Kate O`Hara and Kevin Heffernan programme specialists at the West Midlands regional development centre are coordinating and delivering a developmental programme between NHS West Midlands Health Trainer services and West Midlands IAPT services. The package has been developed from pilot work with two participating areas in the West Midlands and provides tried and tested methodologies.
What does the package provide?
A 2 day development programme where representatives from HT and IAPT/Primary Care Mental Health Services within two localities are brought together to:

•    develop ways of working together proactively with agreed principles, tools and approaches, utilising a threshold approach.
•    get to know each other and understand each others services and expectations
•    agree and produce an action plan

A 1 day consolidation day where representatives from areas who have participated in the development programme come back together to review progress, share developments and plan next steps.

2 day Mental Health First Aid awareness raising programme.

Signing up to the Development Programme will also provide Health Trainer Services with free MHFA training. 

Expected Outcomes of the programme;

•    Health Trainers and IAPT/PCMH staff have a good and increased understanding of each others service and have agreed ways for working together within a realistic framework.

•    Health Trainers feel confident to support clients with mental well-being issues and where necessary to access PCMH/IAPT services appropriately.

•    Consistent mental health awareness level across the Health Trainer Services in the West Midlands

•    Shared practice, development and innovation across Health Trainer and IAPT/PCMH in the West Midlands.