What happens in the instructor training programme?
All particpants must attend a 12 -hour SMHFA course before coming on the Instrcutor Training. The Instructor Training lasts for 5 days and is made up of the following elements:
Development Centre (3 days)
Activities in the Development Centre include:
- Taking a closer look at the course content and getting to know it in detail.
- Working with your peers to consider some of the challenges of working with groups.
- Training in learning styles and applying the theory to real-life training situations.
- Equalities training.
- Help with IT for those who need it.
- Help with presentation skills.
- Workshops with professionals in the field of mental health on topics such as psychosis, talking therapies and recovery.
You will work very hard in these three days but there are lots of rewards. You will gain confidence, learn new skills and meet new people. At the end of the first day you will be given your instructor’s kit. This contains everything that you need to become an instructor.
Skills Practice Days (2 days)
The skills practise days are the final two days of the course – it’s your turn to lead a group.
In advance of the days you will each be allocated a short section of the course. During the two days you will train your peer group for about 35 minutes on this section.
In the time allowed you will show that you can:
- get the group working together on an activity
- give information and/or teach new skills.
Your mentor will observe you and give you feedback at the end to help you develop your training skills. All instructors will also give feedback to each of their peers.