To inform changes to children and young people’s mental health services in your area.

Kent CCGs are delighted to invite you to join the Link Programme online, funded by the Department for Education and led by the Anna Freud Centre.

The programme brings together education and mental health professionals in Kent so that more children and young people get the help and support they need, when they need it.

As we move into the recovery phase of COVID-19, this programme is the starting point for creating systemic and sustainable change in children and young people’s mental health, whilst delivering on the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan.

Read more about how the programme could benefit your setting.

The Link Programme is being run online in the spring term and takes the form of self-study modules and live workshops. We are inviting you to attend the workshops on the following dates:

Cohort 2

Online modules available: 16^th February 2021

Workshop 1: Tuesday 2^nd March 10am-1pm
Workshop 2: Tuesday 27^th April 10am-1pm

The live workshops will be run via Zoom.

To register, please complete this form as soon as possible and no later than 9am on 16^th February.

The sign-up form is managed by the Anna Freud Centre. You must complete the form at least two weeks prior to workshop 1 to receive access to the self-study modules and details of the live workshops.

You will have four modules to complete in advance of your workshop 1, which will take around two hours in total to complete. You will be asked to submit some feedback on these modules by 9am on 25^th February.

Following workshop 1 you will have a further three self-study modules to complete, which will take up to two hours. Feedback on these modules will need to be submitted by 9am on 22^nd April.

The workshops are not training, but a facilitated discussion using an evidence-based framework that captures the effectiveness of joint working across your locality. From the framework you will draw up long term action plans for systemic change across your area, coordinated by your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Due to the online nature of the workshops, we need to limit numbers to one representative from each setting. This must be a member of your senior leadership team, ideally your Headteacher or a Deputy Head. The same representative will need to attend both workshops and complete the self-study modules.

Your details will be passed to the Anna Freud Centre and their delivery partners for the purpose of running the workshops and evaluating the programme. Read how your data will be processed and stored.

If you require more information, please feel free to contact Becky Graves at Cypmentalhealth.kent@nhs.net or call: 07443 774261.