Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) Upskilling Programme

NHS England has announced the launch of the  Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) Upskilling Programme eLearning sessions, available now via the NHS Learning Hub.

The programme is a free and short online course designed to support all providers – NHS, VCSE and independent sector – who submit data to the MHSDS to build their confidence and expertise in navigating the dataset and improve data submissions.

It will be particularly helpful for smaller providers and/or those who face technical or capacity challenges. Anyone involved in submitting or using MHSDS data will also benefit from the programme, including ICBs, local authorities, social care organisations as well as national and regional NHS England policy leads.

The two available sessions cover:

  • Session 1 – Basics of data collection in the NHS mental health services, scope of the MHSDS, data set version changes and accessing data reports.
  • Session 2 – Detailed guidance to registration and start submitting the data, with provider testimonies and available support.

The sessions can be accessed via the NHS Learning Hub, at the end of the MHSDS Upskilling Programme’s resource catalogue, or via your Open Athens account. To find out more, the national team will deliver a launch webinar and live demo on Thursday 6 February (10-11am).  Please register to join the webinar.

 

NHS 111 select mental health option

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis, access urgent support 24/7 by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option.

Local crisis teams are not changing and the service is still provided by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust in our region. It is just a new telephone number to call – making it simpler for people to find the right support in a mental health crisis.

To help you get the support you need, you will speak to a mental health advisor who will ask you some questions and listen to you. They can offer self-care advice over the phone, transfer you to the crisis service if needed or refer you to other local services.

You can call for yourself, or someone else. NHS 111 is for all ages, including children and young people and those with neurodevelopmental needs.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss please use NHS 111 SignVideo or the 18001 111 Relay UK app.

If a person’s mental or emotional state gets worse quickly, this can be referred to as a mental health crisis or a mental health emergency. If this happens, it is important to get help quickly.

A mental health crisis can mean different things to different people, but often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. It can cause a significant disruption to your life and your ability to function.

You should call NHS 111 and select the mental health option if you are worried about:

  • thoughts about your life not being worth living or about harming yourself
  • feeling out of control or unable to cope
  • feeling anxious about leaving the house
  • hearing voices or seeing things that others can’t

If you or someone else have physically harmed themselves, or if their life is at risk, then you should still call 999 or go to A&E.

Find out more about NHS 111 select mental health option

Free digital support in North Yorkshire

Would you like support learning how to do something online? Received a new phone or tablet for Christmas and want to get to grips with it? You can receive free one to one support with your digital queries on the Mobile Library in Sleights, Danby, Castleton and Robin Hoods Bay.

To find out when the Mobile library will visit these locations have a look at the website or call Northallerton Library on 01609533832.

To book a slot please call Northallerton Library or email the Mobile Library: supermobile@northyorks.gov.uk

If you access the Mobile Library at a different stop, please speak to the staff on board about the availability of support at your stop.

Babington and BT Group Apprenticeship Fund

Introducing Babington’s partnership with BT Group, empowering businesses, charities and public sector organisations to unlock access to BT’s £4 million Apprenticeship Fund

What is the Apprenticeship Fund?

BT Group, partnering with Babington, is making available up to £4 million from its apprenticeship levy funds to help SMEs, charities and the public sector train new apprentices or up to upskill their existing workforce. The Apprenticeship Fund is designed to financially support the apprenticeship training contributions that, as an employer, you may be required to make towards the cost of an apprenticeship. Currently, this is 5% of the maximum funding band applicable to the programme for apprentices that are aged 22 and over.

How the Apprenticeship Fund can benefit your business

Apprenticeships are a valuable way to strengthen your business, you can develop new skills, invest in your employees and upskill your workforce to be more effective and efficient. By working with Babington, you can be assured that they will identify the right training provider for your needs and ensure that the apprenticeship aligns to your business objectives. Through their network of trusted, high-quality training providers, they can secure you with the funding required for your apprenticeship programme and ensure that your apprentices add genuine value to your business.

How it works:

Eligibility: If you require funding support towards the cost of your apprenticeship programme, they can look to support your needs through the Apprenticeship Fund initiative. If your apprentices are below the age of 22, they can support you directly through Babington.

Application: You can register your interest as an organisation through the BT Apprenticeship Fund website (register here) and your application will be reviewed, if successful, you will be provided with access to funded apprenticeship training within 20 days, subject to meeting the funding criteria.

Tailored training: Once successful, they’ll work with their network of providers to match you with the right provider to deliver your needs.

Access the helpful overview leaflet here.

Help map the size and scale of our sector’s workforce 

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Humber and North Yorkshire Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Collaborative is working in partnership with the University of York to record, understand and evidence who is part of the VCSE sector workforce across our region.

The VCSE sector is a crucial part of Humber and North Yorkshire’s health and social care workforce, providing many services to our communities. However, there is a lack of understanding of what the sector’s contribution consists of, and without the data it is difficult to get system partners to recognise the size and scale of the sector and to understand what we have within Humber and North Yorkshire.

Positioning the VCSE sector as an equal partner

Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Collaborative‘s mission is to position the VCSE sector as an equal and key partner in the design, planning and delivery of health and social care across our region. To do this, they need to know who powers our VCSE sector; who makes up our workforce, our working patterns and our contribution to health and care across our communities. To collect this data, they need your VCSE organisation to be involved in a workforce mapping exercise.

The data your organisation provides will be collated to create an in-depth picture of our sector. This will feed into the planning of future investment and resource allocation into the sector for the delivery of health and care services across our communities. By completing the survey, here’s how you will be supporting your organisation and the wider VCSE sector across Humber and North Yorkshire:

  • Value – if we can show the value provided by our workforce this can evidence the need to invest more into the VCSE sector.
  • Diversity and inclusion – the sector is diverse and being able to showcase that and evidence a sector that represents its communities is hugely valuable to health and care system partners.
  • Volunteer management – this can evidence the role and value of volunteers that provide significant hours that the sector could not do without.
  • Planning – talent retention – knowing the sector means organisations can compare themselves to the rest of the sector and not lose talent to other organisations.
  • Data driven – the world is dependent on good data. This survey creates a collective picture which leads to better decision making.
  • Impact – understanding the values and strengths of the sector workforce means we can drive real impact and build trust with both communities and system partners.

The survey is open now and will close on 28 March 2025. Before you complete the survey, please read this guidance.

Get involved here

 

Free training courses available for VCSE organisations

Unlock your potential with free training opportunities! From digital skills to safeguarding, mental health awareness, and motivational training – there’s something for everyone.

Thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF), digital inclusion is thriving across North Yorkshire through the creation of welcoming digital hubs. Through these hubs, Digital Champions are helping individuals to thrive by building their digital skills and confidence in using online services.  Digital Champions in turn are supported by a package of training covering not just digital-specific knowledge but other areas to help them.  A highlight is the fully accredited two-day Mental Health First Aid course, empowering participants with vital knowledge. Delivered in partnership with North Yorkshire Council, Mind, and AbilityNet, these sessions are designed to support and inspire our communities.

There are currently spaces available on these courses so opportunities to book are now open to all VCSE organisations.

See the full list of training opportunities, including how to register your interest: UK SPF Digital Inclusion Programme Training Prospectus 2025 Events: UK SPF Digital Inclusion Programme Training Prospectus 2025 Events

If you have any questions, please contact michael.fletcher@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

Confirmation of availability will be provided two weeks prior to the course date.

January

  • Safeguarding for Home Visits
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Mental Health Awareness

February

  • Signposting Skills: Making Every Contact Count
  • Accessible Digital – Thriving Online
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Mental Health Awareness

March

  •  Motivational Interviewing / Coaching
  • Alexa! What can you do for me? Voice Activated Devices
  • Mental Health First Aid

The courses are free. Choose from either face-to-face workshops across North Yorkshire or online sessions.

If you have any questions, please contact michael.fletcher@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk

Become a Community First Yorkshire Trustee

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We are passionate about helping our local communities thrive – are you? If so, an exciting opportunity to join our dedicated Board of Trustees could be just what you’ve been looking for.

At a time of real opportunity for our sector, we would love to hear from anyone who feels they could bring new skills, knowledge and experience to the team.  As champions of greater diversity and inclusion, we’d also like to achieve greater diversity on the Board.

Who are we?

Community First Yorkshire is an influential regional body that works with voluntary and community organisations, social enterprises (VCSE) and rural communities across Yorkshire.

For over 40 years, we have provided an important rural advocacy role, encouraging partners to deliver equitable services and facilities for rural communities and individuals alike.

Our friendly Board of Trustees plays a significant role in providing leadership and guidance for the organisation. We are now looking for new recruits to help us positively challenge ourselves to be the best we can be.

Join us in a vital trustee role

If you’re keen to make a difference and you also have professional and/or lived knowledge or experience in any of the following areas, it would be an added bonus:

  • Healthcare
  • Finance/accounting
  • Marketing and communications
  • Inequality and/or safeguarding
  • West and/or South Yorkshire.
Recruitment Pack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a look at our recruitment pack for more information about what’s involved (click on the image to view the pack).

Get in touch

If you would like to use your talents and skills to contribute to our work and be part of an exciting and evolving organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

Download the Trustee recruitment pack and job description for more information. Details of how to apply are in the ‘How to get in touch’ section of the job description.

Deadline for applications: ongoing. Interviews will be in-person at our Askham Bryan office.

If you have any questions or need more information, please email Deb Carey.

 

Health and care talent programme briefings

Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership have launched three new system leadership development programmes and are holding briefings to let you know more about them.

These programmes are specifically tailored to develop system leaders, and are designed to prepare participants for the next step of their career, equipping them with the skills to change health and care across the sector.

Please see below the programme plan and the timings for the briefings:

Programme 1: Leading from the Middle

  • 12-month programme
  • Aimed at those in a middle management role, who have had previous experience of management (3+ years) or have previously undertaken a management development programme
  • Opportunity to enhance self-development through psychometric tools, career coaching and working with a senior sponsor
  • Core learning – both face-to-face and online workshops (leading change and transformation, system theory, successful systems leadership, from analogue to digital, political astuteness, population health, effective decision making etc)
  • 6-week placement
  • Closes with a celebration event

Programme 2: Senior System Leaders

  • 12-month programme
  • Aimed at those ready to step into an executive role (existing senior leaders)
  • Access to networking opportunities, peer-to-peer support and networking sessions
  • Guest speaker sessions
  • Masterclasses
  • Career management support

Programme 1 – Leading from the Middle

29 January 12:30 – 1:30pm

25 February 10-11am

Programme 2 – Senior System Leaders

30 January 1:30-2:30pm

25 February 12– 1pm

The programmes are open to staff and volunteers working in health and care across Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership. This includes, NHS, non-NHS, community care, social care, local authority and VCSE.

Make 2025 your year for volunteering

Start 2025 with purpose – give back to your community and boost your wellbeing.

Explore countless opportunities on our VINY (Volunteering in North Yorkshire) portal, from gardening and driving to social media roles. Search by location, interest, or cause, and connect directly with organisations.

Register for a VINY account today and begin your volunteering journey!

Meet Nige Ballard – Trustee at Amotherby Parish Hall

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In our first volunteer interview for 2025 we welcome Nige Ballard, a trustee from Amotherby Parish Hall. Nige is an extremely active volunteer in the village and has secured an incredible amount of funding for a new hall roof. Nige regularly attends our Community Buildings Network meetings so we are thrilled to extend her involvement to our Volunteer Co-ordinators Network.
Please introduce yourself.

I’m Nigella Ballard, known generally as Nige (which can confuse some people). I am a volunteer for our village hall, called Appleton-le-Street Parish Hall, although it is located in Amotherby. I have been involved with the hall since March 1987 and have been the treasurer since February 1988.

What attracted you to the organisation and volunteer role?

When I was fairly new to the village, I was told by the school crossing lady that there was a meeting at the village hall I might be interested in going to. The rest is history and she has become my longest standing friend in the village.

What would you say to anyone thinking of volunteering?

It’s great to be involved with your local community but be prepared to work hard.

What was the best piece of advice given to you as a volunteer?

I can’t remember being given any except from a past staff member of Community First Yorkshire who kept telling me “to delegate to others”.

Finally, tell us something about yourself that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know.

From the age of four to twenty I studied ballet and danced at a reception for Margot Fonteyn. I met her afterwards, she was tiny! I gave up and took up caving instead when I went to university.