AoC Mental Health Charter framework

Good practice principles

1. There is visible leadership and a clear commitment to mental health and wellbeing across the whole organisation.
   
2. Senior leaders champion an inclusive culture that places compassion and kindness at its heart. Leaders model self-care and demonstrate the value and importance of positive wellbeing.
3. Whole-college approaches to mental health inform the organisational vision, mission and values, and are embedded in policies, practice and culture.
4. The college prioritises cohesion and inclusivity of services across all provision, seeking appropriate collaboration across the college community and relevant external stakeholders, to support a whole-college approach to mental health services and support.
5. Leaders take steps to create physically and psychologically safe spaces within the college (on campus and online) and individuals feel able and are supported to disclose when they are experiencing poor mental health.
6. Leaders work to prevent and address marginalisation, discrimination and harassment of individual students, staff and groups, nurturing a culture of belonging, inclusion and safety.

Good practice principles

1. Measures to support transition are in place throughout the learning journey.
   
2. The college invests time and resource into the meaningful promotion of mental health and wellbeing throughout the academic year.
3. Support services are accessible, sustainable and inclusive, responding to current and future need, including that of the local context.
4. The college provides additional or specific interventions for students who need them, removing barriers and tackling stigma to ensure services are inclusive and accessible.
5. The college implement effective mechanisms to identify students in need of intervention to provide early support and reduce and prevent crisis intervention.
6. Thoughtful curricula are designed to impact positively on the mental health and wellbeing of all students across all courses. Embedding mental health and wellbeing into curriculum promotes awareness of support available and develops students’ knowledge and strategies for self-care.
7. Parents and carers are provided with opportunities and resources to develop their knowledge of mental health and wellbeing, to better support their young people.
8. The college proactively takes steps to build relationships with local NHS, social care and third sector agencies, to safeguard the college community through improved access to mental health and wellbeing support services.

Good practice principles

1. The college develops a culture and environment that supports positive staff wellbeing and a welcoming workplace.
   
2. The college equips managers with the knowledge, skills and confidence to support good wellbeing within their teams and respond appropriately when staff experience poor mental health.
3. Staff feel able to discuss their own mental health and wellbeing and have access to effective, accessible support and proactive interventions to help them improve their own mental health and wellbeing.
4. The college promotes a workplace environment and management practices that support formal and informal reflection, consultation and development for staff who may encounter student mental illness.
5. The college strives to understand the lived experience of staff, implementing mechanisms to gather intelligence to inform college mental health strategies and improve support services.
6. Staff are confident in supporting students’ mental health concerns, working within appropriate and supportive boundaries.
7. Staff receive mental health training that is context and role specific and are supported to develop, individually and collectively, the confidence and ability to promote positive mental health, responding appropriately and signposting to relevant agencies.
8. Specialist staff who support individuals with their mental health and wellbeing engage in regular, ongoing clinical development and support.

Good practice principles

1. The college prioritises both quantitative and qualitative metrics on measuring the impact of its work regarding student mental health and wellbeing, and undertakes a rigorous and systematic evaluation of services and interventions.
   
2. The college captures student voice specifically on their mental health and wellbeing and uses this to inform strategy and future development of support services.
3. The college works in partnership with the students’ union and wider college community to create a culture that supports positive wellbeing.
4. The college has effective mechanisms in place to listen and respond to views of staff.
5. Formal reporting to the governing body is consistent.
6. The college supports research into mental health and wellbeing, inspiring the development of innovative practice that informs decision making and continuous improvement.
7. All opportunities to engage and communicate with parents and carers are taken, fostering a collaborative approach to positive mental health and wellbeing support.
8. The college uses its role as a community educator to demystify mental health concerns, championing positive mental health and wellbeing among staff, students, parents and carers.