At Glenelg Support, we are committed to the well-being of both the individuals we support and our dedicated staff teams. In line with our ongoing commitment to creating a positive, supportive work environment, we are proud to share that we have been offering First Aid for Mental Health training to our staff members.
This initiative is in place to equip our team with the knowledge and skills to recognize the signs of mental health challenges and offer initial support to colleagues and those we support. By empowering our staff with these essential skills, we have enhanced our ability to provide a safe, understanding, and compassionate environment for everyone involved.
Maria Steele, Training and Development Manager at Glenelg Support, has earned a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor qualification. This certification enables her to offer training up to Level 6, including the First Aid for Mental Health Leaders Level 6. As a result, we now offer an accredited RQF qualification, with training available at Level 2 for our staff.
Maria said ‘We started offering First Aid for Mental Health training in 2019. Initially we offered this to our senior management team, since then we’ve delivered the training to 42 members of our staff, and currently offer the training to anyone who manages people. We will be increasing the number of people trained further throughout 2025 with 4 further sessions already scheduled.’.
The First Aid for Mental Health training is a comprehensive program designed to help participants identify and respond to mental health issues. This includes anxiety, depression, stress, suicide and self-harm. The training also offers signposting to professional help and support. It fosters a culture of care, ensuring that staff members feel supported in addressing mental health concerns both professionally and personally.
“We believe that investing in the mental health of our team is just as important as supporting the people we care for.” said John Pumford, Business and Operations Manager. “By offering this training to all staff, we are building a stronger, more resilient organization where everyone feels valued and equipped to manage mental health challenges effectively.”
At Glenelg Support, we understand that mental health is an ongoing journey, and this training is one step in our broader mission to foster a culture of wellness, empathy, and support. We are proud to be a leader in promoting mental health awareness and providing tools that empower our staff to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around them.
Maria now holds a permanent presence in our new training facility, offering a range of resources to provide guidance. These include books, informational keyrings, soothing kits, safe self-harm kits, flyers and handbooks from mental health charities, and more. The collection has expanded to include a small staff library, where employees can borrow donated books free of charge.
Maria maintains her mental health resource table in our training facility.
We look forward to continuing to support our team and those we care for through this vital initiative.
For guidance on mental health support, further advice can be found via the Mind website here.