Qualification specification

FAA Level 2 award in First Aid for Mental Health (RQF)

Overview

Each year approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health condition and at least 1 in 6 employees experience common mental health problems in the workplace. With this in mind, Welsh Government requested that HEIW make available First Aid for Mental Health training, sufficient to train one person in every community pharmacy in Wales, in order to equip the pharmacy workforce with the skills and tools needed to recognise and support colleagues and patients who may be struggling with their mental health. There will also be a number of training places available for pharmacy professionals in teams across other areas of the NHS.

Core structure and format

A 6 hour (one-day course) - available face-to-face or online. Face-to-face courses will be available across Wales, from March 2023 to March 2024 and will be released on a 3-monthly basis. There will be training courses available in every Health Board in a variety of locations.

Course content

This qualification provides learners with the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions, how to start a supportive conversation and when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help. Learners will know how to recognise and manage stress and understand the impact of substance abuse. They will learn about the first aid action plan for mental health, be able to put it in place and know how to implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace. Learners will not diagnose or treat mental health conditions but will gain the knowledge to identify when a person may require support and know where they can go to get help.

Eligibility

The course is designed for community pharmacy workers (although there are a number of places reserved for pharmacy professionals in teams in other areas of the NHS – please contact HEIW if you are interested). We can accommodate one person from every community pharmacy in Wales to attend this training course – please do not register for this course if you know another member of your pharmacy team is attending, unless you have asked permission from HEIW.

This course is suitable for:

• Any person with a patient-facing role (you do not have to be a pharmacist or pharmacy technician)
• Endorsement or permission from manager or senior member of organisation
• Ideally working for the majority of the working week
• Passionate about promoting good mental health
• Empathetic and caring personality
• Committed to attending the one-training day

Register for the course

If eligible, complete steps 1 and 2 to register for the course.

1. Please complete this short form to provide your personal details and any dietary requirements: First Aid for Mental Health training registration form
2. Please choose your preferred venue and date by clicking on the following link. There are face-to-face and online courses available: First Aid for Mental Health training links

Registration closes two weeks before the start date.

For more information on how HEIW uses personal information, please see the privacy policy

Cancellation policy

If you have received confirmation of a place on this course and then wish to withdraw, written notification must be received at least one week prior to the beginning of the course, unless extenuating circumstances apply.

Further information

If you have any further queries about the course including learning outcomes, please access the following link: NUCO-L2-FA Mental-Health

For all other queries, contact the HEIW Pharmacy Team: HEIW.CommissionedProgrammes@wales.nhs.uk

Registration closes two weeks before the start date.