About the programme

The Student Development Programme (the Programme) aims to foster hope, optimism and control, empowering students to strengthen and self-manage their mental health and recovery. Everyone on the Programme will participate in teaching sessions, create a development plan and attend group and one-to-one support sessions. The Programme also provides development opportunities for students to progress in their recovery, including co-producing courses and projects, shadowing facilitators in the classroom, attending promotional events and administrative tasks.

The Programme is an excellent opportunity for students to advance in their recovery and achieve their personal goals, including those considering taking up new activities, volunteering, or employment. It is for any student at the College who want to learn more about recovery, move forward despite life’s challenges and improve their self-confidence and self-esteem. It is particularly suitable for students that have a lived experience of mental health challenges who feel they are in a place of recovery at the moment.

This is an extended programme of learning over several terms and a regular time commitment is required.

Programme objectives

Are to:

• Increase student connections and a sense of belonging.
• Help students create meaningful goals that promote personal recovery and support their aspirations.
• Enhance students’ mental wellbeing by helping them develop resilience, self-esteem, self-confidence, self-acceptance, hope and optimism.
• Offer opportunities for students to contribute lived experience to enhance other students’ experience and learning.

What the programme offers

Students will explore and discover personal strengths and motivation and learn tools and skills to help self-manage their recovery. The Programme is for one academic year and offers:

• Development Opportunities
  • You can develop skills and enhance your recovery through the College’s development opportunities.
  • It would help if you reflected on your individual development plans and how these opportunities might help you achieve your aspirations and goals. The opportunities may include involvement in the classroom, attending coproduction meetings, participating in workshops and events, and work experience opportunities in the office. Use the support offered to discuss what would suit you best and how to use your existing skills fully.
     
• Individual Development Plan and ongoing support
  • Creating a development plan with support and termly review with a Student Involvement Coordinator
  • Ongoing 1:1 support with a Student Involvement Coordinator
  • Opportunity to create a Wellbeing Plan
  • Monthly Group Support & Supervision Meetings.
     
• Programme handbook with self-reflective exercises

• Teaching modules and sessions
  • Ten teaching sessions on mental health recovery-related topics (see contents page)
  • Mandatory online and in-person HPFT training
  • INSET / one-off teaching sessions.