Health Improvement Training (HIT) Programme

Please find details of our training courses below. All courses are currently delivered over Microsoft Teams, unless otherwise stated. Please also see the attached document which gives further details on all of our courses. Please note that if you want to attend any training you will need to get approval from your line manager first.

Places on our courses must be booked through the online platform Learning Together, and you can book a place by clicking on the course title which will take you directly to the Learning Together page for that course where you can log in and sign up. You can also search Learning Together for our courses, just enter (HIT) in the ‘search for courses’ box and this will bring up a list of all of the courses we deliver. Please remember to include the brackets.

Please go to ncc.learningpool.com to log in or create an account and if you need any assistance to register, please contact learningandod@northumberland.gov.uk. For any general queries please email healthimprovement@northumberland.gov.uk.

Please note : to be eligible to attend our free courses you must either live or work in Northumberland and we reserve the right to reject or charge for applications from anyone who does not meet this criteria

Adult Mental Health Awareness

This training aims to increase basic knowledge and understanding of mental health including the causes, symptoms and support options for adults. The risk and protective factors of mental health will be explored and there will be an opportunity for attendees will be split into small groups so that they can practice the skills of how to have conversations with someone about mental health. This training will explore the different ways that the participants can look after their wellbeing using the Five Ways to Wellbeing approach.  Information about local and national resources and services will also be discussed. 

  • 16 January 2024 – 1.00 to 4.30 
  • 8 February 2024 – 1.00 to 4.30 
  • 7 March 2024 – 1.00 to 4.30 
  • 16 May 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 18 July 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 12 September 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 10 December 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 25 February 2025 – 1.00 to 4.00 

Youth Mental Health Awareness

This training aims to increase basic knowledge and understanding of mental health including the causes, symptoms and support options for children and young people. The risk and protective factors of mental health will be explored and there will be an opportunity for attendees will be split into small groups so that they can practice the skills of how to have conversations with someone about mental health. This training will explore the different ways that the participants can look after their wellbeing using the Five Ways to Wellbeing approach.  Information about local and national resources and services will also be discussed.  

  • 11 January 2024 – 1.00 to 4.30 
  • 13 February 2024 – 1.00 to 4.30 
  • 12 March 2024 – 1.00 to 4.30
  • 25 April 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 9 July 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 5 September 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 10 October 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 23 January 2025 – 1.00 to 4.00

Ageing Well Allies

This training provides information and insight into the potential health and social concerns and barriers people can face as they grow older with the aim of keeping them active, connected and well in their communities. 
 

  • 17 January 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00

Alcohol Awareness, Making Every Contact Count

This training will give participants basic knowledge and understanding in relation to alcohol use.  Participants will gain an understanding of a range of alcohol, as well as the effects on the individual.  This training will look at some of the reasons people consume alcohol and also the effect substance use has on communities.  

More dates to be arranged – in the meantime you may wish to contact SORTED, the Young Peoples Drug & Alcohol Service, on 01670 536400 or email northumberlandadolescentservices@northumberland.gov.uk as they may have similar courses available.

Basic Drugs Awareness

This training will give participants basic knowledge and understanding in relation to substance use and participants will gain an understanding of a range of drugs, as well as the effects on the individual.  We will look at the difference in terms of stimulant, depressant and hallucinogenic drugs.  This training will look at some of the reasons people use drugs and also the effect substance use has on communities. 

More dates to be arranged – in the meantime you may wish to contact SORTED, the Young Peoples Drug & Alcohol Service, on 01670 536400 or email northumberlandadolescentservices@northumberland.gov.uk as they may have similar courses available.

Basic Suicide Awareness

This training aims to increase basic knowledge and understanding in relation to suicide in England and gives an overview of suicide globally, nationally and locally.  Whilst highlighting key warning signs, risk and protective factors, we will also look how to respond in a crisis situation.  Appropriate referral routes and signposting will also be discussed.   

  • 1 February 2024 – 1.00 to 4.30 
  • 14 March 2024 – 1.00 to 4.30
  • 30 April 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 6 June 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 10 September 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 19 November 2024 – 1.00 to 4.00 
  • 28 January 2025 – 1.00 to 4.00

Child Safety and Accident Prevention

The purpose of this training is to understand the importance of reducing childhood accidents, to gain a thorough understanding of the main causes of accidents in England and Northumberland, and how to integrate this knowledge into practice.  The training will also cover childhood accidents and development, signposting, and childhood illness.  

  • 18 April 2024 – 1.00 to 3.30 
  • 4 June 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00 
  • 9 September 2024 – 1.00 to 3.30 
  • 11 December 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00 
  • 4 February 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00 

Community Health Champions Prevention

Would you like to know more about health and wellbeing and how to support people to live a healthier lifestyle? The Community Health Champions course is ideal for those who would like to know more about how people can make positive changes to their lifestyle to improve their health and wellbeing, by raising awareness of health, healthier choices and sharing health messages.  The training offers practical tools and skills to enable you to pass on key health and wellbeing messages to clients, colleagues, friends and family and signpost people into services that will help them live a healthier lifestyle. You will receive handouts, leaflets, information and links to services which can support people who wish to make lifestyle changes.  The training is particularly suited to individuals who have an interest in health and wellbeing and whose current employer or volunteering organisation is interested in allowing them to train and promote health and wellbeing messages within their current role.  

Training compromises of 7 online sessions, delivered over a 4-week period. The first is a 2-hour session which will be your induction, followed by six 1-hour bitesize sessions covering a range of health-related topics. You will be expected to complete all 7 sessions to become a Community Health Champion and gain access to the RSPH Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement. 

  • More dates to be arranged 

Dementia Awareness

This training session will increase knowledge and understanding of Dementia and Alzheimer’s, develop understanding of the common features/behaviours for people with memory loss and look into ways we can best support someone with memory loss.  The training is designed to help workers, paid carers and volunteers feel more comfortable with this client group and better equipped to meet their individual needs. 

  • More dates to be arranged 

Falls Prevention

This training will allow individuals to pass on key messages around the prevention of falls to older people living in the community.  

  • More dates to be arranged 

Food and Mood

This training aims to provide an overview of how our diet can affect our physical and mental wellbeing. The relationship between food and the gut microbiome and immune system will be explored. The training provides evidence-based dietary guidelines, practical examples and looks at the different ways that the participants can look after their overall wellbeing. Information about local and national resources and services will also be discussed. 

  • 5 March 2024 – 1.00 to 3.30

HIV/AIDS Awareness

This training aims to provide a knowledge and skills update on specific sexually transmitted infections, understanding HIV/AIDS, STI screening & U=U.  

  • 8 February 2024 – 10.00 to 11.00
  • 28 November 2024 – 10.00 to 11.00 
  • 4 February 2025 – 10.00 to 11.00

How to Have a Conversation with Children about Weight

This training will support you in how to have a conversation with children or parents/carers/guardians of children who may be outside the healthy weight range. The training will include a brief overview of why and how many children are outside the healthy weight range and hints and tips on how to start having a conversation around weight using the 3A’s model.  

  • More dates to be arranged

Introduction to Sexual Health

This training is aimed at anyone who works with young people aged under 25 and is in a position of either delivering sexual health education or advising young client groups.  This training must be completed prior to attending the C-Card training delivered by the Northumbria Healthcare Sexual Health Service or have been completed within the last 3 years.

  • 7 February 2024 – 9.30 to 12.30 
  • 18 September 2024 – 9.30 to 12.30 
  • 27 November 2024 – 9.30 to 12.30 
  • 5 February 2025 – 9.30 to 12.30

Making Every Contact Count (MECC)

This training session is focused on Making Every Contact Count (MECC) and will up skill people with the knowledge and ability to enable them to promote healthy lifestyles and positive wellbeing.  It focuses on the lifestyle issues that, when addressed, can make the greatest improvement to an individual’s health, including stopping smoking, drinking alcohol only within the recommended limits, healthy eating, being physically active, keeping to a healthy weight and improving mental health and wellbeing.  Making Every Contact Count is an approach to behaviour change that utilises the millions of day to day interactions that organisations and individuals have with other people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing. 

  • 7 March 2024 – 10.00 to 12.00 

Menopause Awareness

This session will look at what is the Menopause, the facts, signs, symptoms, treatments, different stages of Menopause, timeframes, & how to cope when living with Menopause. We will also look at supporting Menopause in the workplace & share various useful links to support in Northumberland.  

  • 18 June 2024 – 10.00 to 11.00
  • 17 October 2024 – 10.00 to 11.00
  • 21 January 2025 – 10.00 to 11.00

Money and Wellbeing

This training is for people who want to feel more comfortable talking about money with others and wish to learn more about the relationship between money and health, looking at current trends and local data.  We will also explore how to initiate conversations about money and signposting to appropriate services for support, using the Make Every Contact Count (MECC) framework.

  • 25 January 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00 
  • 9 April 2024 – 1.00 to 3.30 
  • 10 July 2024 –  9.30 to 12.00
  • 4 November 2024  1.00 to 3.30

5 February 2025  9.30 to 12.30

Overweight and Obesity in Adults, Making Every Contact Count

This training aims to offer you age related guidance and resources so you can have conversations to help address weight concerns specifically in overweight or obese adults. 

  • 1 February 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00  
  • 27 March 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00  
  • 6 June 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00  
  • 24 September 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00  
  • 16 January 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00

Overweight and Obesity in Children, Making Every Contact Count

This training offers age related guidance and resources to enable you to have conversations with the parent/carers of children and young people.  The training offers a practical framework for supporting behaviour change and will enable you to undertake conversations focusing on healthy lifestyle changes for families and children including healthy eating, physical activity and an understanding of childhood obesity. 

  • 21 February 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00
  • 9 April 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00  
  • 26 June 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00  
  • 12 September 2024 – 9.30 to 12.00  
  • 19 February 2025 – 9.30 to 12.00 

Promoting Oral Health Care for Children and Young People

This digital training course will give an introductory overview into the topic of oral health care for children and young people.   

Promoting Oral Health Care for Adults and Older People

This digital training course will give an introductory overview into the topic of oral health care for adults and older people.   

RSPH Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement

The Understanding Health Improvement course is a Level 2 qualification, accredited by the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH).  The aim of this qualification is to provide candidates with an understanding of the principles of promoting health and wellbeing and enable them to direct individuals towards further practical support in their efforts to attain a healthier lifestyle. It covers examples of inequalities in health within the UK, their possible causes and current approaches to tackling these inequalities. Candidates will learn how effective communication can support health messages, how to promote improvements in the health and wellbeing of others and understand the impact of behaviour change on improving an individual’s health and wellbeing.  This qualification is delivered via a full day face to face session at County Hall in Morpeth, followed by a one-hour multiple-choice assessment paper. 

  • More dates to be arranged

Supporting Parents and Carers to Facilitate Conversations around Growing Up, Puberty, Sex & Relationships

This training aims to support practitioners working with families, parents and carers to facilitate age-appropriate discussions around growing up, body changes, puberty, healthy relationships and sexual health.  

  • 13 February 2024 – 10.00 to 12.30 
  • 17 September 2024 – 10.00 to 12.30 
  • 11 February 2025 – 10.00 to 12.30

Tobacco and Nicotine Vaping

This training will increase participants’ awareness about the dangers of tobacco smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke and provide an update on the use of nicotine vaping products as an aid to quitting.  The session will also cover the effects that second-hand smoke has on pets.  

  • 27 February 2024 – 10.00 to 11.00

Women’s Health : Throughout the Life Cycle

This training will look at the stages of a woman’s life, beginning with menstruation and ending with menopause, and everything women’s health related in between.  

  • 24 January 2024 – 10.00 to 12.30  
  • 19 June 2024 – 10.00 to 12.30  
  • 22 January 2025 – 10.00 to 12.30

Solihull Approach e-courses

Northumberland County Council has partnered with the Solihull Approach to sponsor FREE online courses developed by psychologists and professionals. These courses are designed to help you understand your child’s feelings, as well as focus on your own feelings as you go through life as a family. You will also learn to understand the changes in your child’s development and how to make the most out of each relationship. We wholeheartedly recommend these courses – they are for everyone, for everyday parenting. They don’t tell you how to parent, that’s up to you. Instead, they give you a framework for understanding what might be going on and space to think about how you want to respond.  For ALL parents, carers, grandparents and teens. We all need a bit of headspace and thinking time occasionally.  From bump to 19+ years. Including adult relationships. 

 Courses available 
1a.   Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby (Antenatal) 
1b.   Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby: for women couples (Antenatal) 
2.    Understanding your baby (Postnatal) 
3a.   Understanding your child (0-19 years) (Main course) 
3b.   Understanding your child with additional needs (0-19 years) (Main course) 
4.    Understanding your teenager’s brain (Short course) 
5.    Understanding your brain (for teenagers only!) (Short course) 
6.    Understanding your feelings (for teenagers only!) (Short course) 
7.    Understanding your child’s feelings (A taster course) 
8.    Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing (Accompanies 3a. and/or 3b.) 
9.    Understanding your relationships 

Age range: Suitable for parents, carers, grandparents and teens 
Duration: Flexible 
Delivery: Online resources  

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