DfE - Senior Mental Health Lead Training - BSW (from 2021) 

These courses are available for schools in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) area.

BSW Together is an integrated care system (ICS) made up of NHS and local authority organisations working together. 

B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire Councils provide this course, that has been assessed as meeting the required quality criteria to deliver the DfE grant funded senior mental health lead training for schools and colleges. 

If you have already booked on the BSW course, you don't need to apply for another course (using the national DfE course finder), even if prompted when you apply for your grant. 

Between September 2021 and March 2023, the DfE have offered 2/3 of schools or colleges in England a grant for training to help the lead develop or introduce a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. Further funding is expected after this period up to 2025.  

Taking a coordinated and evidence-informed approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges leads to improved pupil and student emotional health and wellbeing which can help readiness to learn.

The grant is a contribution to the cost of training and the hiring of supply staff whilst leads are engaged in learning.

This is part of a range of government funded mental health support for schools and colleges that also includes:

  • Wellbeing for education recovery
  • The Link Programme
  • Relationships, health and sex education (RHSE) training module
  • Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)
  • Psychological first aid training

How to obtain your grant of £1200

Book on an assured course (for example the one for BSW @ £160) 

Keep evidence of booking, which must be supplied on request*

Apply for you grant here - you can now claim for courses starting by 31st March 2023. 

*Schools booking the BSW course will need to provide proof of booking which will need to quote:

  • Course code: SMHL001
  • Provider: Bath & North East Somerset Council
  • Course Title: Senior Mental Health Leadership in B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire
  • Price: £160

This will be sent to you by your contact at B&NES, Swindon or Wiltshire Council following your booking. 

Course dates

The cost of this course is £160

The next course is now available to book and will take place on

2022 (Cohort 3) 

Session 1. Full day: Wednesday 28th September 2022.  9am-5pm (online). 

Session 2: Half day: Wednesday 8th February 2023. 9am-12:30pm (online).

2023 (Cohort 4) 

Session 1. Full day: Wednesday 18th January 2023.  9am-5pm (online). 

Session 2: Half day: Thursday 18th May 2023. 9am-12:30pm (online).

Previous dates - booking closed

2022 (cohort 2)

Session 1. Full day: Thursday 20th January 2022 (online).

Session 2. Half day follow up: Thursday 23rd June 2022. 9am-12:30pm (online).

2021 (Cohort 1)

Session 1. Full day: Wednesday 10th November 2021. 9am-5pm (online).

Session 2: Half day follow up: Wednesday 23rd March 2022. 9am-12:30pm (online).

Course content

By the end of the course, you will have:

  • Understood the role of the Senior Mental Health Lead
  • Explored personal attitudes and values and examined local data
  • Identified those issues pertinent to the pupils in your school and be able to plan to meet these
  • Gained confidence to embed a whole school approach to mental health in school
  • Considered services and provisions within the Local Authority

Course booking details and inks for schools in BSW

B&NES Schools: https://thehub.bathnes.gov.uk/Page/20766 

Swindon Schools: Booking link 

Flyer with contact details

Wiltshire Schools:  

Senior Mental Health Leadership - Wiltshire, B&NES & Swindon (On-line live) | Right Choice 28th Sept 2022

Senior Mental Health Leadership - Wiltshire, B&NES & Swindon (Online live) | Right Choice 18th Jan 2023

Local contacts

  • B&NES: Clare Laker (Public Health Development and Commissioning Manager, Bath and North East Somerset Council) Clare_Laker@BATHNES.GOV.UK 

  • Swindon: Surbdeep Rai (Healthy Schools Programme Manager, Swindon Borough Council) SRai@swindon.gov.uk  

Further information from the DfE