http://www.nimhe.csip.org.uk/ default description en-gb   MHFA Instructor Training Course InformationThe training course to become an approved MHFA Instructor consists of seven days training over a five or six week period. The training is split into three parts - two days to experience the course, three "development" days, and two "assessment" days. There is a one or two week gap between each part.All trainee instructors are required to attend the first two days training, whether they have attended an MHFA course before or not. This is to experience the course delivered by members of the National Training Team, and to start building rapport with the other instructors in their cohort. It is actually an advantage to have experienced the course twice, as all courses are different, with different instructor styles, some differences in exercises, and, of course, different participants.At the end of Day 2 instructors are allocated a "mentor", who will be one of the two National Training Team trainers on that cohort, and who will have one to one sessions with them on the Development and Assessment Days, and who will provide ongoing support. Each instructor is also allocated a "facilitation task" which they are required to carry out on one of the three Development Days. At this stage instructors will start completing a portfolio of evidence, which they will add to throughout the training period.The three Development Days provide an opportunity for instructors to get to know the training materials in more depth, practise their presentation and facilitation skills, and get some feedback from their mentor. As well as each instructor delivering their facilitation task, there are a series of plenary sessions, where members of the National Training Team and invited external speakers run sessions designed to broaden and deepen instructors' understanding. These cover topics such as adult learning styles, group work, practical training issues, and also mental health topics such as dual diagnosis and recovery.After another break for reflection and preparation, instructors are asked to deliver a half hour section of the MHFA course during the two Assessment Days. They then receive feedback both from trainers and peers, as well as making an assessment of their own competences and development needs.Following the seven day training course, instructors will know their individual development needs, and will usually be asked to arrange and deliver their first two MHFA courses. If the feedback from participants on these two courses is of an acceptable standard, their mentor will sign them off as approved MHFA instructors, and they will receive a certificate of competence.The normal expectation of new instructors is that they will deliver four MHFA courses in the 12 months following approval, and continue to deliver two courses per year in the second and subsequent years, to maintain their accreditation. There is also an expectation that all instructors will attend an annual learning, networking and development event. Mon, 8 Jun 2009 15:30:07 +0100 http://www.nimhe.csip.org.uk/~mhfa/downloads/instructor-training-explained.html http://www.nimhe.csip.org.uk/~mhfa/downloads/instructor-training-explained.html