MIND Learning and Development Department

Learning and Development Department
"Learning and Developing Together"

MIND in Exeter and East Devon Limited
The Haven, 32 - 34 High Street, Honiton, Devon EX14 1PU
T: 01404 42548 or 01404 42343 (General Office) F: 01404 42243
E: training@mindeastdevon.org.uk W: www.mindex.org.uk

we are a UK Registered Learning Provider 10021022
click to visit the UKLRP website

The History of Learning and Development within MIND:
The Training Team is part of MIND in Exeter and East Devon Ltd. It was set up in 2000, as part of a return to work scheme, to deliver Mental Health Awareness workshops to promote awareness.
In 2003, the original project worker left and the new project worker took the training project on as part of a “Links” project and continued facilitating sessions and enlarging the training team from 1 service user to the whole team being either service users or survivors. The Project Worker also started a period of evaluating the workshop which led to a move away from the medical model to the recovery approach which was being adopted, at the time, within Devon. The team also started taking the workshop out to organisations and delivered sessions to Magic Carpet and Coldharbour Mill. The team also linked in with the Joan of Arc Project
From 2003 to 2006, MIND supported a member of its training team, Richard Brabrook, to gain the Part A and B Open College Networks’ Training the Trainer Level 3 certificates. Having completed these, Richard went on to take the City and Guilds 7407 Certificate in Further Education Teaching, the A1 Assessors Award and a Supervision Skills course which mean that Richard is qualified to write, deliver, assess and supervise workshops and courses.
In 2004, Richard and a member of MIND devised the Wellness Recovery Action Plan course for service users and a Supporters WRAP workshop, all based on the WRAP programme devised by Mary Ellen Copeland in America. Richard then went on and created a 1 hour introduction to the WRAP. The WRAP Workshop was delivered many groups in Devon, before a request came from the Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust to deliver several WRAP workshops for mixed groups of staff, service users and carers. The workshops went so well that the Trust asked us to create and deliver a 2 day facilitators course to enable some staff to deliver the WRAP to small groups of people.
In 2005, the training team started discussing a follow-on Mental Health Awarneness workshop that would look more at the history and theoretical side with more on approaches, models and diagnosis.
In 2006, the 2nd project worker retired and Richard Brabrook, who used to be a service user and a member of MIND, took over the lead for training. The project was renamed as “MIND Training” with a tag line of Learning and Developing Together. This was later changed to meet the changing needs of the workforce to the “Learning and Development Department”.
The training team has now increased to 10 trainers who now deliver the workshops outside of our venues for neighbouring Statutory, Voluntary and Community groups and organisations.

The range of workshops and courses has increased and we now offer: Mental Health Awareness Workshop Exploring Mental Health Workshop Coping with and Reducing Stress Workshop Maintaining Wellness Workshop Maintaining Wellness Course Introduction to the Wellness Recovery Action Plan Workshop Wellness Recovery Action Plan Workshop Wellness Recovery Action Plan Course Wellness Recovery Action Plan Facilitators Course Challenging Stigma and Discrimination
During 2007, we held a competition to design a new logo to replace the outdated one that we had been using. We also: attained UK Registered Learning Provider Status started applying for Learning Skills Council tenders created a return to work programme and identified placements for participants designed an Intentional Peer Support 2 day course followed by a 12 month support group helped with the delivery of a keynote presentation at the University of Hertfordshire’s Recovery Conference and the Support Time and Recovery Symposia decided that as an organisation, we needed to meet the new teaching requirements under the QTLS or ATLS as appropriate through the Institute for Learning.
The project is growing from strength to strength and as well as delivering course and workshops, we support members of the training team to gain their level 3 teaching certificates and during 2007, we supported 3 members of the training team to do this
One of our other roles is to provide signposting and guidance to both service users and carers on any learning and development need from identifying courses and workshops that they can attend, identifying reduced fees and opportunities and options for the individual.
Another role is to identify and either provide, host or find others who can meet the personal and professional learning and development needs of the organisations staff.
The future looks strong with lots of opportunities opening to promote mental health, recovery, signposting and networking enabling people connected with mental health to gain as well as reduce the stigma and discrimination that are around in society.

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