What is MHC+, and who is it for?
MHC+ is a programme of support for Mental Health Champions in any educational setting across the district (0-25yrs, including independent schools / academies / specialist settings / mainstreams) who want to:
- increase their skills and knowledge around mental health and emotional well-being
- keep up to date with new interventions, approaches and understanding
- network with Champions in other settings
It is the natural “next step” for Champions who are already engaged at Core level - we are delighted that so many schools have joined us already!
MHC+ also supports the Chartermark and DfE Senior Mental Health Lead training programmes, which are now well-established in Bradford. Although Champions may not be directly involved in these programmes themselves, the support they receive via MHC+ will in
turn enhance the support they can provide in their setting, which can help the school to demonstrate that they are investing in their whole-school MHEWB provision.
Changes for 2023-24: In previous years, MHC+ Champions completed an audit of the MHEWB provision available in their school and worked with a member of the MHC+ team to develop an “action plan” based on the findings. As the Chartermark
and DfE programmes are now well-established and also follow a similar pattern, we have now removed this requirement from MHC+.
Instead, the MHC+ offer from September 2023 will be:
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Offer
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Info
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Dates for 2023-23
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Training sessions in a range of topics
- Led by a member of the Educational Psychology Team
- Half-termly 2hr interactive training sessions
- Virtual and live options (live sessions held at Margaret McMillan Tower)
- Optional
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It is hoped that we will gradually develop a “rolling programme” of topics that can then be revisited over a three-year period. This will give Champions the opportunity to refresh and update their knowledge over time and will provide a broad curriculum for
newer Champions.
Topics for this year will be advertised as soon as these are finalised, but the first one will be "Understanding and meeting the emotional needs of CYP in difficult family situations" (e.g. being the sibling of a high-needs child, death or long-term illness
of a family member, having a parent in prison)
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Am sessions: 9.30-11.30
Pm sessions: 1.00-3.00
All sessions are held on Teams unless otherwise speficied, and each topic is repeated three time each half term. Please book onto the one that suits you via Skills4Bradford
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Autumn 1 - Understanding and meeting the emotional needs of CYP in difficult family situations:
Tues 17th Oct (am)
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| Tues 17th Oct (pm) |
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Weds 18th Oct (pm)
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Autumn 2 - The importance of play for children's mental health and wellbeing
Tues 5th Dec (am)
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| Tues 5th Dec (pm) |
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Thurs 7th Dec (pm) - Braine Room MMT
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Spring 1 - Supporting the development of children's emotional literacy
Tues 30th Jan (am)
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| Weds 31st Jan (am) |
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Thurs 1st Feb (pm) - Bronte Room MMT
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Spring 2 - Understanding the impact of trauma on child development
Tues 12th March (am)
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| Weds 13th March (pm) |
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Thurs 14th March (pm) - Braine Room MMT
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Summer 1 Supporting children with transitions
Weds 22nd May (am)
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| Weds 22nd May (pm) |
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Thurs 23rd May (pm) - Bronte Room MMT
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Summer 2 (To be confirmed)
Tues 2nd July (am)
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| Weds 3rd July (am) |
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Thurs 4th July (pm) - Braine Room MMT
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Peer supervision
- Facilitated by a member of the Educational Psychology Team
- 5x sessions through the year (2x 1hr slots available each time, Champions sign up to one or both slots)
- Virtual, via Teams
- Optional
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We recognise that Champions are a very diverse group and bring a wide range of skills and experiences to the role. They often welcome the opportunity to share and problem-solve their experiences with colleagues in different settings, picking up new ideas
and having time to stop and think about their role. A member of the EPT will provide some structure but it is hoped that attendees will take ownership over the session, actively contributing and engaging with their colleagues.
(Please note that these sessions are for discussing issues relevant to the Champion role, rather than issues relating to specific children)
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Please book one session each time, via Skills4Bradford
Weds 15th Nov (pm, 1-1.50 and 2-2.50)
Tues 6th Feb (pm, 1-1.50 and 2-2.50)
Weds 20th March (pm, 1-1.50 and 2-2.50)
Mon 20th May (pm, 1-1.50 and 2-2.50)
Mon 8th July (pm, 1-1.50 and 2-2.50)
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Healthy Minds intervention training
- Presented by a member of the Educational Psychology Team
- Virtual, pre-recorded videos (via YouTube link)
- Available on request and accessible at any time
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As in previous years, MHC+ Champions have access to a bank of pre-recorded training videos on a number of different MHEWB interventions and approaches that can be applied at a whole-school level. To date this includes:
- Zones of Regulation
- Emotion Coaching
- Mindfulness
- Restorative Practice
- Cognitive-Based Therapy approaches
- Academic Resilience
- Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations
We are also planning to add further topics to this offer through the year.
These interventions work best when rolled out across a whole setting (they therefore link well to the Chartermark and DfE Senior Mental Health Leads training programmes). With this in mind, Champions would be expected to disseminate this information to colleagues
across school. The videos give ideas and support around this.
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Access available on request
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Wanting to find out more, or to register for MHC+?
Please email
mhchampions@bradford.gov.uk