3 - Mental Health Professional Learning Framework

Aberdeenshire is committed to ensuring that everyone who works with children and young people has access to core mental health training. Our recently developed Core Multi-Agency Mental Health Professional Learning Framework highlights details of these core learning opportunities which are endorsed and recommended by Senior Leaders across different agencies, alongside suggestions of further optional training opportunities.

Broadly speaking, the workforce can be divided into 3 main categories, these are –

INFORMED (Category 1 – Support for All)
Knowledge and skills required by everyone who encounters children and young people as part of their job role.

SKILLED (Category 2 – Early Support)
Knowledge and skills required by workers who have direct and/or substantial contact with children and young people.

ENHANCED (Category 3 – Additional Support)
Knowledge and skills required by workers who have regular and intense contact with children and young people who are known to have mental health problems and who can deliver targeted interventions with appropriate training and support.

There is an expectation that Category 3 staff will have undertaken Skilled Level training before undertaking any Enhanced Level training. It is not expected that all Category 3 staff will undertake all Category 3 Core training. Rather, at level 3, pathways are determined by a person's job role, professional competencies and in agreement with their line manager and individual service.