participants choose 2 modules to self-study to develop the knowledge and skills relevant to their role:​

  • Multi-team working
  • Voice of the student
  • Voice of staff
  • Support for students
  • Support for staff
  • Disabilities and medical conditions
  • Mental health difficulties
  • Mental wellbeing

Who is it aimed at?

The course is aimed at Deans, faculty staff, department heads, strategic academic leaders, post graduate and undergraduate programme leads.  Middle leaders and aspiring leaders are welcome to join the course, however, be advised the course is aimed at strategic leadership.

What are the aims of the course?

The aims of the course for participants are:

  • To understand yourself more
  • To understand other staff more
  • To audit your own provision
  • To understand factors affecting Mental Health
  • To consider factors affecting student mental health
  • To develop Mental Health and Wellbeing friendly ethos and values
  • To develop Mental Health and Wellbeing policy and provision
  • To become a National Educational Leader in Mental Health

Adjustments

The course consists of core modules everyone is required to complete, but this is complemented by self-study and workplace activities that you select for your setting.  This means the course can be customised to meet the needs of your role.

Online self-study route

15 pre-recorded 20-25 minute videos, follow-up activities and self-studied units. Complete the certification process at your own rate.

In-person route (regional courses, group bookings or delivered by our local partners)

Three days, follow-up homework and self-studied units. If you think your local area would participate in a group course, please contact us.​

Course content

Facilitated sessions:

  • Leadership in mental health, policy & action planning
  • Values and beliefs
  • Bias and reactions to mental health
  • Reflecting on leadership approaches
  • Statutory expectations
  • Emotional Coping
  • Common Mental Health Difficulties
  • Student wellbeing

In addition, participants will study two of the following self-study topics:

  • Multi-team working
  • Voice of the student
  • Voice of staff
  • Support for students
  • Support for staff
  • Disabilities and medical conditions
  • Mental health difficulties
  • Mental wellbeing

You will need to be able to commit to approximately 3-4 hours a week for 3-6 months.

Assessment

Participants complete a reflective portfolio to gain the accreditation, which can also be submitted to gain a level 4 Mental Health Aware Leadership qualification.

Download a pamphlet

Guide Price – Only £1100 + VAT​