Additional Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training
Additional Public Health training available
MECC is about using the everyday interactions we have with others to help people make positive changes to their physical and mental health and access the support they need. A MECC interaction takes a matter of minutes and is intended to fit into and complement existing conversations. You can access free training that will:
- Develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to have brief conversations with the public about their health and wellbeing.
- Gain information to help signpost the people you are helping to services they may require for more specific health-related support.
MECC training in Oxfordshire is live and interactive either online or in person. You can choose between:
- A three-hour practice session or
- A train-the-trainer course (four, two-hour sessions online) to enable you to become a MECC trainer and cascade training to your own team.
It covers all of the five key lifestyle topics (mental health and wellbeing, smoking, alcohol, healthy weight and physical activity). Email MECC@oxfordshire.gov.uk to find out more.
Lifestyle topic-based training
Further free topic-focused lifestyle training offers include:
Mental health and suicide prevention training
Content: A suite of free mental health and suicide prevention training courses is available, delivered by Oxfordshire Mind with assistance from Oxfordshire Youth on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.
The courses are open to professionals and volunteers who work with Oxfordshire residents of all ages. The sessions are designed to equip professionals and volunteers with the knowledge and skills to effectively support individuals in crisis. In particular, the aim is to train those in small organisations and community groups who are unable to fund mental health and suicide prevention training and/or those who have contact with those who are most vulnerable.
There is a wide variety of training courses being offered including titles like Mental Health Aware, Suicide First Aid Lite, Youth Mental Health First Aid and Trauma Informed Care. Courses are being delivered both in person and online.
To find out more about the courses, including eligibility, visit:www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/training/free-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-training/ or contact trainingcourses@oxfordshiremind.org.uk
Place-Based Physical Activity Clinical Champions (PACC) Programme
Content: PACC training is evidence-based training for healthcare professionals on the benefits of physical activity in long term conditions including education on behavioural change conversations. In the training, you will gain increased awareness of Oxfordshire’s physical activity offers and how to make a referral.
Delivery: Face-to-face and virtual training offered – 60-90 minutes To find out more or sign-up, please contact christinemcbride-cowell@activeoxfordshire.org
Substance use
Content: A range of alcohol and drug training opportunities are available, including alcohol and drug awareness sessions, how to refer to services and how to administer naloxone to prevent drug-related deaths.
Sessions are designed for front-line professionals or volunteers working in a range of settings including health, social care, voluntary, housing and criminal justice services.
Delivery: In person sessions run at Oxford Hub, or bespoke sessions can be arranged for whole teams at your service via Turning Point.
Sessions can also be arranged via Cranstoun Here4YOUth for services that engage with children and young people affected by substance use. The length of sessions varies and can be tailored to your team's needs.
For more information, contact:
- Turning Point: andy.symons@turning-point.co.uk
- Cranstoun: Here4youthox@cranstoun.org.uk
In person free naloxone training and naloxone packs can also be provided at select community pharmacies across Oxfordshire. For more information and the full list of participating pharmacies, visit: Take Home Naloxone Service.
Child feeding guide
Content: Learn about promoting healthy eating in young children and understand the psychology underpinning many feeding and eating problems. Includes practical tips and strategies for childcare, early years and healthcare professionals to help promote healthy eating in families.
Delivery: Online training (2-3 hours).
Find out more
Food poverty
Content: Helps you better support and signpost people experiencing food poverty.
Delivery: Online training through a 45-minute video.
Find out more
Smoking very brief advice (VBA)
Content: This CPD-accredited Very Brief Advice (VBA) Stop Smoking Training is suitable for those who come into contact with smokers to confidentially ask smoking status, advice on local support and refer to SmokeFree Oxon. These sessions provide an overview of smoking at a national context, the components of a cigarette, nicotine replacement therapy products, vapes and the benefits for quitting.
Register your interest: SmokeFreeOxon.S4H@nhs.net
Physical activity
Content: If you are a frontline professional or volunteer in health, social care or the voluntary sector, build your skills so you can have more supportive conversations about physical activity. You’ll get a range of information and tools to support people to increase their activity and confidence as well as how to refer to available programmes. Find out more
Alcohol identification brief advice (IBA)
Content: Open to anyone, including non-professionals, to help identify those who may be at increasing or higher risk of harm due to their alcohol consumption. It is intended to motivate people to be more aware of the level of their drinking and its influence on their health, and to encourage them to access support if relevant.
Register your interest: public.health@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Domestic abuse
Content: Find out how to spot it, its impact, and to understand risk assessment and safety planning.The training is split into seven optional modules. At least one of the three universal modules needs to be completed before signing up to any of the other modules. Each module is three hours long.
The Domestic Abuse Champion’s Programme is an accredited program that offers an opportunity for professionals to continue their development in the field of domestic abuse as Domestic Abuse Champions.
To become a champion, you need to complete at least three of the domestic abuse training modules. The modules can be run concurrently.To access domestic abuse training, please visit:Training - Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (oscb.org.uk)
SociaLed offers 2.5-hour online courses. Look out for news of expert led Webinars, scheduled to take place later this year.
Find out more
All our health e-learning
Content: Explore All Our Health bitesized eLearning sessions, designed to help professionals protect and improve the nation’s health. You’ll find signposting to trusted sources of helpful evidence, guidance and support. You can dip in and out of the content as and when you need it.
Currently, there are 33 All Our Health elearning sessions available covering a wide variety of public health topics such as financial wellbeing, inclusion health, smoking and tobacco, alcohol etc.
Find out more
Oral health improvement
Content: A range of training is available that meets your professional needs and helps support the oral health of your service users. Training covers oral health information across the lifespan, emphasising the three key messages to improve oral health.
To find out more or to schedule an in-person or teams session, please contact
oral.health@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or visit Oral Health - Community Dental Service.
Healthy Eating
BeeZee Oxfordshire is offering free “Better Conversations Around Health” training sessions to support healthcare professionals in navigating sensitive discussions with patients about weight and lifestyle. Led by expert health coaches, the 45–60 minute webinars will explore the challenges of living with obesity, how to initiate conversations about weight, common barriers people face, and the support available.