Postgraduate Diploma

School Mental Health Specialist

The course will adopt a public mental health, sociological, approach to mental wellbeing and will provide students working in schools and colleges with a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of evidence-based strategies to support children.

 School Mental Health Specialist

Course Overview

  • Attendance


    Part Time
  • Duration


    2 years
  • Dates


    September 2021
  • Venue


    Online
  • Cost


    £7,750

Having a qualified mental health specialist on the staff team is a highly-effective way to help the young people in your setting to thrive. This unique school-based training programme is aligned with school processes and means that participants will be making a difference to their schools from the moment they start this course.

During this course you will:

  • Develop specialist knowledge in the emerging area of public mental health drawn from the very latest evidence and research
  • Understand how to promote protective factors for good mental health and wellbeing
  • Join a network of School Mental Health Specialists committed to equality and social justice
  • Develop the confidence to improve the mental health of young people in your setting

Adopting a public mental health and sociological approach, you will apply all learning to your own school or college context. You will develop new knowledge and practice in applying sociological, evidence-based mental health support strategies in your setting. Your work will focus on the issues most common in schools and colleges so that you can assess and deliver evidence-based strategies.

You will learn how to work in partnership with your staff, students and their families effectively so that plans for interventions and support are agreed and outcomes are set which can be evaluated.

As part of this postgraduate structured development programme, you will be supervised throughout the two years. Supervision provides the opportunity to discuss your work, deepen your understanding and support effective practice.

You will also have a learning mentor, either your school’s senior lead for mental health or another member of the Senior Leadership Team throughout the time you are studying. 

Contact the teaching team from Minds Ahead, our partner organisation which helps deliver the course, to find out more about how we can help you improve the mental health of your pupils.

Running a special academy which serves children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs, makes it clear to me that we need new and informed training routes into working in mental health in schools. I am pleased that Minds Ahead are working to develop the School Mental Health Specialist and I am delighted to be a part of the group designing this new qualification.

Scott Jacques Executive Headteacher, Springwell Academy

enquire about this course