Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL) training

Course Outcomes

Successful completion of this course will give you the skills to implement and sustain a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to implement an effective whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing as the Designated Mental Health Lead in your setting. 

By the end of this course, you will: 

• Have created a plan to develop, implement and sustain a whole-school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing that is tailored to your school’s needs
• Have put in place strategies to identify, understand and overcome resistance, and bring key stakeholders with you
• Be able to work with staff, families and local services to understand the mental health and wellbeing issues that could be impacting on behaviour and attendance to improve outcomes for children and young people, and to ensure that the setting’s policies reflect this
• Have had the opportunity to reflect on personal development needs and put in place plans to be effective in the role. 

The learning outcomes align with Public Health England’s eight principles for promoting a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

Press play below to find out what to expect from Mental Health Lead training

Who is it for?

This course is ideal for newly appointed Mental Health Leads, or existing leads that haven't yet completed this training within primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and special schools.

Schools and colleges can decide who is best placed to take on the role of Senior Mental Health Lead and undertake the training.

Training could be for your:

• Headteacher
• Deputy headteacher
• Newly appointed or existing Mental Health Lead
• SENCO
• Member of the senior leadership team (SLT)
• If not in leadership, an appropriate member of staff who is empowered to develop and oversee your setting’s whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing.

No previous qualifications are required to take this course. All delegates who successfully complete this course will receive a Thrive certificate and a £100 Thrive training voucher*, plus free access to Thrive's Senior Leader Network.

Apply for DfE funding

You're highly likely to be accepted for DfE funding if you’re a state school or college in England that hasn’t already accessed the funding and have a commitment from the senior leadership team to develop a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

Second grants are also available to settings if the Senior Mental Health Lead that was previously trained left before embedding a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing.

The reference code for this course is SMHL068 - you will need this code as part of your grant application.  

31st December 2024 is the deadline for submitting part 1 of your application. Grants can't be reserved after this date. For more information and to apply for DfE funding, click here.  

Please note that when booking this course Thrive will invoice your setting. 

Self-funding is available if you don’t meet the requirements of the grant. Simply scroll down to find a suitable date and you can book straight onto the course.

What you'll learn

Unique in its focus on neuroscience, auditing and action planning, this DfE approved Senior Mental Health Lead training will teach you:

• The current context surrounding the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and adults working in UK educational settings.
• How mental health and wellbeing impact behaviour and attainment.
• How to better understand and respond to the challenges young people face today.
• How to effectively assess your school or college’s current mental health and wellbeing provision.
• How to develop a clear plan for improvement via a practical, sustainable long-term mental health and wellbeing strategy for the whole setting.

Course structure

Quality-assured, interactive training is delivered over 5 weeks:

• 30 minute pre-course session
• 4 x live 3-hour webinars
• Access to all materials via e-learning
• Personalised guidance and support

Dates and times

Browse our upcoming courses below. To see the dates and times of each individual session, click the eye icon that says ‘click for more details’.