Senior mental health lead training

About this training

Our online training for senior mental health leads is CPD-accredited and Department for Education-assured. The courses will give you the knowledge and skills to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

They are fully funded by the Department for Education, meaning that eligible schools can attend the training for free.

The majority of our courses are delivered online but we do sometimes offer face-to-face sessions. If you would prefer a face-to-face session you can express your interest or email us at smhl.training@annafreud.org.

Who is this training for?

The training courses are suitable for any staff member who is or will be a senior mental health lead in their setting. This may include:

• Headteachers

• Deputy heads

• SENCOs

• Pastoral leads

• Safeguarding leads

• All others in school leadership positions

All delegates receive a CPD certificate on completion of our courses.

If you're not sure which course to book please use Leeds Beckett University's learning level assessment tool here.

Applying for DfE funding

DfE are now offering a grant of £1,200 for eligible state-funded schools and colleges in England to train a senior mental health lead by 31 March 2025. Please note you must reserve your grant by 31 December 2024.

You may be able to apply for a second grant if your senior mental health lead left before embedding a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing.

How to claim your grant

There are two stages to the DfE application process.

Stage 1

The first stage will check your eligibility and reserve your grant. You will need to provide details of the course you plan to undertake. Our course codes are:  

• SMHL140 for the beginner course (online and face-to-face)  

• SMHL004 for the online intermediate course   

• SMHL130 for the face-to face intermediate course. 

Please note that you don’t need to wait to complete stage one of the application before booking our courses, but you will need to cancel your place or cover the training fee if you are not eligible for the funding.

Please note you must also reserve your grant by 31 December 2024.

Stage 2

The second stage is where you will need to provide evidence of the course you are booked on to. You can use our booking confirmation email or invoice as evidence for this.

The remaining grant amount can be used for supply cover should you need to backfill your mental health lead whilst undertaking training.

Please note this stage must be completed by 31 January 2025 to claim your grant.