Multi agency training

The job of the multi-agency training co-ordinator is to organise and deliver child and adolescent mental health training for people working with children, young people and their families.

The service

This service is offered by two long standing CAMHS nurses, Deborah Williams-Jones and Graham Bell-Palmer who job share the role of Training Co-ordinator. The service has a secretary, Lynne Bailey, and is based at Centenary House in Upperthorpe.

The training days are provided free of charge and are held at two venues near Hillsborough. The emphasis of the training is upon development and application of child and adolescent mental health awareness and skills.

The training is structured around a two day “Introduction To Children’s Mental Health” and then a series of more focused specialist days.

Although it is not compulsory for people to take part in the two day course before the specialist days, it does help a great deal, as this offers a number of fundamental concepts and working models.

Training is available to all those working in education, social services, health and the voluntary sector. We are very aware that this diversity of backgrounds lends an important aspect to the training. The shared experience, knowledge and the contribution of participants is a major factor in continued success of these days.

Specialist days

Some of the specialist days are :-

• Autistic Spectrum Disorder and the Looked After Child
• ADHD and the Looked after Child
• Building attachment and promoting resilience
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Early psychosis in young people
• ADHD and youth offending
• Self-harming behaviour in children and young people
• Mental health and learning disability in children and young people
• Eating disorders in children and young people
• Bereavement and loss in children and young people 

A full listing of topics and dates can be downloaded here.

Last year over 500 people attended either the introductory or specialist days and this year the numbers are set to rise.

These training days are constantly evaluated and developed based on participant feedback and developing research and we hope offer a good and enjoyable way to learn about children's mental health.

A large number of professionals both from within CAMHS and from the wider mental health community are involved in the delivery of these sessions. This includes those who have a specific interest in an area or those have developed a level of expertise in a problem or area of work. This leads to people talking about areas which they are both knowledgable and passionate about.