PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID (PFA)

Duration: 6 hours of learning Max no of learners: 16

Target Audience – Support, Clinical & Care staff in a variety of settings, as well as staff where traumatic events are commonplace such as clinical hospital staff, first responders – paramedics, firefighters, etc.

Psychiatric hospitals, community mental health support, day centres, supported living for mental health, learning disability, autism, drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Housing Support Teams & Probation teams who are providing care & support.

This course is delivered using a range of methods and resources including:

Face to Face tutor participative facilitation (whether in the classroom or online), scenarios for group discussions, case studies, polls, question and answer time, videos, role play if appropriate and end of session assessment.

This course has been developed and mapped to current occupational standards, qualification frameworks and the following documents and resources:

  • The 2011 Gov.UK document – No Health without Mental Health (created by Dept of Health) 
  • Skills for Care – The Common Core Principles to support good mental health and wellbeing in adult social care

Online training: it is recommended that each learner has their own laptop/computer/tablet as the course is interactive.Having all the learners in one room is not conducive to participative/interactive learning. 2 learners can share one screen if they make sure that the facilitator can both see and hear them clearly.

Levels 3 to 4: the course is aimed at learners at level 3 to 5

Learning Outcomes:

After attending this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Differentiate between Mental health first aid and psychological first aid and debriefing
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles and techniques of PFA
  3. Identify common reactions from each of the physical, emotional, behavioural, cognitive, spiritual and sensory reactions to a traumatic event in both adults and children
  4. When provided with scenarios and profiles, select and provide appropriate PFA responses to individuals presenting with common reactions, positive coping strategies, maladaptive coping strategies and severe reactions to traumatic events
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of responder stressors and principles of self-care as they apply to another’s personal crisis or a disaster – before during and after the event
  6. Apply knowledge and understanding of principles of self-care by developing a printable personal resiliency plan for use following providing PFA

Entry requirements – No prerequisites required

Assessment type – Role play during the course

Certification/Qualification – Downloadable certificate of attendance

All courses are accompanied by instructional materials.

Time breakdownFromToMinutes
Registration09:1509:3015
Session 109:3010:4070
AM tea break10:4011:0020
Session 211:0012:4070
Lunch12:4013:2040
Session 313:2014:4070
PM tea break14:4015:0020
Session 315:0016:1070
Assessment16:1016:3020