Mental Health at Work | 1-day

Mental Health at Work | QNUK Level 2 Award (RQF) | 1 Day 

Your people spend a third of their lives at work. What happens there affects how they feel everywhere else.

Mental ill-health costs UK employers an estimated £56 billion a year in lost productivity, absence and staff turnover. Behind that figure are real people: employees struggling in silence, managers unsure what to say, and organisations reacting to crises that earlier awareness might have prevented.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess and manage all foreseeable risks to employee health, including psychological risks. Meeting that duty properly means more than putting a helpline number on the intranet. It means giving your workforce the knowledge to recognise when something is wrong, in themselves and in those around them, and the confidence to take the right first step.

The QNUK Level 2 Award in Mental Health at Work (RQF) is an Ofqual-regulated, one-day qualification, listed on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and developed in line with NHS guidance, the Health and Safety Executive and leading mental health organisations. It equips employees at every level to understand mental health conditions, recognise the signs of distress in themselves and colleagues, and respond appropriately.

In short, this is the qualification that turns a wellbeing policy from words on a page into something your people can actually act on.

What You Will Learn

This qualification has one mandatory unit with five connected learning outcomes.

1. Common Mental Health Disorders

• The World Health Organisation definitions of mental health and mental ill-health
• The impact of poor mental health on an individual, including difficulties with focus, patience and concentration, an increased risk of substance misuse and knock-on physical health effects
• Common mental health conditions as defined by NICE, and how to reduce the stigma that stops people seeking help

2. Recognising the Causes and Impact of Stress

• The HSE definition of stress as a health and safety issue, and why this matters legally
• Occupational risk factors, including work culture, workload, working patterns, environment and mismatches between a person’s skills and their role: all areas where employers have direct influence
• Personal risk factors, including relationship pressures, illness and bereavement
• How to recognise signs of stress in a colleague, and the possible consequences of unaddressed stress

3. Recognising Common Mental Health Conditions

• Depression, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder: causes, signs and impact in a workplace context
• Risk factors that increase vulnerability, and how to recognise changes in a colleague’s work performance, behaviour and presentation

4. Harmful Coping Strategies

• The main categories of harmful coping: substance misuse, eating disorders and self-harm
• Alcohol and drug misuse in a workplace context, including prescription medication overuse
• Eating disorders: definitions and workplace signs
• Self-harm: the forms it can take, and how to recognise the signs in a colleague
• Where to direct a colleague: GP, YoungMinds, Harmless and other appropriate resources

5. Supporting a Colleague

• Practical strategies for supporting your own and others’ mental wellbeing
• What makes a mental health conversation effective: recognising feelings, empathy, choosing the right environment and active listening
• A practical framework for approaching a colleague: Environment, Effective communication, Empathy, and Engaging further support

Course Details

Learning and Assessment:

• Course Duration: We deliver this focused training program over a single day. This equals 6 Guided Learning Hours. However, learners have up to 3 weeks to complete the qualification.
• Flexible Learning Options: We accommodate standard face-to-face classrooms. Alternatively, you can complete the course in a virtual environment using a proctored exam.
• Assessment Method: Candidates must complete an invigilated multiple-choice examination paper. This test takes place under strict, standard classroom conditions.
• Exam Details: The exam gives you 35 minutes to answer 24 questions. For a successful pass, you must achieve a score of 70% ($17/24$) or higher.

Group Size:

• Classroom Training: We operate with a maximum trainer-to-learner ratio of 1:20. This setup ensures a highly interactive and inclusive learning environment.
• Virtual Delivery: For our online classrooms, we reduce the ratio to 1:8. As a result, your instructor can maximize personal engagement and easily monitor progress.

Certificate Period:

• Your qualification remains valid for 3 years.

Pre-requisites:

• Age Requirements: Learners should ideally be aged 18 years or older. Instructors can adapt the teaching content if candidates are under 18.
• Language and Literacy: The assessment requires a clear command of English. For this reason, we recommend that candidates are capable of working at a minimum of Level 1 literacy.
• Prior Learning: This course requires no formal prior qualifications. However, if you completed a Level 1 mental health award within the last 6 weeks, you may finish this training faster.

Progression:

• If you finish this qualification within 6 weeks, you can fast-track your next professional milestone. Advance your career seamlessly toward:
  • QNUK Level 3 Award in Mental Health at Work (RQF)
  • QNUK Level 2 Award in Awareness of Young People’s Mental Health (RQF)
  • QNUK Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Conditions (RQF)

Recognition of Prior Learning

Delegates who have recently completed the QNUK Level 1 Award in Mental Health Awareness may be able to complete this Level 2 qualification in less time. Contact us to discuss.

Choosing the Right Course

For employers and health and safety managers: the HSE’s Management Standards for work-related stress identify six areas of work design that can lead to stress and mental ill-health. This qualification helps your workforce understand and engage with those standards in a meaningful way.

If You or Someone You Know Needs Support Right Now