We don’t just deliver courses: we provide valuable CPD and forge strong relationships with the schools we work with.
We’ve been working with Kellett School, the British international school in Hong Kong since 2021. This is their story.
‘All our staff – primary, senior, and admin – had already done a diverse range of training with Mind Your Health and in 2023 the senior leadership team felt it would be valuable to bring George over to deliver training in person. It’s reassuring to have that sort of professional relationship with a company you know you can trust.’
In February 2021 Hayley Wilson, Deputy Head of Kellett Senior School for Pastoral, Wellbeing, & Community and Designated Safeguarding Lead reached out on LinkedIn, requesting recommendations for mental health course provision. When the school had gone back following the COVID closures she knew something wasn’t right. George Peterkin was a standout recommendation – and when Hayley contacted him, she knew she had made a good decision.
‘We spent nearly an hour and a half on a call, and I booked the Mental Health First Aid training for the September.’
The first round of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training that Hayley booked was an overwhelming success.
‘So many staff volunteered we had to run three rounds of training with 16 staff at a time. They had to use their personal time to do it, but they were all keen to get involved.’
Kellett School is a COBIS Beacon School for “Leadership in the School” and takes its mental health provision very seriously. The students have a wellbeing prefect and staff and students wear badges to identify themselves as MHFA-trained.
George’s delivery received such positive feedback that Hayley then booked Warrior®: Mental Health Awareness for students. The students found it so useful Kellett decided to offer MHFA training to over 15s. They were all invited to apply and had to write a paragraph about their reasons for wanting to do it: it was immediately oversubscribed.
That year Mind Your Health also trained 17 members of Kellett School staff on Suicide First Aid training, delivered online. Hayley felt that all the online training – which can often be harder to deliver successfully – was done in such a way as to lead to a ‘really positive professional relationship’. She also feels the quality of trainers doesn’t vary:
‘It doesn’t need to be George to be good. They’ll make sure you get the instructor you need. They have all been authentic and have a great depth of knowledge: you feel really secure that the person who’s talking has expertise.’
The school extended their offering and 10 people did the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills – in their own time. Hayley has also been inspired to do the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling, which requires 100 hours of learning time.
When the school wanted to up the level of CPD they offered again, they felt it was appropriate to bring George over to deliver his training in person. They booked him for:
George has also delivered Eating Disorder Awareness training and was able to tailor it around the provision the school already had.
Hayley and Kellett School say Mind Your Health’s expertise, CPD, and advice has served several purposes, all of which support the ethos of the school. As well as having a positive impact, it demonstrates the value the school places on their mental health provision. They are not just ticking boxes, they are investing in the future of their students and staff.
‘Since 2021 we’ve had higher level, professional pathways for pastoral leaders to develop staff. I’ve seen a tangible difference. We have more confidence in ourselves to deal with things in the moment.’
Hayley also recognises the benefits of the training she has received on a personal level, particularly the option to study for her own professional development:
‘The way the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling was delivered made it a positive and inspiring experience and I felt grateful for the opportunity’.
Mind Your Health and Kellett School are looking forward to a productive and ongoing professional relationship. The school knows they can depend on Mind Your Health to advise on and provide exceptional CPD, that is constantly revised, updated, and added to, on important, sensitive topics.