MHFAEngland – Jane James's Consultancy Limited

What does quality mean?

20 Oct 2020Jane James1 Comment

I’m thinking in the field of training.

Is accreditation important? To know a specific level of learning has been met and that an industry body endorses the training.

Is it. more important to do a course that is more well-known but unaccredited just giving a Certificate of Attendance?

Does it matter so long as some learning has been achieved?

Well, these were the questions I have grappled with over the years (more than 10!) that I have been a Mental Health First Aid Instructor with MHFAEngland.

You’ll see from my earlier posts ‘Learning together…..virtually’ and ‘The benefits of virtual learning’ I did something about it and re-trained.

It’s a great feeling to be able to deliver five new accredited courses for First Aider in Mental Health at three levels and the excellent Managing and Promoting Mental Health and WELLbeing & Understanding and Promoting Mental Health and WELLbeing.

It’s kind of seemed unreal until I received my certificates from FAA today!

Below is the kind of accredited certificate delegates receive so they know they’ve achieved a certain level of qualification regulated by Ofqual and SQA in Scotland.

I feel really proud to have done this training and succeeded in the challenges I set myself. No matter how much self-doubt you may have to make a change, the only thing to fear is fear itself.

I can hardly wait to start delivering these courses virtually!

World Mental Health Day – 10 October 2016

28 Oct 201628 Oct 2016Jane JamesLeave a comment

This year I attended an event hosted by EY led by MHFAEngland where they launched their new Instructor’s pack, new branding – including logo – and vision for the future. The audience were fellow Instructors across MHFAEngland’s core product offering – Standard, Youth and Armed Forces MHFA.

It was great to see a video message from global leaders in the field of Mental Health First Aid and know what we are doing really does make a difference.

The stats on courses run in England look promising too:

115,294 – Standard 24,259 – Youth 7,782 – Armed Forces

So the word is clearly spreading……………..

The theme for the day was ‘Take 10 to Talk’. Shouldn’t this be part of our DNA everyday? Let’s start noticing those around us and spotting those subtle, early changes to start a conversation.

MHFAEngland’s vision:

Train 1 in 10 people in Mental Health First Aid

Ensure business and communities see Mental Health on parity with Physical Health

For everyone to seek help for mental health issues without fear of discrimination

Interesting to see Norman Lamb MP is setting in motion the beginning legal journey to make mental health a partity with physical health within all businesses.

Now, wouldn’t that be something?

What do you think?

Should businesses be made to have trained Mental Health First Aiders?

‘I’m finally a working man again’, Alenchenu

4 Jun 20154 Jun 2015Jane JamesLeave a comment

Alenchenu, without even knowing it, is sitting next to his future boss! Taken from the Employers’ Selection & Assessment day for Growing Talent 5 on 24 April. He’s in the electric blue shirt with Pauline of Mitie Total Document Solutions on his left. Pauline manages the Service Solution desk for Mitie at PwC’s prestigious offices in Embankment Place. She was impressed with Alenchenu’s style of communicating. He listened to the questions and answered with passion.

Alenchenu is a giant of a man with a heart full of passion and empathy for others. With a Pastor father, he is used to travelling to new congregations and joined Growing Talent to secure a steady job to give him independence. Alenchenu’s passion for others showed in the Social Enterprise idea he devised and presented with his team partner Shennell. Through his father’s work, Alenchenu had supported vulnerable people in deaing with any issues they had. This shone through his presentation. Although in his own words he ‘waffled’ a little. Alenchenu thought this was a bad thing, but acutally it showed how important what he spoke about was to him.

Alenchenu practising his presentation skills ahead of his Social Enterprise presentation with Shennell………..entitled ‘Bridge to Society’, a supportive return to the worlds of work and community for those leaving prison life.

Judges above left to right were Jo from JobCentre Plus, Jordan ex Growing Talent now Executive Host for Portico, Patti – Pertemps, Jon – PwC, Gillian – MHFAEngland, Simon – Portico and Chloe – Iron Mountain.

The Social Enterprise presentations saw the end of the Orientation Week. On Tuesday 5 May, Alenchenu and his peers went on site to learn the vacant roles in situ. Working with the Rapid Response team Alenchenu’s role entails the collection and delivery of high value/critical documentation and goods. Responsible for accurate tracking and dealing with any issues as they arise.

Alenchenu’s dedication paid off! Just a few short weeks in, he’s been employed! It’s a shame he’ll miss the holistic week but Alenchenu aims to catch-up with the guys later. With his steady income, Alenchenu is going to focus on education in his ultimate field of passion – robotic prosthetics.

Seen below in Service Solutions, Alenchenu’s story is just beginning……………..