Please find details of our training courses below. Please also see the attached document which gives further details on all of our courses which are currently delivered over Microsoft Teams, unless otherwise stated. Please feel free to forward this email to any of your contacts who you think would be interested in attending.
Places on our courses must be booked through the online platform Learning Together, and you can book a place by clicking on the course title which will take you directly to the Learning Together page for that course where you can log in and sign up. You can also search Learning Together for our courses, just enter (HIMP) in the ‘search for courses’ box and this will bring up a list of all of the courses we deliver. Please remember to include the brackets.
Please go to ncc.learningpool.com to log in or create an account and if you need any assistance to register, please contact learningandod@northumberland.gov.uk. For any general queries please email healthimprovement@northumberland.gov.uk.
Please note : to be eligible to attend our free courses you must either live or work in Northumberland and we reserve the right to reject or charge for applications from anyone who does not meet this criteria.
This training aims to increase basic knowledge and understanding of mental health including the causes, symptoms and support options for adults. The risk and protective factors of mental health will be explored and there will be an opportunity for attendees will be split into small groups so that they can practice the skills of how to have conversations with someone about mental health. This training will explore the different ways that the participants can look after their wellbeing using the Five Ways to Wellbeing approach. Information about local and national resources and services will also be discussed.
- 10 December 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00
- 25 February 2025 – 1.00 to 4.00
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a nationally and internationally recognised training course that gives a person the knowledge, skills and confidence to make an immediate helping response to someone experiencing a mental health crisis. This training is aimed at those who are working with individuals, groups or have line management/supervisory responsibilities and wish to gain basic knowledge in relation to mental health. This course is ideal for individuals who would like to become an MHFAider® to gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident to start a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support.
There are two delivery options: The face-to-face course is structured across two days (9.00 am – 5.00 pm), consisting of four sessions. Please note that it is compulsory to attend both days to become an Adult Mental Health First Aider. The online course is delivered through the MHFA England Online Learning Hub. Learning takes place through four live training sessions spread across two weeks, Please note that it is compulsory to attend all four of the live sessions in order to become an Adult Mental Health First Aider.
- Dates to be arranged
Please note: this training is not appropriate for mental health professionals and we cannot allocate more than 3 places on this course to people from the same organisation/department.
This training aims to increase basic knowledge and understanding of mental health including the causes, symptoms and support options for children and young people. The risk and protective factors of mental health will be explored and there will be an opportunity for attendees will be split into small groups so that they can practice the skills of how to have conversations with someone about mental health. This training will explore the different ways that the participants can look after their wellbeing using the Five Ways to Wellbeing approach. Information about local and national resources and services will also be discussed.
- 23 January 2025 – 1.00 to 4.00
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an internationally recognised training course that gives participants the knowledge, skills and confidence to support a young person who may be experiencing mental and emotional distress. This course is aimed at those who are working with individuals, groups or have line management/supervisory responsibilities and wish to gain basic knowledge in relation to mental health. This course is only open to those who work with or support children and young people aged 8-18 so please do not book a place if this does not apply to you.
There are two delivery methods: The face-to-face course is structured across two days (9.00 am – 5.00 pm), consisting of four sessions. Please note that it is compulsory to attend both days to become a Youth Mental Health First Aider. The online course is delivered through the MHFA England Online Learning Hub and learning takes place through four live training sessions spread across two weeks, with self-learning activities in between. Each session is built around a Youth Mental Health First Aid action plan and the course includes a combination of instructor-led training, group discussions and individual and group activities. Please note that it is compulsory to attend all four live sessions to become a Youth Mental Health First Aider.
Please also note that we cannot allocate more than 3 places on this course to people from the same organisation/department.
- Dates to be arranged
Alcohol Awareness, Making Every Contact Count
This training will give participants an understanding of alcohol units and the current recommended guidelines, as well as an awareness of the effects of alcohol. Participants will learn about the health risks and the impact of alcohol misuse on the individual and communities. Discover hints and tips for cutting down, information on local specialist alcohol services and how to use the ‘Make Every Contact Count’ framework to initiate conversations about alcohol use.
- 5 February 2025 – 11.00 to 12.00
- 2 April 2025 – 2.00 to 3.00
- 3 June 2025 – 11.00 to 12.00
- 15 July 2025 – 2.00 to 3.00
- 6 October 2025 – 2.00 to 3.00
- 26 November 2025 – 11.00 to 12.00
- 26 January 2026 – 2.00 to 3.00
- 24 March 2026 – 11.00 to 12.00
This training will give participants a basic knowledge and understanding of substance use. We will look at a range of drugs, their classification, the law and effect on the body. This training will cover some of the reasons people use drugs as well as the effect substance use has on communities. We will also cover the specialist support services available in Northumberland.
- 14 January 2025 – 2.00 to 3.00
- 24 March 2025 – 11.00 to 12.00
- 7 May 2025 – 2.00 to 3.00
- 7 July 2025 – 11.00 to 12.00
- 30 September 2025 – 11.00 to 12.00
- 12 November 2025 – 2.00 to 3.00
- 21 January 2026 – 11.00 to 12.00
- 10 March 2026 – 2.00 to 3.00
This training aims to increase basic knowledge and understanding in relation to suicide in England and gives an overview of suicide globally, nationally and locally. Whilst highlighting key warning signs, risk and protective factors, we will also look how to respond in a crisis situation. Appropriate referral routes and signposting will also be discussed.
- 28 January 2025 – 1.00 to 4.00
Child Safety and Accident Prevention
The purpose of this training is to understand the importance of reducing childhood accidents, to gain a thorough understanding of the main causes of accidents in England and Northumberland, and how to integrate this knowledge into practice. The training will also cover childhood accidents and development, signposting, and childhood illness.
- 10 December 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 4 February 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
Northumberland’s Public Health Team has an annual plan of health awareness campaigns. To help us share and shape health messages, we’re looking for people who live and/or work in Northumberland to sign up as a Community Health Champion. The role of a Community Health Champion has three levels:
Sharer: As a Sharer, you would receive regular Public Health updates and campaign resources, which you can then share with your community and social networks. This is an informal role and there are no requirements, other than signing up to our mailing list via the expression of interest form linked below.
Shaper: As a Shaper, in addition to agreeing to receive Public Health updates and campaign resources, you will be invited to attend quarterly message shaping meetings. Message shaping meetings will give you the opportunity to give us feedback on the information you receive via the mailing list and help us shape health messages for your community’s needs. We will only ask for feedback on how and when you have shared information you have received via the mailing list. Those who sign up as a Shaper will have access to a short webinar “Making Every Contact Count for Champions” via Learning Together. This is an informal role and there are no requirements, other than attending message shaping meeting when possible and signing up to our mailing list via the expression of interest form linked below.
Supporter: As a Supporter, you are registering your interest in a formal volunteer position with Northumberland County Council. Within this role, you will support Northumberland’s Health Trainer’s and wider Public Health team. To find out more, complete the form and we will send you a detailed role description. This formal role involves the completion of training; this includes a Volunteer Induction and Royal Society of Public Health Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement.
If you would like to sign up as a Sharer, Shaper or Supporter, please complete the form below and select which role you are signing up for.
Sign up form: Community Health Champion Programme sign up form
If you have any questions you would like answered before signing up, or to request the Sharer, Shaper or Support role descriptions please email healthchampions@northumberland.gov.uk
Connect 5 is an evidence-based training course that gives learners the skills and confidence to have enabling conversations with people in their work and lives. The training builds the capacity and capability of the learners to look after their own and others’ mental wellbeing proactively. Using the framework of the Five Ways to Wellbeing and principles of cognitive behavioural theory, it aims to empower people to have conversations about mental wellbeing. These conversations are intended to contribute towards promoting mental wellbeing, preventing mental health deterioration and when necessary, identifying and taking appropriate action to address mental distress.
There are two delivery options: online delivery via Microsoft Teams and face-to-face. The training consists of three modules and learners can choose to complete the whole course by completing all three modules or complete each module independently, but these must be completed in the order of module 1, 2 and 3.
Module 1: An introduction to Connect 5. This module will include learning around extending your skills and confidence to have mental wellbeing conversations within everyday life and the workplace, public mental health models and recognised techniques (i.e., The 3Cs of Connected Conversations) to inform mental wellbeing conversation and where to find mental wellbeing resources.
- Dates to be arranged
Module 2: Learn to lead on wellbeing interventions. This builds on module 1 so that learners understand wellbeing needs and are able to offer one off brief wellbeing interventions to others and includes information on suicide awareness. Learning in this module will enable you to apply recognised models, such as the ‘Five Areas Model’ to a wellbeing conversation and practice the ‘3Cs’ of Connected Conversations, learnt in Module 1, assess the nature and extent of the mental wellbeing issue being presented to ensure people get the right help at the right time, including suicide awareness and identify steps that can be taken to improve mental wellbeing.
- Dates to be arranged
Module 3: Motivate and support people to make changes. This builds on the knowledge and skills developed in modules 1 & 2 to motivate and support people to make changes to improve their mental health and wellbeing. We will explore self-help tools and life skills to promote mental wellbeing in more depth to enable you to support a person to improve and protect their mental wellbeing by practicing the application of self-help tools.
- Dates to be arranged
This training aims to provide an overview of how our diet can affect our physical and mental wellbeing. The relationship between food and the gut microbiome and immune system will be explored. The training provides evidence-based dietary guidelines, practical examples and looks at the different ways that the participants can look after their overall wellbeing. Information about local and national resources and services will also be discussed.
- Dates to be arranged
This training aims to provide a knowledge, skills & understanding on HIV/AIDS, screening, treatment & prevention with an overview of PEP, PrEP & U=U.
- 4 February 2025 – 10.00 to 11.00
- 9 September 2025 – 10.00 to 11.00
- 27 November 2025 – 10.00 to 11.00
This training is aimed at professionals working with young people, who may be delivering sexual health education or advising young client groups.
- 5 February 2025 – 9.30 to 12.30
- 1 May 2025 – 9.30 to 12.30
- 11 September 2025 – 9.30 to 12.30
Making Every Contact Count (MECC)
This training session is focused on Making Every Contact Count (MECC) and will up skill people with the knowledge and ability to enable them to promote healthy lifestyles and positive wellbeing. It focuses on the lifestyle issues that, when addressed, can make the greatest improvement to an individual’s health, including stopping smoking, drinking alcohol only within the recommended limits, healthy eating, being physically active, keeping to a healthy weight and improving mental health and wellbeing. Making Every Contact Count is an approach to behaviour change that utilises the millions of day to day interactions that organisations and individuals have with other people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
- 10 December 2024 – 10.00 to 12.00
- 20 March 2025 – 10.00 to 12.00
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) for Mental Health
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) for Mental Health training has been designed by the Royal Society for Public Health in collaboration with Health Education England and stakeholders across the North of England. The training aims to develop knowledge, skills and confidence to integrate relevant messages and interventions into routine practice and at the end of the programme all participants will receive a certificate of attendance with continuous professional development (CPD) points. This training is aimed at those who are working with individuals, groups or have line management/supervisory responsibilities and wish to gain basic knowledge in relation to MECC for Mental Health. Please note that this training is not appropriate for mental health professionals. The training consists of three sessions and all sessions must be completed in order to complete the course.
- Dates to be arranged
This session will look at what is the Menopause, the facts, signs, symptoms, treatments, different stages of Menopause, timeframes, & how to cope when living with Menopause. We will also look at supporting Menopause in the workplace & share various useful links to support in Northumberland.
- 21 January 2025 – 10.00 to 11.00
- 14 October 2025 – 10.00 to 11.00
- 15 January 2026 – 10.00 to 11.00
This training is for people who want to feel more comfortable talking about money with others and wish to learn more about the relationship between money and health, looking at current trends and local data. We will also explore how to initiate conversations about money and signposting to appropriate services for support, using the Make Every Contact Count (MECC) framework.
- 5 February 2025 – 9.30 to 12.30
Promoting Oral Health Care for Children and Young People
This digital training course will give an introductory overview into the topic of oral health care for children and young people.
Promoting Oral Health Care for Adults and Older People
This digital training course will give an introductory overview into the topic of oral health care for adults and older people.
RSPH Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement
The Understanding Health Improvement course is a Level 2 qualification, accredited by the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH), and the aim of this qualification is to provide candidates with an understanding of the principles of promoting health and wellbeing which will enable them to direct individuals towards further practical support in their efforts to attain a healthier lifestyle. Candidates will learn how effective communication can support health messages, how to promote improvements in the health and wellbeing of others and understand the impact of behaviour change on improving an individual’s health and wellbeing.
The qualification can be delivered via an eLearning course or a half day face to face session. Both options will be followed by a one-hour multiple-choice assessment paper, which must be completed face to face. To attend this course, you must currently be volunteering as a Community Health Champion Supporter with Northumberland County Council. If you are currently volunteering in this role and you would like to access the Understanding Health Improvement course please email healthchampions@northumberland.gov.uk for more details.
Supporting Adults to be at a Healthy Weight, Making Every Contact Count
This training will support you in how to have conversations about weight with an adult outside the healthy weight range. The training includes an overview of unhealthy weight, guidance around healthy eating and physical activity and using making every contact count to have successful conversations around weight.
- 16 January 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 27 March 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 28 April 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 8 July 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 16 October 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
Supporting Children to be at a Healthy Weight, Making Every Contact Count
This training will support you in how to have conversations about weight with parents/carers of a child who is outside the healthy weight range. The training includes an overview of unhealthy weight, guidance around healthy eating and physical activity and using making every contact count to have successful conversations around weight.
- 19 February 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 11 March 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 10 April 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 18 June 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 7 October 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00
- 13 January 2026 – 9.30 to 12.00
This training aims to support practitioners working with families, parents and carers to facilitate age-appropriate discussions around growing up, body changes, puberty, healthy relationships and sexual health. Parents & Carers may request bespoke sessions for this training.
- 11 February 2025 – 10.00 to 12.30
- 15 May 2025 – 10.00 to 12.30
- 12 February 2026 – 10.00 to 12.30
This training will increase participants’ awareness about the dangers of tobacco smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke and provide an update on the use of nicotine vaping products as an aid to quitting. The session will also cover the effects that second-hand smoke has on pets.
- 3 December 2024 – 2.00 to 3.30
- 6 February 2025 – 10.30 to 12.00
- 4 March 2025 – 2.00 to 3.30
Women’s Health : Throughout the Life Cycle
This training will look at the stages of a woman’s life, beginning with menstruation and ending with menopause, and everything women’s health related in between.
- 22 January 2025 – 10.00 to 12.30
- 5 June 2025 – 10.00 to 12.30
- 16 October 2025 – 10.00 to 12.30
Solihull Approach e-courses
Northumberland County Council has partnered with the Solihull Approach to sponsor FREE online courses developed by psychologists and professionals. These courses are designed to help you understand your child’s feelings, as well as focus on your own feelings as you go through life as a family. You will also learn to understand the changes in your child’s development and how to make the most out of each relationship. We wholeheartedly recommend these courses – they are for everyone, for everyday parenting. They don’t tell you how to parent, that’s up to you. Instead, they give you a framework for understanding what might be going on and space to think about how you want to respond. For ALL parents, carers, grandparents and teens. We all need a bit of headspace and thinking time occasionally. From bump to 19+ years. Including adult relationships.
Courses available
- 1a. Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby (Antenatal)
- 1b. Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby: for women couples (Antenatal)
- 2. Understanding your baby (Postnatal)
- 3a. Understanding your child (0-19 years) (Main course)
- 3b. Understanding your child with additional needs (0-19 years) (Main course)
- 4. Understanding your teenager’s brain (Short course)
- 5. Understanding your brain (for teenagers only!) (Short course)
- 6. Understanding your feelings (for teenagers only!) (Short course)
- 7. Understanding your child’s feelings (A taster course)
- 8. Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing (Accompanies 3a. and/or 3b.)
- 9. Understanding your relationships
Age range: Suitable for parents, carers, grandparents and teens
Duration: Flexible
Delivery: Online resources
Further details on how to register for this training can be found on Free Online Courses | Family Hubs (familyhubsnorthumberland.co.uk)
